Dr. Jay Forrest

A mystic is a person who seeks firsthand experience of Ultimate Reality. Evelyn Underhill clarifies, “Mysticism is the art of union with Reality. The mystic is a person who has attained that union in greater or less degree; or who aims at and believes in such attainment.”

Different traditions give different names to this Reality: for Buddhists, it is Nirvana; for Christians, God; for Muslims, Allah; for Taoists, the Tao; for Vedantists, Brahman; for many Native traditions, the Great Spirit.

Historically, most mystics have flourished within the religions into which they were born, since all major religions contain a mystical core. At the same time, the mystic’s direct experience of Ultimate Reality often pushes boundaries, and they are sometimes viewed with suspicion.

Most believers simply accept the doctrines of their religion. They are taught what to believe, what rituals to perform, and how to act—and this is sufficient for them. They believe, but they do not know.

For the mystic, however, there comes a point when the transcendent breaks through. They encounter something higher, deeper, and profoundly compelling. Once they have tasted this, the things of the world begin to lose their hold. In Buddhist terms, the mystic becomes disenchanted with the world—the spell has been broken. The illusion is revealed, and the delusion fades.

The Declaration of Independence begins: “We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty, and the pursuit of Happiness.”

This is one of the greatest sentences ever written. Unfortunately, we are still trying to live it out. Human beings have a strong tendency toward tribalism and division rather than unity and equality.

The rich have always oppressed the poor. They have long sought to control and limit the power of others. Across history, wealth has often shaped politics and concentrated influence in very few hands.

At times, that power has been checked. At other times, it has not. Today, money still exerts enormous influence over elections and public life, and the struggle over equality remains unresolved.

The rich cannot be good, and the good cannot be rich. Class conflict has existed since the beginning of civilization. The question is not whether power will be abused, but whether it will be restrained.

One of modern society’s central problems is that unhealthy food is designed to taste great—and what pleases the palate often harms the body. Flavor is engineered to override restraint, drawing us toward what is convenient, addictive, and nutritionally empty. What appears as pleasure is often a subtle form of harm, disguised in sweetness, salt, and excess.

Far too many people live to eat rather than eat to live. They become slaves to the food they consume—and that food is often processed, flavored garbage. It is neither nourishing, healthy, nor wise to eat it.

The truth is the only way to keep your health is to eat what you don’t want, drink what you don’t like, and do what you’d rather not. In modern society, this is no longer optional; it has become the rule.

But we are creatures of comfort, seekers of pleasure, and avoiders of pain. We would rather destroy our health than endure eating or drinking something that does not taste good. Taste becomes our master, the belly our god, and destruction our reward.

The spirit refers to consciousness—whether the proto-consciousness of a plant, the semi-consciousness of an animal, or the full-blown consciousness of a human.

Once you understand what the spirit is, you will understand that the spiritual concerns the expansion and deepening of consciousness. It deals with awareness, not merely with feelings. This expansion and deepening of consciousness may produce feelings, but it is not identical with them.

An emotional experience is just that: it concerns feelings and emotions, not the expansion and deepening of consciousness. Emotional experiences have no inherent spiritual validity; at most, they reveal aspects of our mental state.

So when you see people becoming highly emotional about something religious, do not assume it is a spiritual experience. It may be—but it may not be. It must be judged by the fruit it produces: does it expand and deepen one’s consciousness? Does it lead to greater awareness of reality, a deeper connection with ultimate reality?

A mystic is someone who seeks firsthand experience of Ultimate Reality, and that experience is bigger than any religion or philosophy. This can be a problem.

Mystics have a tendency to color outside the lines, and this often creates tension with the religious establishment. The first mystics in Christianity were the Gnostics, but their extreme independence led to persecution. Some learned to have their experiences while keeping them private; these became the Desert Fathers and Mothers.

In most ages, a mystic has identified with the dominant religion. Yet they pushed its boundaries, because reality is greater than what limited minds can conceive. This, again, often led to their being labeled heretics.

In modern times, many mystics have chosen to become spiritually independent. They have joined the “spiritual but not religious” movement. It makes sense to separate spirituality from religion: religion is the organization; spirituality is the reality.

Rami Shapiro offers us this manifesto: “Be your own authority. Determine for yourself, what is true. Take responsibility for your actions and the quality of your life. There is no one to turn to; there is no one to follow; there is no one to blame; there is just you in this moment.”

We all want a map to guide us from here to eternity. But no such map exists, because the path is made by walking it. No two people are alike, and therefore no two paths are alike, for no one begins in the same place or faces the same challenges.

Just like a disease, each person faces their own afflictions. And therefore they need different medicine, different treatments, and therefore a different spiritual path. One size does not fit all. Even though the goal is the same, the paths are diverse.

My suggestion is that you learn widely, commit deeply, and borrow only where it serves the path’s true end. In practice, this means comparative study first, disciplined experimentation second, and ongoing discernment about whether a practice actually makes you less self-enclosed.

The wise are understanding and tolerant because they realize that everyone walks their own path. It is important to honor that—not to push people into something they are not ready for. Lead them; do not push them. People are not cattle; they are to be led, not driven. One mountain, many trails; one reality, many paths; one river, many wells.