From my perspective, the Mystic Way includes both the goal of union with Ultimate Reality and the overarching structure of four stages: awakening, purification, contemplation, and union. In spiritual language, way tends to be more general and guiding, while path tends to imply a more concrete, step-by-step route.
In most traditions, the Mystic Way is expressed through a particular spiritual path, such as Christianity, Buddhism, or Daoism. Each tradition is treated as a path: a concrete sequence of teachings, practices, and rituals particular to that religion or philosophy.
By separating the Mystic Way from a particular spiritual path, we free spiritually independent seekers to pursue a pluralistic approach. They follow the Mystic Way, the universal architecture of mystical awakening and transformation. But instead of being limited to a particular path, they have greater freedom to explore alternatives in belief and practice. Think of the Mystic Way as more of an orientation than a path.
The major drawbacks of walking an independent path are that you may not know which practices to choose, which beliefs are helpful or hindering, or whether your choices are compatible. These can cause confusion and even lead to harm. So anyone who takes the independent path must do so with great wisdom.
