Five Ways Leading to the Mystical Union Assignment

Five Ways Leading to the Mystical Union - Assignment Example St. Teresa said let me suffer or die. They look at their old selves with disgust. In raising oneself to purity one has to be ready, for example poverty is common, so one has to endure pain and suffering. This phase has two components; mortification and detachment. The later refers to voluntary poverty, which according to the Catholic Church is chastity where, there is cleansing of the soul from all personal desires. Finally one must obey the voice and teachings of God. A good example is the biblical beatitude that says, blessed are the poor in spirit, for they shall receive the kingdom of God. The mystic must detach from all material stuff and aim for purity, because God is pure. Mystics here choose to associate with only clean creatures. Material possessions usually cloud our aim for reaching purity. According to St. John of The Cross, we are nothing; we have nothing and therefore lack nothing. Mortification on the other hand is purification, to ensure the death of old habits of the old self, which prevents oneself from becoming a new being. Any necessary physical and mental torture is required to free oneself from earthly pleasures and satisfaction. It can only stop when one has shed selfhood. Love of all people and creatures, plus service to humanity is important. Old days had the step of physical torture, which included several ways of crucifying oneself. 3) Illumination. This stage transfers self centeredness into a God-centered world. Once detached from earthly attathchments, the mystic is sure of the existence of God. The mystic and the superior being are not yet one, the relationship can be compared to betrothal but not marriage. There is consciousness of the presence of God; therefore there is joy and pleasure. It is a... The essay "Five Ways Leading to the Mystical Union" describes five ways to achieve the state of union with reality and considers the nature of mysticism. According to Evelyn Underhill, mysticism is the state of union with reality. But in order for mysticism to occur there has to be changed in an individual’s life, after the experience beyond human description. The first way 'The awakening of self' is a stage much higher than religious conversion. A person moves from a stage of physical limitations, placed on them by the world and moves to a state of greater revelation. People find meaning in life. The second one is 'Purgation of self'. The awakened parson goes higher, on the slow spiritual journey in order to arrive at a higher consciousness of reality. The path involves shedding off older, evil self of the world and embracing God. The next way 'Illumination' transfers self-centeredness into a God-centered world. Once detached from earthly attachments, the mystic is sure of the existence of God. The mystic and the superior being are not yet one, the relationship can be compared to betrothal but not marriage. 'The dark night of the soul' is the fourth way which is a purification of the spirit before it merges with the absolute. There is no joy but fatigue, deprivation, and darkness. The old temptation of mystics’ desire for earthly desires creeps in, due to exhaustion from friends and family. And the final way 'The unitive life' comes after years of destruction of selfhood. Here the old self is replaced by the divine self.