Dr. Jay Forrest

To gain wisdom, you must first know what it is. Unfortunately, this is harder than it seems, as there is no universal agreement.

Wisdom is not knowledge, which is the acquisition of facts and information. It is not experience, the … Read the rest

We must also note that truth can be incomplete, partial, and limited. A simple statement can only point to a very limited aspect of reality. You need a group of claims to fill things out. That is why, when I … Read the rest

A claim is a statement that is either true or false. If the statement is neither true nor false, it is not a claim. Truth is the description of the quality of a claim. A claim is true when the … Read the rest

The whole of Buddhism can be summarized in the Four Noble Truths. The first noble truth is the unsatisfactoriness of existence. Rebirth, old age, sickness, and death are unsatisfactory. We are not happy about being associated with the things and … Read the rest

Mystical experiences concern union with Ultimate Reality. They are consciously unitive and should not be confused with spiritual experiences more broadly. William James identified four marks that justify calling an experience “mystical,” and his framework has aged remarkably well.

First … Read the rest

There is a need for an umbrella term to encompass all experiences that alter consciousness, from simple illumination to full mystical union. “Spiritual experiences” serves best for this range.

Spiritual experiences include all experiences that affect consciousness. Mystical experiences, by … Read the rest