Religion and mysticism do not go hand in hand. There is no such thing.
It is not possible to be religious in any sense of the word at all that most people understand by that term and claim that one is following an esoteric mystic tradition.
If you find yourself following a religion you are not allowing the mystery of mysticism to fully unfold.
If you find yourself being "chosen by a deity" which is so popular within neopaganism, then you are not transcending certain forces.
The most important lesson with mysticism is that the religious symbols are there to point you in the true direction of spiritual truths. Not because the outer forms should be the ones worshipped.(1)
(1)This doesn't mean that there are no spiritual entities.
(Posts still pre-scheduled due to busy times.)
I have to say that I respectfully disagree with you on this one. Christianity has a rich history regarding mysticism, and several religious orders devoted to them even within the orthodox/catholic/anglican traditions.
SvaraRaderaThere is an old Arab saying, "The scent of the flower is esotericism, but it's vibrant petals are the exoteric religion. Together they are the rose, alone they are only halves."
SvaraRaderaFor me personally, dogmatism and esotericism cannot mix, but religion and esotericism seem more compatible.
@Ali
SvaraRaderawe do not mean the same thing with religion. I am not referring to the symbolism and mythology and making it come to life.
Religion is by nature exoteric and is the shell hiding truth or the vehicle whereby truth itself can be revealed, it is when religion is taken at face value as a means unto itself rather then as a means to an end that there is a problem.
@Beneath
Same as above I don't think we are fully on same page with what I am referring to. i would like to point out that you are not quire right with christianity having rich mysticism. Most christian mystics are and were regarded as heretics as their experiences and approach to the divine was often and is still not completely in lieu with doctrine.
It is when doctrine becomes a hindrance that religion shows its sharpest teeth.
all religions can give rise to mystics. But until the mystic is capable of rising above the rules, regulations dogm and projection upon deity (believing it to be a person for example) then the mystic is not really a mystic, then that person is simply a devout (__insert denomination__)
I will be discussing this in further detail in later posts, but I will not be moderating the page for about two weeks due to schedule issues.
I would like to know your opinion about the Kabbalah at the Last Supper by Leonardo da Vinci – See: ordemdosfantasmas.blogspot.com
SvaraRadera@Alvaro
SvaraRaderaI have been away on business so it took me some time to get back to you.
I don't speak spanish or portugese and can't even tell which one that site is in. If you want my opinion you'll need to translate it for me.