This series is great. I love it. Defining mysticism is a slippery task! Personally, I do think it is a mistake to define mysticism as being entirely about experience, however, James was certainly on to something which I think is best encapsulated in this quote of his: "A genuine first-hand religious experience is bound to be a heterodoxy to its witnesses, the prophet appearing as a mere lonely madman. If his doctrine prove contagious enough to spread to any others, it becomes a definite and labeled heresy. But if it then still proved contagious enough to triumph over persecution, it becomes itself an orthodoxy; and when a religion has become an orthodoxy its day of inwardness is over: the spring is dry; the faithful live at second-hand exclusively and stone the prophets in their turn. The new church, in spite of whatever human goodness it may foster, can be henceforth counted on as a staunch ally in every attempt to stifle the spontaneous religious spirit, and to stop all later bubblings of the fountain from which in purer days it drew its own supply of inspiration." In my opinion, this phenomenon is not constrained to just religion. It's an inherent human impulse. Look at any scientific or artistic discipline, or even politics, and you find the same pattern. Humans, in general, are opposed to change and, therefore, to divergent or original thinking, and divergent and original thinking tends to emerge out of the process of interpreting and integrating mystical experiences.
@@justinbirkholz I am retired but once that lifestyle gets in your blood it is hard to get rid of. I must admit that I have thought about breaking out the loin cloth, going to the highway and screaming at traffic. I know it is old fashion, but I am a traditionalist.
Your schmidt quote regarding "freakish sideshows" absolutely devastates. These are the attitudes that have kept me from seriously engaging with my own experiences, in hindsight absolutely numerous; and yet in the moment easily discarded as the nonsense noise of a decaying mind. Even if that assessment ends up bearing fruit (i'll know when I'm dead I guess), it has utterly prevented me from analyzing it with any honesty, especially with regards for what it could have meant for me in the moments in which these experience were fresh. I find myself having so much work to do right as I approach middle age, that could've been more easily done in youth.
I'm glad Dr. Sledge recommended this channel. I didn't understand much of the talk (as I don't understand much of what Dr. Sledge says), but I highly appreciate and value the Intellectualism and, moreso, the *Objectivity* of both.
This is a glorious endeavor you've taken yourself to, a path worthy of your attention! In regards to William James and Mysticism, there has to be at least a mention of Emanuel Swedenborg. Without that, the conversation becomes a flat conversation about words and the words were never meant to be the 'thing'. As you know... This is wonderful what you are bringing forth.
A most excellent presentation of the true heart and basis of religion. I often worry that mystical experience will decline into irrationalty and be used to justify all manner of wickedness and corruption. I truly enjoy and derive much intellectual satisfaction from the videos. Thank you so very much.
Loving this series! I was happy to hear mention of Evelyn Underhill. Her book ‘Mysticism’, although a dense read and took time to get through, was life changing. She really had a knack for describing the stages and giving so many examples in history. And for describing something which is so hard to put into words. I would love to hear more about her, but love learning about all this in general! Thank you for this content!
So excited to have found your channel and extra excited that you're doing this series! I am currently in an undergrad course about gender and mysticism so this is extra helpful. Thank you for the work you do!
Very nice! Eloquently expresses the tightrope I have been trying to walk between tradition and experience. As a psychedelic explorer it has been interesting to see all the weird esoterica and occultism fall away of its own accord. Finally I am ready to read the Bible properly!
Experiential knowing creates 5hat which can not be separated from self. By degree of the whole one is aware the view given is showing the light of being, leaving in the darkness...the darkest dark that hold the most light. Streaming in the river of Consciousness is a perspective of awareness now ready to be perceived Teacher abides spelling out to student's curiousity which makes way as the flow of the sea makes it's way to the earnest will of he or she that at abides to dwell beside the well of quenched thirst. The waters of the deep comes forth in incremental gifts that the Presence deems due. Grace and wellbeing be yours.
204th to like! Thanks again for the scholarly overview and discussion. i found it funny that some scholars wanted to do away with trance as mystical but somehow keep the possibility of a pure experience of the absolute. i think this is a clear case of the 'no true Scott' fallacy. Not to reduce everything to Quine's Two Dogmas, but the project of defining mysticism seems like mistaking the definition of a species for the delineation of a genus (as in you can't specify a genus without it becoming a mere species.) Much love!
Will you cover Frank Ramsey or Wittgenstein? They both were influenced by James' way of thinking. Their more logical approach and Wittgenstein's anti scienctism has always been insightful to me
And the great Tennyson wrote: "Let me go; take back thy gift. Whys should a man desire in any way to vary from the kindly race of men or pass beyond the goal of ordinance where all should pause, as is most meet for all?" James Pratt, we are all human.
14:04 While it's true that the experience is not the quintessence of mysticism, to become down right hostile is indicative of a dogmatic position. Context and global coherence at once seems to me to be best. The functionality we're after, i think, is gnosis filtered by pistis; which is true knowing filtered by love. To go gnostic; urges not fully considered interrupt and hijack the process. Thanks loads!!!
Part 1: The Making of Mysticism | Ancient Greece to Modernity: ua-cam.com/video/OBHsLOgXZNc/v-deo.html Part 3: The Debate that (Almost) Broke Mysticism ua-cam.com/video/n_RJQS-JRwM/v-deo.html Check out Esoterica's sister video: ua-cam.com/video/4NYIBBJS4qc/v-deo.html Supporting this project monthly: www.patreon.com/seekers Once-off: www.paypal.com/donate?hosted_button_id=RKCYGQSMJFDRU
Excellent video, what have your studies and researches led you to now? In other words, where is thrust of your mental activity directed now? Jewish or non jewish
@@SeekersofUnity I wouldn't dream to ask about your personal life, but you're free to share. I mean in the academic work you've been doing, where are you focused now? Because quite frankly this channel keeps getting better and better and i am curious about this wellspring of energy and passion from which you draw
Thank you so much. That's very kind of you to say. We're currently producing a series on Maimonides relationship with mysticism. I'm working on the final few episodes looking specifically at the presence of Neoplatonism in Maimonides Guide, how it influences his cosmology, soteriology, epistemology, metaphysics, spiritual practice and ultimately his ethics. It's fun stuff, and ultimately both Jewish and non-Jewish in nature, to answer your original question.
@@SeekersofUnity I know you are a big fan of Plotinus, so no surprise there. I also meant to commend you on your work on Jung, which was enlightening to say the least. By the time of mysterium coniunctionis he started to look like a Kabbalist in a contemporary guise, which was very interesting. Anyways bottom line is your content has been wonderful, and honestly your video on Jung and kaballah was instrumental in a chain of events which led me back to Judaism, so i thank you for that.
This series is great. I love it. Defining mysticism is a slippery task! Personally, I do think it is a mistake to define mysticism as being entirely about experience, however, James was certainly on to something which I think is best encapsulated in this quote of his:
"A genuine first-hand religious experience is bound to be a heterodoxy to its witnesses, the prophet appearing as a mere lonely madman. If his doctrine prove contagious enough to spread to any others, it becomes a definite and labeled heresy. But if it then still proved contagious enough to triumph over persecution, it becomes itself an orthodoxy; and when a religion has become an orthodoxy its day of inwardness is over: the spring is dry; the faithful live at second-hand exclusively and stone the prophets in their turn. The new church, in spite of whatever human goodness it may foster, can be henceforth counted on as a staunch ally in every attempt to stifle the spontaneous religious spirit, and to stop all later bubblings of the fountain from which in purer days it drew its own supply of inspiration."
In my opinion, this phenomenon is not constrained to just religion. It's an inherent human impulse. Look at any scientific or artistic discipline, or even politics, and you find the same pattern. Humans, in general, are opposed to change and, therefore, to divergent or original thinking, and divergent and original thinking tends to emerge out of the process of interpreting and integrating mystical experiences.
"the prophet appearing as a mere lonely madman" James had me pegged
@@kpllc4209 yea he was an astute observer. I'm currently in the phase of becoming a definite and labeled heretic lol
@@justinbirkholz I am retired but once that lifestyle gets in your blood it is hard to get rid of. I must admit that I have thought about breaking out the loin cloth, going to the highway and screaming at traffic. I know it is old fashion, but I am a traditionalist.
Your schmidt quote regarding "freakish sideshows" absolutely devastates. These are the attitudes that have kept me from seriously engaging with my own experiences, in hindsight absolutely numerous; and yet in the moment easily discarded as the nonsense noise of a decaying mind. Even if that assessment ends up bearing fruit (i'll know when I'm dead I guess), it has utterly prevented me from analyzing it with any honesty, especially with regards for what it could have meant for me in the moments in which these experience were fresh. I find myself having so much work to do right as I approach middle age, that could've been more easily done in youth.
Sometimes the work lets us know when it’s time had come, not the other way around ;)
I'm glad Dr. Sledge recommended this channel. I didn't understand much of the talk (as I don't understand much of what Dr. Sledge says), but I highly appreciate and value the Intellectualism and, moreso, the *Objectivity* of both.
This is a glorious endeavor you've taken yourself to, a path worthy of your attention!
In regards to William James and Mysticism, there has to be at least a mention of Emanuel Swedenborg. Without that, the conversation becomes a flat conversation about words and the words were never meant to be the 'thing'.
As you know...
This is wonderful what you are bringing forth.
Thank you Emeric. We feel the same way. True, Swedenborg definitely deserves a mention here. Thank you brother. Glad to have you here with us.
I appreciate how thorough these videos are. Keep it up!
Thank you Reyna. That means a lot coming from a gifted and thoughtful co-creator 🙏🏼
A most excellent presentation of the true heart and basis of religion. I often worry that mystical experience will decline into irrationalty and be used to justify all manner of wickedness and corruption. I truly enjoy and derive much intellectual satisfaction from the videos. Thank you so very much.
You’re most welcome Tony. We share your concern and hope to do our little bit to provide a counterbalance. Glad you’re enjoying.
Loving this series! I was happy to hear mention of Evelyn Underhill. Her book ‘Mysticism’, although a dense read and took time to get through, was life changing. She really had a knack for describing the stages and giving so many examples in history. And for describing something which is so hard to put into words. I would love to hear more about her, but love learning about all this in general! Thank you for this content!
So excited to have found your channel and extra excited that you're doing this series! I am currently in an undergrad course about gender and mysticism so this is extra helpful. Thank you for the work you do!
You’re most welcome. Glad we could be of service.
Very nice! Eloquently expresses the tightrope I have been trying to walk between tradition and experience. As a psychedelic explorer it has been interesting to see all the weird esoterica and occultism fall away of its own accord. Finally I am ready to read the Bible properly!
amazing and well presented series, Zevi. Thank you for sharing.
You’re most welcome Michael. Thank you so much for the sweet comment :)
Experiential knowing creates 5hat which can not be separated from self.
By degree of the whole one is aware the view given is showing the light of being, leaving in the darkness...the darkest dark that hold the most light.
Streaming in the river of Consciousness is a perspective of awareness now ready to be perceived
Teacher abides spelling out to student's curiousity which makes way as the flow of the sea makes it's way to the earnest will of he or she that at abides to dwell beside the well of quenched thirst.
The waters of the deep comes forth in incremental gifts that the Presence deems due.
Grace and wellbeing be yours.
I find Jacob Böhme also very interesting
Thank you for the great video
You’re most welcome. Us too.
204th to like! Thanks again for the scholarly overview and discussion. i found it funny that some scholars wanted to do away with trance as mystical but somehow keep the possibility of a pure experience of the absolute. i think this is a clear case of the 'no true Scott' fallacy. Not to reduce everything to Quine's Two Dogmas, but the project of defining mysticism seems like mistaking the definition of a species for the delineation of a genus (as in you can't specify a genus without it becoming a mere species.) Much love!
A throughly prepared presentation as usual Zevi ❤🙏 And you don't turn a simple topic into a complicated one, on the contrary ...
Thank you friend 🙏🏼 i hope you’re keeping well.
"the truth lies somewhere between opposing views" -or entirely outside of them...
Love it mate, Varieties was my first intro to mysticism and I'm hooked
Will you cover Frank Ramsey or Wittgenstein? They both were influenced by James' way of thinking. Their more logical approach and Wittgenstein's anti scienctism has always been insightful to me
We hope to get to Wittgenstein one of these days.
And the great Tennyson wrote: "Let me go; take back thy gift. Whys should a man desire in any way to vary from the kindly race of men or pass beyond the goal of ordinance where all should pause, as is most meet for all?" James Pratt, we are all human.
Man in order to reach the absolute must transcend himself.
❤️❤️❤️
(from aka: wayne fair - thank you so much for this and all you do, Zevi!)
You’re most welcome Wayne. Thank you 🙏🏼
Don't get caught up in mystical addictions.... @14:08 haha love that bit. 😀 😋
Excellent.
Thank you Marius.
14:04 While it's true that the experience is not the quintessence of mysticism, to become down right hostile is indicative of a dogmatic position. Context and global coherence at once seems to me to be best. The functionality we're after, i think, is gnosis filtered by pistis; which is true knowing filtered by love. To go gnostic; urges not fully considered interrupt and hijack the process.
Thanks loads!!!
Part 1: The Making of Mysticism | Ancient Greece to Modernity: ua-cam.com/video/OBHsLOgXZNc/v-deo.html
Part 3: The Debate that (Almost) Broke Mysticism ua-cam.com/video/n_RJQS-JRwM/v-deo.html
Check out Esoterica's sister video: ua-cam.com/video/4NYIBBJS4qc/v-deo.html
Supporting this project monthly: www.patreon.com/seekers Once-off: www.paypal.com/donate?hosted_button_id=RKCYGQSMJFDRU
A comment for the mystical algorithm
I see myself so small these days. We're like flies examining flies.
Excellent video, what have your studies and researches led you to now? In other words, where is thrust of your mental activity directed now? Jewish or non jewish
Thank you friend. Are you asking about my personal life or for the channel?
@@SeekersofUnity I wouldn't dream to ask about your personal life, but you're free to share. I mean in the academic work you've been doing, where are you focused now? Because quite frankly this channel keeps getting better and better and i am curious about this wellspring of energy and passion from which you draw
Thank you so much. That's very kind of you to say. We're currently producing a series on Maimonides relationship with mysticism. I'm working on the final few episodes looking specifically at the presence of Neoplatonism in Maimonides Guide, how it influences his cosmology, soteriology, epistemology, metaphysics, spiritual practice and ultimately his ethics. It's fun stuff, and ultimately both Jewish and non-Jewish in nature, to answer your original question.
@@SeekersofUnity I know you are a big fan of Plotinus, so no surprise there. I also meant to commend you on your work on Jung, which was enlightening to say the least. By the time of mysterium coniunctionis he started to look like a Kabbalist in a contemporary guise, which was very interesting. Anyways bottom line is your content has been wonderful, and honestly your video on Jung and kaballah was instrumental in a chain of events which led me back to Judaism, so i thank you for that.
Guilty as charged. Thank you brother. I'm honored to have played a small part in your beautiful journey. May we continue seeking together. With love
Hell yeah I love William James so much
You’re in good company ;)
People who look for the ALL ( the creator) in books will never come in contact with there higher power
God is found within
What does that actually mean?
Uaaaau!!!!
Algorithm comment
The good old golden bough
11:00 ish