Part 2 - AMORC

t is really amazing how manymisconceptions are associated with theword mysticism. This is partly due tothe popular press and as a result, theaverage person who is not familiar withthe subject will think of mysticism as being weird,occult and mysterious. These erroneous ideas aremainly caused by words that are similar in formsuch as mystify which, as defined in the dictionary,is quite contrary to mysticism in meaning. It is theresemblance in spelling of the two words that isthe cause of the problem.Mysticism is the doctrine and practice wherewe attempt a personal union in consciousness with ourconcept of God, or the Absolute, the Cosmic, the Oneor the Supreme Mind. The important element ofmysticism is that it maintains that mankind does notby Ralph M Lewis, FRCrequire an intermediary to have the awareness of atranscendental power. A mystic does not necessarilyneed to belong to any particular religion. The doctrineof mysticism postulates that we possess an innatelink with the Divine from which all things emanateand upon which they are dependent. No one humanhas this attribute to a greater extent than any other. Ifone person is more successful than another it is duemore to the technique applied than because of anyinnate difference in their faculties.Many sects attack any organisation or groupteaching mysticism. These attacks in themselvesreveal an ignorance of mysticism or a prejudiceagainst any group whose thoughts do not conformto the sect’s own doctrines. It is obvious to anystudent of mysticism that most of the great mystics,e.g. Meister Eckhart, Jan van Ruysbroeck, Jacob22The Rosicrucian Beacon -- June 2008