Comparative Mysticism: An Anthology of Original Sources

Comparative Mysticism
Contents
Contributors
General Editor's Introduction
	I
	II
	Epistemological Considerations
	Ill
	Cultural, Religious, and Sociological Considerations
	IV
	Linguistic Considerations
	Conclusion
	Notes
	Bibliography
	Jewish Mysticism
	1.	An Introduction
	2.	Jewish Mysticism: Problems of Definition
	3.	The Functionalist Approach
	4.	Historical Development of Jewish Mysticism
	5.	Jewish Mysticism: General Characteristics
	6.	The Anabatic Model
	7.	The Katabatic Model
	8.	The Status of Mystical Union
	Notes
	Selection 1: Ascending to Heaven
	Selection 1(a): Mystical Ascent to Heaven
	Ma'aseh Merkavah
	Selection 1(b): In the World Above
	Selection 2: Knowledge of Human Power and the Divine Reality
	Selection 2
	Text and Commentary
	Notes
	Notes
	Notes
	Notes
	Notes
	SECTION 129
	Notes
	Notes
	Notes
	Notes
	SECTION 133
	Notes
	SECTION 134
	Notes
	SECTION 135
	Notes
	SECTION 136
	Notes
	SECTION 137
	Notes
	SECTION 138
	Notes
	Selection 3: The Sefirot—The Divine Emanations
	Selection 3 Explanation of the Ten Sefirot
	Notes
	Selection 4: Revelation and the Giving of the Torah
	Selection 4
	All of Israel Saw the Letters
	Selection 5: Language and Meaning
	Selection 5
	Selection 6: The Many Meanings of the Torah
	Selection 6
	The Old Man and the Beautiful Maiden
	Selection 7: The Mystical Sabbath
	Selection 7
	The Secret of Sabbath
	Selection 8: The End of Exile and the Future Redemption
	Selection 8 God, Israel, and Shekbinah
	Selection 9: Divine Emanation and the Names of God
	Selection 9 Introduction
	Note
	Selection 10: The Essential Quality of God Is Mercy
	Selection 10
	Note
	Selection 11 : The Mystery of Sexuality
	Selection 11
	Chapter VI: The Fifth Way
	Selection 12: Meditation and Other Mystical Techniques
	Selection 12(a): Meditation Meditation
	Selection 12(b): Preparing for Mystical Experience
	Preparing for Mystical Experience
	Selection 12(c): Meditations on the Morning Service
	Meditations on the Morning Service
	Selection 12(d): The Combination of Letters
	The Combination of Letters
	Selection 12(e): Breathing Exercises
	Breathing Exercises
	Selection 12(f): Breathing Exercises and Hebrew Letters
	Breathing Exercises & Hebrew Letters
	Selection 12(g): Shaking of One s Head
	Shaking of One’s Head
	Selection 12(h): Weeping Weeping
	Selection 12(i): Crying to God Crying to God
	Selection 12(j): Prayers and Tears Prayers and Tears
	Selection 12(k): Meditation and Colors
	Meditation & Colors
	Selection 13: Clinging to God—Devekut
	Selection 13(a): Clinging to God Clinging to God
	Selection 13(b) : A Linking of Souls A Linking of Souls
	Selection 13(c): Cleaving to the Shechinah
	Cleaving to the Shechinah
	Selection 13(d): Devekut and the Performance ofMitzvot
	Devekut and the Performance of Mitzvot
	Selection 13(e): Devekut and Sexual Union
	Devekut and Sexual Union
	Selection 13(f): Devekut and Worship
	Devekut and Worship
	Selection 13(g): Loving Relation with God
	Loving Relation with God
	Selection 13(h): Devekut and Torah Study
	Devekut and Torah Study
	Selection 14: Mystical Experience
	Selection 14
	Selection 15: Mystical Union
	Selection 15(a): Intellectual Mystical Union
	Intellectual Mystical Union
	Selection 15 (b) : Loss of Self Loss of Self
	Selection 15 (c) : The Annihilation of Selfhood
	The Annihilation of Selfhood
	Selection 15(d): Reunification of the Self and God
	Reunification of the Self and God
	Selection 15 (e) : Unto Mystico, Torah, and Mitzvot
	Unto Mysticoy Torah, and Mitzvot.
	Selection 16: Mystical Actions That Create Mystical Experience
	Selection 16
	Pronouncing the Divine Names and Meeting God
	Selection 17: Mystical Prayer
	Selection 17
	Come, My Beloved
	Selection 18: A Mystical Love Song
	Selection 18
	Selection 19: Ethical Behavior and Mystical Experience
	Selection 19
	The Gate of Holiness
	The Gate of Love
	Selection 20: Heavenly Tutors
	Selection 20
	The Communications of The Heavenly Mentor to Rabbi Joseph Karo
	/
	Selection 21 : Mystical Ascents
	Selection 21 Mystical Ascents
	Selection 22: The Mystical Master—the Zaddik
	Selection 22 /
	Selection 23: Reincarnation
	Selection 23(a): Good, and Evil and Reincarnation
	Reincarnation, Good, and Evil
	Selection 23(b): Reincarnation and Human Action
	Reincarnation and Human Action
	Selected Bibliography for Further Reading
	Christian Mysticism
	An Introduction
	Notes
	Selection 1 : Mystical Prayer and Preparation
	Selection 1(a): Asceticism and “Evil Thoughts”: Evagrius Ponticus
	The Hundred Chapters
	Spiritual Exercises
	Selection 1 (c): The Dark Night of the Senses in John of the Cross
	A. The Ascent of Mount Carmel
	B. The Dark Night
	The Dark Night
	Selection 1 (d): Mystical Purgation in Marie of the Incarnation
	Selection 2: Biblical Interpretation
	Selection 2(a): A Mystical Reading of the Song of Songs
	Selection 2(a)
	2.	The Theme of the Song of Songs
	3.	The Place of the Song of Songs among the Works of Solomon
	Selection 2(b) “Three Kisses”
	Selection 2(b)
	Sermon 3
	Selection 3: Prayer and Itineraries of the Path to God
	Selection 3(a). Richard of Saint Victor on the Varieties of Contemplation
	Chapter I
	Chapter II
	Chapter V
	Selection 3(b): Bonaventure on the Stages in the Ascent to God
	Here begins the reflection of the poor man in the desert Chapter One
	On the stages of the ascent into God and on contemplating him through his vestiges in the universe
	Selection 3(c): Marguerite Porete s Seven Stages of Ascent
	Chapter 118: Of the seven stages of the pious Soul, which are elsewhere called states
	Selection 3(d): Mystical Prayer in Teresa of Avila
	Chapter XI
	Chapter XIV
	Chapter XVI
	Chapter XVIII
	Selection 3(e): The Jesus Prayer
	Chapter 1
	Chapter II
	Selection 4: Accounts of Direct Consciousness of God
	Selection 4(a): “Seeing” and “Touching” God in Augustine of Hippo
	Selection 4(b) : The Vision of Saint Benedict
	Peter
	Gregory
	Selection 4(c): Mystical Illumination: Symeon the New Theologian
	Discourse 16
	Selection 4(d): Seeking the Divine Lover: Bernard of Clairvaux
	Selection 4(e): Mystical Elevations in Angela of Foligno
	Memorial. Chapter IX
	Selection 4(f): Ecstatic Experience in Richard Rolle
	Prologue
	Chapter 15
	Selection 4(g) : The “Wound” of Love in Teresa of Avila
	Selection 4(h): Pascals Encounter with the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob
	Selection 5: Attaining God
	Selection 5(a): The Endless Pursuit of God
	Eternal Progress
	Selection 5(b): Dionysius and the Absolute Mystery of the Divine
	Chapter One
	Selection 5(c): Mystical Union 1. William of Saint-Thierry
	Selection 5(d): Mystical Union 2. Meister Eckhart
	Selection 5(e): Mystical Union 3. John Ruusbroec
	Part Three: Union without Difference
	Selection 6: The Role of the Trinity
	Selection 7 : Encountering Christ
	Selection 7(a): Erotic Embrace
	Selection 7(b): Visions of the Suffering Christ
	Chapter 2
	Chapter 3
	Chapter 4
	Selection 7(c) : An Ambiguous Encounter with Jesus
	Selection 8: The Effects of the Mystical Encounter
	Selection 8(a): Mystical Experience and Compassionate Action
	Part II
	Selection 8(b): Love of Neighbor as Mystical Demand
	The Dialogue, Chapter 64
	Selected Bibliography for Further Reading
	Sufism
	An Introduction
	Selection 1: Mystical Preparations
	Selection 1(a): Mystical Training
	Instructions to a Postulant
	Selection 1 (b): The Structure of the Path
	Notes
	Selection 2: Mystical Techniques
	Selection 2(a): Samd’ (Listening to Poetry and Music,
	Dance Rituals)
	Chapter on the Audition of Poetry» etc.
	Chapter on the Principles of Audition
	Chapter on the Various Opinions Respecting Audition
	Chapter Concerning Their Different Grades in the Reality of Audition
	Chapter on Dancing, etc.
	Chapter on the Rending of Garments (fi T-kharq)
	Chapter on the Rules of Audition
	Selection 2(b): Mystical Music
	Notes
	Selection 3: The Interpretation of Mystical Texts by Mystics
	Selection 3(a): The Esoteric Meaning of the Qur’ân
	Selection 3(b): Ecstatic Utterances
	Chapter 123 of The Book of Flashes*. The Shathiyät That Have Been Passed Down from Abu Yazid (of Which Junayd Has Explicated a Part)
	Chapter 124: The Chapter on the Recalling of What Was Passed Down from Abu Yazid (God Most High Grant Him Compassion)
	Chapter 12$: Another Chapter on the Interpretation of an Account That Has Been Passed On Concerning Abu Yazid May Allah Have Compassion on Him
	Chapter 126: Another Chapter on the Explanation of Words Related from Abu Yazid May Allah, the Exalted, Have Compassion on Him
	Selection 4: The Nature of the Spiritual Master or Shaykh
	Selection 4
	Letter 5 : Searching for a Spiritual Guide
	Letter 6: The Qualifications of a Sheikh
	Selection 5: On Language
	Selection 5(a): The Language of Love
	Section
	Section
	Section
	Selection 5(b): The Nature of Words
	Dig a Hole in this Book
	Selection 5(c): Words and Text
	A Mouse and a Frog
	The Long String
	Notes
	Selection 6: On Prayer, Charity, and Morality
	Selection 6(a): Prayer and Morality
	Khwaja "Abdullah Ansari
	The Song of the Dervish
	Selection 6(b): Prayer and Actions
	On Resurrection Day
	Notes
	Selection 7: Mystical Union and Ineffability
	Selection 7
	Hie Valley of Poverty [Faqr] and Nothingness [Fan&’]
	The Moths and the Flame
	The sufi who thought he had left the world
	Notes
	Selection 8: The Understanding of God
	Selection 8
	Chapter XV
	Notes
	Selected Bibliography for Further Reading
	Hinduism
	An Introduction
	The Vocabulary of Hindu Mysticism
	The History of Hindu Mysticism
	The Typology of Hindu Mysticism
	Selection 1: The Issue of Ineffability
	Selection 1(a): The Inexpressible Nature of Brahman
	Selection 1(a)
	The All-Conditioning Yet Inscrutable Brahman Is the Agent
	The Paradox of the Inscrutability of Brahman
	Selection 1(b): Madhva on the Inexpressible Nature of Brahman
	Selection 1(b)
	Selection 1(c): Sankara on the Inexpressible Nature of Brahman
	Selection 1(c)
	£aAkara’s Gloss
	Note
	Selection 2 Mystical Training
	Selection 2(a): The Mystical Self The Mystical Self
	Selection 2(b): Mystical Understanding
	Second Adhyäya First Brahmaqa
	Second Brähmana
	Third Brahmana
	Eighth Khanka
	Ninth Khanda
	Tenth Khan4a
	Eleventh Khanka
	Twelfth Khan4a
	Thirteenth Khanka
	Fourteenth Khanka
	Fifteenth Khaju^a
	Sixteenth Khandna
	Selection 3: Mystical Techniques
	Selection 3(a): Fixing the Mind on the Lord
	Selection 3(b): Finding the Self
	Selection 4: The Understanding of Language
	Selection 4(a): Attribution and Negation Selection 4A
	Brahman is beyond speech and thought
	Brahman is the source of all activity
	Notes
	Selection 4(b): A Description of the Experience of God
	Chapter XI Arjuna
	Krishna
	Sanjaya
	Arjuna
	Krishna
	Sanjaya
	Arjuna
	Krishna
	Sanjaya
	Aijuna
	Krishna
	Notes
	Selection 5: The Interpretation of Mystical Texts by Mystics
	Selection 5
	Notes
	Selection 6: Experience of Loss of Self by Two Women
	Selection 6(a): Mirâbâi on Krsna
	Krishna’s Bride
	Selection 6(b): Lallä on Realization
	A Spiritual Experience
	Notes
	Selection 7: The Nature of the Mystical Master
	Selection 7
	An Experience in Cosmic Consciousness
	Selection 8: Community, Prayer, Morality, and God: Four Selections from The Gospel of Sri Ramakrishna
	Selection 8
	April 9,1882
	October 28,1882
	June 4,1883
	Notes
	Selection 9 UnioMystico
	Selection 9: Ramakrsna’s Experience of the Transcendental Trance
	Notes
	Selected Bibliography for Further Reading
	Buddhism
	An Infroduction
	The Buddha
	Buddhist Scriptures
	Tibetan Buddhism
	Buddhism in East Asia
	Buddhism in Southeast Asia
	Buddhist Mysticism
	Notes
	Selection 1: Mystical Training
	Selection 1 (a): The First Sermon
	Selection 1(b): Training the Mind
	Selection 1(b)
	Selection 1(c): All Good Qualities Depend on the Perfection of Wisdom
	Selection 1(c)
	Selection 1 (d) : The Bodhisattva Works Alone
	Selection 1(d)
	Selection 1 (e): The Bodhisattva Is Unconcerned with Worldly Things
	Selection 1(e)
	Selection 1(f): Developing Compassion
	Selection 1(f)
	Selection 1(g): Why the Path and Result Meditation Technique
	Is Superior
	Selection 1(g)
	Selection 1 (h): Chinul on Sudden and Gradual Awakening
	Selection 1(h)
	Selection l(i): The Mu Köan
	Selection l(i)
	Notes
	Selection 2: Mystical Techniques
	Selection 2(a): The Four Concentrations
	Selection 2(a)
	Selection 2(b): The Four Mindful Establishments
	Selection 2(b)
	Selection 2(c): The Mental Attitude of Bodhisattvas
	Selection 2(c)
	Selection 2(d) : Samatha and Vipafyanâ
	Selection 2(d)
	Selection 2(e) : Visualizing Oneself as a Deity
	Selection 2(e)
	Selection 2(f): Instructions on the Practice of Zazen
	Selection 2(f)
	Notes
	Selection 3: Interpretation of Texts
	Selection 3(a): Guidelines for Evaluating Teachings
	Selection 3(a)
	Selection 3(b): Interpretable and Definitive Teachings
	Selection 3(b)
	Selection 3 (c) : Another Way of Differentiating Interpretable and Definitive Teachings
	Selection 3(c)
	Selection 3(d): Interpretable and Definitive Doctrines
	Selection 3(d)
	Selection 3(e): The Uselessness of Omniscience
	Selection 3(e)
	Selection 3(f): Words Are Necessary
	Selection 3(f)
	Notes
	Selection 4: The Guru
	Selection 4(a): Praise of the Buddha
	Selection 4(a)
	Selection 4(b) : Be Your Own Refuge
	Selection 4(b)
	Selection 4(c): Extracting the Essence
	Selection 4(c)
	Selection 4(d): Guru Yoga
	Selection 4(d)
	Selection 5: Language
	Selection 5(a): Types of Language
	Selection 5(a)
	Selection 5(b): Seventy Verses on Emptiness
	Selection 5(b)
	Note
	Selection 6: Ineffability
	Selection 6(a): WrongViews
	Selection 6(a)
	Selection 6(b): The Heart of Perfect Wisdom Discourse
	Selection 6(b)
	Selection 6(c): The Buddhas Teachings
	Selection 6(c)
	Notes
	Selection 7: The Buddhist Community
	Selection 7(a) : Origins of the Buddhist Community
	Selection 7(a)
	Selection 7(b): Ordination of Women
	Selection 7(b)
	Selection 7(c): Why Bodhisattvas Are Superior to Hearers
	Selection 7(c)
	Selection 7(d): There Is No Comparison between Bodhisattvas
	and Hearers
	Selection 7(d)
	Selection 7(e): On the Differences between Sutra and Tantra
	Selection 7(e)
	Selection 7(f): Dogen on the Monastic Community
	Selection 7(f)
	Notes
	Selection 8: Charity and Morality
	Selection 8(a): The Buddha’s Moral Character
	Selection 8(a)
	Selection 8(b): The Generosity of Bodhisattvas
	Selection 8(b)
	Selection 8(c): The Bodhisattva Is a Great Hero
	Selection 8(c)
	Selection 8(d): The Benefits of the Perfection of Wisdom
	Selection 8(d)
	Selection 8(e): How a Bodhisattva Should Act in Difficult Situations
	Selection 8(e)
	Selection 8(f): Bodhisattvas Are Celibate
	Selection 8(f)
	Notes
	Selection 9: Self and No-Self
	Selection 9
	Selection 10: God, Gods, and Ultimate Reality
	Selection 10(a): Buddhas Are Wiser Than Gods
	Selection 10(a)
	Selection 10(b): The Notion of God Is Untenable
	Selection 10(b)
	Selection 10(c): The Dalai Lama on Tantric Deities
	Selection 10(c)
	Selection 10(d): Ultimate Truth (Paramärtha)
	Selection 10(d)
	Selection 10(e): Discourse on Suchness
	Selection 10(e)
	Selection 10(f); Buddha-Nature
	Selection 10(f)
	Selection 10(g): Everything Is Mind-Only
	Selection 10(g)
	Selection 10(h) : Cyclic Existence and Nirvana Are Not Different
	Selection 10(h)
	Selection 10(i) One Mind
	Selection 10(i)
	Notes
	Selection 11 : Mystical Union
	Selection 11(a): Nirvana
	Selection 11(a)
	Selection 11(b): The Joy of Release
	Selection 11(b)
	Selection 11 (c) : Characteristics of Omniscient Persons
	Selection 11(c)
	Selection 11 (d) The Stage of Completion
	Selection 11(d)
	Notes
	Selected Bibliography for Further Reading
	Confucianism and Daoism
	An Introduction
	Selection 1 (a): Explaining the Diagram of the Great Ultimate
	The Great Ultimate
	Selection 1 (b): The Meaning of the Great Ultimate
	Selection 1 (c): Laozi and the Dao
	Selection 1 (d): On the Transformation of Laozi
	Selection 2: The Interpretation of Mystical Texts
	Selection 2(a): The Doctrine of the Mean
	Selection 2(b) : A Reading of the Daodejing
	Chapter 6: Image Complete
	Chapter 10: Can You?
	Selection 3: The Issue of Language and Ineffability
	Selection 3 (a) : Making All Things Equal
	Selection 3(b): Joining the Ineffable
	1.	Western Ascension
	2.	The Depth of the Tao
	13. Scriptures and Precepts
	14. Deep and Wonderful
	37. Good and Evil
	38. Serene Intention
	Selection 4: The Self in Mystical Experience
	Selection 4(a): Growing toward Enlightenment
	Selection 4(b): Souls and Demons
	Selection 4(c): The Gods in the Energy Centers
	Selection 5: Mystical Training
	Selection 5 (a) : Learning the Way In Ordinary Life
	In Virtues
	Selection 5(b): Hermit Practice
	1.	Cloistered Residence
	2.	Wandering Like the Clouds
	3.	The Study of Texts
	4.	The Preparation of Medicines
	5.	On Construction
	6.	Companions in the Tao
	Selection 6: The Nature of Community and Ethics
	Selection 6(a): The Rules of the White Deer Hollow Academy
	Selection 6(b): Basic Rules and Punishments
	Selection 7: Mystical Techniques
	Selection 7(a): Quiet-Sitting
	Selection 7(b): Concentrations Concentrations
	Selection 7(c): Visualizations
	Selection 7(d): Elixirs
	Selection 8: The Nature of the Master
	Selection 8(a): Master Mingdao
	Selection 8(b): The Daoist Sage
	Selection 9: Unio Mystica
	Selection 9(a): All Is One
	Selection 9(b): Celestial Splendor
	One
	Two
	Three
	Four
	Five
	Six
	Seven
	Eight
	Nine
	Ten
	Selected Bibliography for Further Reading
	Native American Mystical Traditions
	An Introduction I
	II
	Method and Indeterminacy in Indigenous Mysticism
	Ill
	Academic Studies in Mysticism and Indigenous Peoples
	IV
	Notes
	Selection 1: Becoming a Shaman
	Selection 1
	Selection 2: Visionary States
	Selection 2
	Selection 3: Cosmic Ritual
	Selection 3
	Hä’Mats’a Song of the Lau’Itsis
	Hä’Mats’a Song of the Koskimo
	Secret Song of the Hä’mats’a Who Carries a Corpse.—Awi’k’enôx
	Feast Song Used in a Feast Given in Honor of the Hä’mats’a
	Feast Song Used in a Feast Given in Honor of the Hä’mats’a
	Hä’Mats’a Song» La’Lasiqoala
	Selection 4: The Acquisition of Sacred Powers
	Selection 4
	Selection 5: Lifeway Mysticism
	Selection 5
	Selection 6: Nature Mystical Experiences
	Selection 6
	Selection 7 : Prayer of a Shaman
	Selection 7
	Ceremony on Harney Peak
	Selection 8: Visionary Experience
	Selection 8
	The First Vision
	Selection 9: Healings
	Selection 9
	Selection 10: The Environment
	Selection 10
	An Iroquois Perspective
	Selection 11 : Sacred Forces
	Selection 11
	Selection 12: Sacred Nature
	Selection 12
	Selection 13: Tragic Human Existence
	Selection 13
	Selection 14: Sacred Presences
	Selection 14
	Selection 15: Loss
	Selection 15
	Selection 16: Heroic Birth and Death
	Selection 16
	Selection 17: The Human Condition
	Selection 17
	Selection 18: The Sage
	Selection 18
	The Ideal Image of the Nahuatl Sage1
	Notes
	Selection 19: Shamans and Disciples
	Selection 19
	Selection 20: Meeting the Ancestors
	Selection 20
	ATellerinTime
	Selection 21: The Mystical Character of the Natural World
	Selection 21
	Selection 22: Gaining Power
	Selection 22
	Selection 23: Folk Healers
	Selection 23
	Selection 24: Folk Healing
	Selection 24
	Selected Bibliography for Further Reading