41. IngentaConnect Table Of Contents: Journal Of Near-Death Studies Book Review The Journey Home What neardeath experiences and mysticism Teach Usabout the Gift of Life, by Phillip L. Berman. New York, NY Pocket Books, http://www.ingentaconnect.com/content/klu/jond/1999/00000018/00000002

Home About Ingenta Ingenta Labs Help For Publishers Why go online? Why choose IngentaConnect? Why choose CustomConnect? Access and authentication ... Contact us For Researchers About IngentaConnect Search and browse Publications available Accessing articles ... Register For Librarians Why choose IngentaConnect? Why choose IngentaConnect Premium? Activating Subscriptions Purchasing articles ... Browse Publications Journal of Near-Death Studies ISSN 0891-4494 Publisher: Kluwer Academic Publishers Volume 18, Number 2, 1999 all issues pp. 71-72(2) Author: Greyson B. The Theory of Essence. III: Neuroanatomical and Neurophysiological Aspects of Interactionism pp. 73-101(29) Author: Arnette J.K. Near-Death Experiences and the Theory of the Extraneuronal Hyperspace pp. 103-115(13) Author: Audain L. pp. 117-127(11) Author: Gibbs J.C. Book Review The Truth in the Light: An Investigation of Over 300 Near-Death Experiences, by Peter Fenwick and Elizabeth Fenwick. pp. 129-132(4) Author: Perry M. Book Review The Journey Home: What Near-Death Experiences and Mysticism Teach Us about the Gift of Life, by Phillip L. Berman. pp. 133-138(6) Author: Wade J.

42. Mysticism -- Facts, Info, And Encyclopedia Article mysticism (ancient (A native or inhabitant of Greece) Greek mysticon (Clicklink for more info and facts about near death experiences) near death http://www.absoluteastronomy.com/encyclopedia/m/my/mysticism.htm

Mysticism [Categories: New Age, Mysticism] Mysticism (ancient (A native or inhabitant of Greece) Greek mysticon = secret) is ((religion) contemplation of spiritual matters (usually on religious or philosophical subjects)) meditation (A fixed text used in praying) prayer , or (The rational and systematic study of religion and its influences and of the nature of religious truth) theology focused on the direct experience of union with (The quality of being divine) divinity (The supernatural being conceived as the perfect and omnipotent and omniscient originator and ruler of the universe; the object of worship in monotheistic religions) God , or (Click link for more info and facts about Ultimate Reality) Ultimate Reality ; or the belief that such experience is a genuine and important source of knowledge. In the context of (The philosophical theory of knowledge) epistemology (Loyalty or allegiance to a cause or a person) faith (The psychological result of perception and learning and reasoning) knowledge or (Any cognitive content held as true) belief Perspectives of mysticism A wide range of perspectives occur among spiritual traditions and beliefs which embrace direct experiential knowledge of (The supernatural being conceived as the perfect and omnipotent and omniscient originator and ruler of the universe; the object of worship in monotheistic religions)

43. Department Of Religion • Boston University • College And Graduate Sc ancestor worship, apocalypse, alchemy, AIDS, neardeath experiences, otherworldcosmologies. mysticism and Philosophy Medieval Jewish Perspectives http://www.bu.edu/religion/undergraduate/courses.html

Undergraduate Courses Fall 2005 Spring 2006 The Bible Chinese Medicine ... Literature of Memory VI: Rebbe Nachman of Bratzlav * - Tentative offering CAS RN100 Faculty: Green MWF 1-2 p.m. Introduction to the history of religions with special emphasis on the classical periods of Hinduism, Buddhism, Judaism, Christianity, and Islam and to the scientific study of religion. Attention is focused on the cultural contributions of religion in ways that invite further investigation and study. CAS RN101 The Bible Faculty: Hawkins TR 9:30-11 a.m. Designed for the student who will take only one or two courses in religious studies, this course introduces the Bible as a foundational source of Western culture. In addition to basic knowledge of Hebrew and Christian scriptures, the student may expect to gain an appreciation of biblical themes in Western literature and art. CAS RN103 Religions of the World: Eastern Faculty: Eckel MWF 11-12 p.m.

44. Articles - Beyond Appearance As Dr Arthur Deikman explains, mysticism takes us finally beyond form and Outof-the-body and near-death experiences are difficult to explain in terms http://www.awakening-intuition.com/BeyondAppearance.html

@import url(http://www.homestead.com/~media/elements/Text/font_styles.css); Beyond Appearance By Nevill Drury From The Visionary Human Mystical Consciousness and Paranormal Perspectives The word 'visionary' means different things to different people. For some it has the connotation of one who is a dreamer, who is out of touch with reality, or who spends time speculating on essentially impractical ideas or schemes. However a visionary may also be a person who sees more clearly, who can anticipate possibilities and who can look beyond appearances. This is the emphasis I am dropping here, for I am concerned primarily with the visionary as a person who has greater access to states of reality than is normally the case. Note that I used the word 'states' in the plural: much of this book will deal with the concept that there are many planes of reality available to human perception and that our normal consciousness restricts us to but a small range within the spectrum of experiential possibilities. An interesting example of what I am referring to here is provided by an artist I know who suffered both a near-death experience and a stroke that left him partially paralysed. However, as a result of these experiences he had a highly developed 'psychic' awareness: he was able to project his consciousness beyond his body, see through physical walls and observe discarnate human forms in the street outside his outside. These forms would come and go and seemed to co-exist quite happily with physical reality. This particular artist is quite a down-to-earth person and had no belief in 'ghosts' prior to his stroke. However, he became curious about these spectral beings were. When he described their appearances to his neighbours he discovered that he was actually able to identify some of them as deceased former residents of the streets where he lived.

45. Spiritual Awareness -- References Mystical experiences neardeath experiences Reincarnation Underhill, Evelyn,mysticism A Study in the Nature and Development of Man s Spiritual http://www.wholistichealingresearch.com/References/SpiritualAwareness1.asp

Spiritual Awareness and Wholistic Spiritual Healing Home Search WHR site Definitions FAQ ... On-Line Support this site by purchasing your books through this link Search by keywords: Higher self awareness Mystical experiences ... Thanatology (End of life issues) Higher Self Awareness Albright, Peter and Albright, Bets Parker (eds), Mind, Body and Spirit, Findhorn, Scotland: Thule 1981. Bach, R. Illusions: The Adventures of a Reluctant Messiah London: Pan 1978 Benor, Daniel J. Healing Research, Volume III: Science, Spirit and the Eternal Soul, Vision Publications, Southfield, Michigan: (in press) Caddy, E. Footprints on the Path Scotland: Findhorn 1985 Coxhead, Nona, The Relevance of Bliss, New York: St. Martin's 1986. Dass, R. Emmanuel's Book Bantam/New Age 1989 Wise sayings to contemplate Godwin, Malcolm, Angels: An Endangered Species, Outstanding historical review and discussion, beautifully illustrated

46. Department Of Theology And Religious Studies, University Of Wales Lampeter, Post MASR0620 near death experiences MASR0520 Jewish mysticism MASR0920 Christianmysticism MAWR0420 Cosmology and Sexuality in Taoism http://www.lamp.ac.uk/trs/Postgraduate/modules_masters_degree_schemes.htm

UWL Home TRS Home Postgraduate Studies Modules for Master's Degree Schemes Research Degrees Taught Degrees Modules Understanding Modules ... Postgraduate Studies Main Page MA in CELTIC CHRISTIANITY Compulsory Module Study and Research Methodology Option Modules The Archaeology of the Celtic Churches Readings Celtic Theology The Desert in the Ocean Celtic Hagiography and the Cults of Saints ... Celtic Liturgy MA in DEATH AND IMMORTALITY Core Modules The Resurrection of Jesus and the Christian Hope Reincarnation, Rebirth and Philosophy Study and Research Methodology Option Modules Death and the Afterlife: Biblical Perspectives Eternal Life in Christian Thought The Self in Indian Religious Thought Near-death Experiences ... Philosophy and Life after Death MATH4320 The Meaning of Life MAELD0620 Abortion MAELD0220 Suicide and Euthanasia Moral Theory and Capital Punishment MA in RELIGION, POLITICS AND INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS

47. Mysticism And Schizophrenia 1981), near death experiences (Grof Grof, 1980) and shamanic experiences In Wapnick s study of mysticism and schizophrenia, he concluded that both http://www.clam.rutgers.edu/~mbecktel/becktel.htm

Mysticism And Psychosis by Melissa Becktel Psychotic and religious experiences have been associated since the earliest recorded history. The Old Testament uses the same term in reference to madness sent by God to punish the disobedient, and to describe the behavior of prophets (Rosen, 1968). Socrates declared, "Our greatest blessings come to us by way of madness, provided the madness is given us by divine gift." (Dodds, 1951, p. 61). A fundamental issue that has kept religion and the clinical fields in relatively separate compartments is the concern among clinicians that religiosity can be associated with a variety of mental disorders, especially schizophrenia. Many of the symptoms associated with acute schizophrenia and schizotypal personality disorder, such as delusion and hallucinations, are often expressed in religious form (Smith, 1982). The nature of schizophrenia, and other forms of psychosis, is still under debate and a significant issue is the relationship between psychosis and the mystical, or religious, experience. A number of empirical studies have pointed to negative relationships between religious conservatism and various dimensions of individual mental health (Dreger, 1952). In order to discover the relationship between the two, we must first direct our analysis to defining mystical experience and psychosis individually. Defining Mysticism In my research, the following characteristics emerged repeatedly as each author attempted to define mystical experience: experience of unity, intense affective experience, time/space distortion, noetic quality, ineffability, and a sense of holiness or sacredness. These experiences typically lasted one to three hours. In addition, the authors generally included the concept of universality in their definitions.

48. AnneRice.Com: Phone Message I do read avidly all of the literature on near death experiences, I readgreedily anything I can find on ghosts, near death experiences, and mysticism. http://www.annerice.com/ph19990413.htm

Phone Message Transcript: April 13, 1999 [appearing on Anne's fan phone line, (504) 522-8634] "Hello Guys, Today, I want to answer some of the questions you all have asked me, through this phone line and on the Internet. Rhonda from Michigan asks: Will I write more erotica? No, Rhonda, with my three erotic books under the pseudonym, A.N. Roquelaure, I pretty much accomplished what I wanted. As I've often said in interviews, I wrote the erotica which I myself wanted to read; I created the books I could not find in any bookstore. I have very strong feelings about the value of these books, but it is enough to say that I am more than happy they give people pleasure. Glenda from Louisiana asks if the character of Louis will ever be revived. Glenda, Louis never really dies. He appears in almost all of the vampire books, even if his appearance is brief. However I do have hopes of including Louis's own most recent story among my smaller "New Tales of the Vampires," the small novels which have been appearing in the Spring of each year. There is no question but that it's difficult for me to go back to Louis. Louis represents a frame of mind which I experienced very strongly, but now, I identify much more positively with Lestat. Zuess in Florida: You ask if I've had a near death experience, and you comment on Armand's near death experience. The truth is, if I had one I don't remember it. When I went into a diabetic coma last year, I did come with in five minutes of dying, but I have no recollection at all of the entire day. I often wonder if something did happen, but I may never know. I do read avidly all of the literature on Near Death Experiences, and I've been most impressed with the writings of Dannion Brinkley.

49. National Institute For Discovery Science: Revising The Survival Research Paradig The general public is apt to suppose that neardeath experiences (NDEs) andreincarnation For example, the physical phenomena of mysticism, shamanism, http://www.nidsci.org/articles/grosso.php

Home Search Report Form FAQ ... Consciousness Studies Revising the Survival Research Paradigm Michael Grosso The theme of our seminar touches on what may be the most challenging question about consciousness: can it somehow survive the death of the body? This is not only a very difficult question, but one of personal interest to us all. Scientific interest in the survival of consciousness came to life in the last decades of the nineteenth century. Darwin's theory of evolution inspired a group of Victorian scholars and scientists to invent psychical research. The founders opted to fight fire with fire. The theory of natural selection seemed to undermine the religious viewpoint, which for centuries was the staple of faith in the afterlife. So Henry Sidgwick, a philosopher, and Frederic Myers, a classical scholar decided to use impartial scientific methods to determine whether there were grounds for belief in an afterlife. The result was to launch an investigation into the more remarkable powers of the human mind, and a large mass of provocative data has been accumulated. In my opinion, anyone who studies this fascinating material, the rich deposit of over a century's work, will agree that progress has been made. A surprising amount of evidence shows that human beings possess some extremely puzzling abilities, even perhaps the ability to retain their conscious personalities after death. Unfortunately, clear and unambiguous answers to basic questions still elude us. Consensus is lacking. So where do we go from here? The purpose of this preliminary seminar is to share our thoughts on this question.

50. Mystical Experiences As discussed in mysticism, the union with the Absolute may be sought either play of light upon land and sea, nature, or a neardeath experience (NDE). http://www.themystica.com/mystica/articles/m/mystical_experiences.html

Back to Home Page or Contents Page or Past and present beliefs or Index Mystical experiences M ystical experiences tend to be experiences felt or experienced beyond the realms of ordinary consciousness. Occasionally they are referred to as states of altered consciousness (see Altered States of Consciousness ). Such states may involve ineffable awareness of time, space, and physical reality. Mystical experiences often defy physical description, and can best be only hinted at. Such experiences are universal and share common characteristics, despite the culture or religion in which they occur. They are invariably spiritual, yet they may not be religious; that is, they are not limited to monks or priests. However, all personal religious experiences are rooted in mystical states of consciousness, and all mystical experiences are part of religions. Although mystical experiences are common in occurrence, they occur unbidden to a person perhaps once or twice in a lifetime, if at all. According to a survey in 1987 conducted by the National Opinion Research Center in Chicago, 43 percent of adult Americans said they had some type of mystical experience. In British polls published in 1978 and 1979 in the Journal for the Scientific Study of Religion , 56 percent of churchgoers claimed they had such an experience. Those within this group who had more experiences were older; better educated, and attended church more.

51. Theology Today - Vol 44, No.4 - January 1988 - BOOK REVIEW - Otherworld Journeys 525 Otherworld Journeys Accounts of near-death Experience in Medieval and experiences, as William James said of mysticism, usually are and have the http://theologytoday.ptsem.edu/jan1988/v44-4-bookreview3.htm

525 - Otherworld Journeys: Accounts of Near-Death Experience in Medieval and Modern Times Otherworld Journeys: Accounts of Near-Death Experience in Medieval and Modern Times By Carol Zaleski Oxford, Oxford University Press, 1987. 275 Pp. $18.95. Christian versions of this ancient phenomenon, the near-death experience narrated as an other world journey, go back at least to the vision of St. Paul when he was "caught up into the third heaven" (II Cor. 12:1-4). Currently, near-death narratives are attracting remarkable academic interest from neurologists, neuro-psychologists, psychologists, and psychoanalysts as well as anthropologists and students of religion. This is to say nothing of the fascination these stories hold for readers of popular religious literature. Zaleski writes, "to refuse the challenge to interpret near-death literature is only to widen the gap between academic theology and popular religious concerns." Carol Zaleski is a lecturer on the study of religion at Harvard University and this volume, originally her Harvard dissertation, is a carefully argued, insightful, and readable revision of the original manuscript. It includes sixty pages of notes and references that are available for the further pursuit of this research, which Zaleski wants to encourage. The first to put these experiences in historical perspective, this study begins with an overview of the otherworld journey as it has recurred throughout the world's religious traditions and especially as it has appeared in Western Christian history from the sixth to the early thirteenth century. In Zaleski's view, this historical period is comparable to our own, because, in such documents as

52. Journey Home: What Near-Death Experiences And Mysticism Teach Us 1 stumblers, Journey Home What neardeath experiences and mysticism Teach Us.GeorgeKao GeorgeKao GeorgeKao Top 100 Books. http://www.stumbleupon.com/book/journey_home_what_neardeath_experiences_and_myst

stumblers 1 stumblers Journey Home: What Near-Death Experiences and Mysticism Teach Us GeorgeKao Top 100 Books

53. ..and The Big Picture that science knows the roots and mysticism knows the branches and the challenge of Documentation on near death experiences and Out of the Body http://www.ozi.com/ourplanet/physics.html

The alignment of our intelligence and intent with that of the universe.. ..in a sacred act! New insights have emerged in the last 30 years: In 1977 Ilya Prigogine received a Nobel Peace Prize in Chemistry for The Theory of Dissipative Structures. When certain elements are put together in whole systems and then subjected to stress, the parts intelligently re-organise into a new whole and the system escapes into a higher order His findings bridged the critical gap between biology and physics - the missing link between living systems and the supposedly lifeless universe in which they arose. It explains irreversible processes in Nature - the movement towards higher and higher orders of Life. This was further proof that we have a rich, creative Universe that is intelligent and has an inherant self-ordering component and quality. Ilya Prigogine's Theory of Dissipative Structures can be likened to a "flowing wholeness", that is highly organised but always in process and that nature is in actuality saturated with order and equilibrium. Since the 1980's - ' Chaos Theory ' and ' Fractals ' have become very recent scientific studies of open systems. Qualities found within Mandelbrot fractals have been shown to have a self- ordering component in them too.

54. Interview With Fred M. Frohock, Author Of Lives Of The Psychics: The Shared Worl A. near death experiences. They often occur in clinical settings (though they cannot Lives of the Psychics The Shared Worlds of Science and mysticism http://www.press.uchicago.edu/Misc/Chicago/265862in.html

"A fresh, original, undogmatic investigation of a wide range of paranormal phenomena and a vivid sketch of the personalities involved. The stories of 'classic' psychics make for engrossing and highly entertaining reading, and I know of no other book that encompasses such a variety of psychic phenomena and handles it in such a compelling fashion." Carol Zaleski, Smith College, author of The Life of the World to Come "In this carefully researched book, Fred Frohock has undertaken what very few serious academics have been willing to do, namely to break the silence that has surrounded study of the unseen realms that in our culture are called 'paranormal' or 'supernatural.' In so doing he is helping to break the stranglehold that a narrowly materialist worldview has had upon our society's intellectual, cultural, and spiritual life. He is to be commended for his courage, for by entering this field he is taking a professional risk." John E. Mack, M.D., Harvard Medical School, author of

55. Book Of THoTH - Dreams & Dreaming - Dream Lucidity And Near-Death Experience reinforced by my studies in Eastern mysticism since the NDE, Dream Lucidityand neardeath Experience Login/Create an Account 0 comments http://www.book-of-thoth.com/article972.html

The Truth That Sets Us Free Is The Truth Which Some Prefer Not To Hear Anonymous user - Register Free / Register Home Forums Sitemap ... Library Main Menu Resources Article Synopsis Article Archive Mind of Dolphin The Library ... Site Map Discussion Forums Check New Check Mine Check Unanswered ... BoT-BlogS Leisure Virtual Tours Games I Games II Retro-Games ... Random Conspiracy Information Most Popular Divination Surveys Analysis Report ... Event Calendar Personal My Settings Private Messages My Journal My Profile ... Link To Us sommaire_showhide('sommaire-2','nok','sommaireupdown-2');sommaire_showhide('sommaire-3','nok','sommaireupdown-3');sommaire_showhide('sommaire-4','nok','sommaireupdown-4');sommaire_showhide('sommaire-5','nok','sommaireupdown-5');sommaire_showhide('sommaire-6','nok','sommaireupdown-6');; Status Welcome Anonymous Nickname Password Register Membership: Latest: WrinklyNinja New Today: New Yesterday: Overall: Online Now [28]: Visitors: Members: © (C) Site Search Page Views We've had page views since January 2004 Free BoT Wallpapers Click for full picture. F5 to see another THoTH BoT THoTHBoT : Hello You!

56. Children And The Near-Death Phenomenon Another Viewpoint Stories of children s neardeath experiences are compellingly heavenly, My first near-death experience occurred when I was 13 years old, in September of http://www.cinemind.com/atwater/childex.html

Please feel free to print out or "Save as... Text" this article to your hard drive. (Microsoft Explorer browsers may lose spacing between paragraphs.) "Children and the Near-Death Phenomenon" Another Viewpoint Published in the Journal of Near-Death Studies, Vol 15. No. 1, Fall 1996, pages 5-16. P.M.H.Atwater, L.H.D., Ph.D. (Hon.) P. O. Box 7691 Charlottesville, VA 22906-7691 the experience to an investigation of the phenomenon, a switch in focus that will enable us to address aftereffects as well as episodes. The proverbial "rest of the story" is as critical for children as for adults, with the same abundance of positives and negatives. The following is a case in point: I was very small when I had my near-death experience. When I could run and play like the other kids again, I'd go from room to room. I'd look under the beds, in the closets, behind the doors and furniture from the top of the house to the bottom other people's houses, too. I'd look and look, but I never found them. They loved me. I know they did. They were warm and wonderful and bright with light. They came to me when I died and they left when I breathed again. I looked for years and years. Sometimes I'd curl up underneath my bed and cry. Why couldn't I find them? Where did they go? Why did they leave me in a place where no on cared and no one loved me? Was I that bad that they couldn't return? Lynn described in detail what it was like to be resuscitated. Among other things, she heard a man say, "Hit her again," as a jolt of current rocked here body. The jolt was so painful she tried to scream, but couldn't. Blackness came. Hours later she awoke hooked up to a myriad of tubes, unable to speak but fascinated by shadows moving among the medical staff. She came to realize these shadows were people who had died there. It didn't take long before she could watch "death" take place, could see the soul as it exited the body. Hospitalized for a month, she was released earlier than planned, because she talked so much to people who had died and to the misplaced souls, that her doctor was convinced she would go crazy if she stayed any longer.

57. 17 Near-Death Experience Accounts From Beyond The Light Seventeen CaseStudies of the near-death Experience Follow switching fromatheism to mysticism after his near-death experience at the age of thirty-four http://www.iands.org/pmh17.html

Building Global Understanding of Near-Death Experiences Home About NDEs About IANDS Research ... Common After Effects Read article by Peter Fenwick, MD, leading researcher on NDEs, summarizing 30 years of research. Join IANDS Free book offer! Check out the new IANDS Shopping Cart 17 Near-Death Experience Accounts from Beyond the Light Beyond the Light , originally in hardcover, Birch Lane Press, New York City (reprinted as a paperback through Avon Books, New York City, 1995 - ISBN: 0-380-72540-1) Seventeen Case-Studies of the Near-Death Experience Follow An example of the out-of-body component of the near-death experience is the case of Jazmyne Cidavia-DeRepentigny of Hull Georgia. She died on the operating table during surgery in late 1979 (pages 10-11, paperback version, "BEYOND THE LIGHT"): "I must say that this experience was quite unsettling to say the least. I was floating over my body. I could see and hear everything that was being said and done. I left the room for a short while and then returned to where my body lay. I knew why I died. It was because I couldn't breathe. There was a tube down my throat and the medical staff did not have an oxygen mask on my nose. I had also been given too much anesthetic. "In my out-of-body state, I'm using my mind to try and make my right arm and hand move - my arms are extended parallel to my physical body. I want my right hand to move, any thing to move. I was trying to pull the tube out of my mouth. I looked down at my face and tears were streaming. One of the nurses blotted the tears from my face but she didn't notice my breathing had stopped, nor did she see me next to her. At this point, I'm trying really hard to make my physical arm move, but it's like my whole body is made of lead."

58. Melvin MORSE: NEWSLETTER Once we understand the science of the near death experience, I want to studythe effects of near death experiences on the human immune system, http://www.melvinmorse.com/letter.htm

THE NEWSLETTER A YEAR LONG COURSE IN UNDERSTANDING THE "GOD MODULE", OUR BIOLOGICAL LINK WITH A CONSCIOUS UNIVERSE Volume 1, a total of 13 newsletters, is already complete. I am beginning Volume 2 in May of 2004 I will be presenting recent scientific advances which suggest that we are all biologically interconnected, with each other and the universe. Once we understand the science of the near death experience, we will understand the true nature of our own intuition. We will see how this "god module" is responsible for spiritual visions, mind-body healing, angel encounters, paranormal talents, past life memories, and psychic dreams. I will even demonstrate that much of what we feel is UFO contact is actually right temporal perceptions of other realities. This scientific paradigm may result in a cultural paradigm shift that will change our myths about death and can transform our lives. We will learn that it is not just about a warm fuzzy way to die: Near Death research can save society hundreds of millions of wasted dollars spent on irrational medical procedures currently spent on the dying. THE NEWSLETTER COMES OUT ROUGHLY ONCE A MONTH PLEASE SUBSCRIBE Your subscription supports this website and my research. My goal is to have 10,000 subscribers, which would allow me to fund two major studies. I want to study the effects of near death experiences on the human immune system, and how to best use spiritual visions in grief work. Your subscriptions can make this happen.

59. Recommended Reading (from Survival Of Bodily Death Conference Summary), Esalen C 1984. The neardeath Experience Problems, prospects, perspectives. Charles C.Thomas. Stace, WT 1987. mysticism and Philosophy. Los Angeles Tarcher. http://www.esalenctr.org/display/confpage.cfm?confid=3&pageid=30&pgtype=4

60. Politics Of Mysticism form at the end of a long dark tunnel when they undergo a neardeath experience . We may wish that mysticism was devoid of culture, or personal bias, http://www.geocities.com/eckcult/lane3.html

THE POLITICS OF MYSTICISM Perhaps the most problematic issue confronting transpersonalists is the veracity of inner experiences. For many involved in new religious groups mystical encounters, like near-death and out-of-body excursions, offer evidence of their respective guru's rightful position or succession. This has been especially acute in several Sant Mat related groups, particularly Kirpal Singh's Ruhani Satsang, where mastership disputes are often resolved by resorting to one's inner meditation experiences. But there is a rub in all this that for the most part lies uninspected by those newly initiated. No doubt a religious devotee may use such experiences as proof for the authenticity of his/her guru or group, but what he/she fails to realize is that there are thousands, if not millions, of people who also claim personal revelations which convince them of the truthfulness of their chosen path. Even Elvis has hundreds of devotees who see his radiant form at the end of a long dark tunnel when they undergo a near-death experience. So if someone in Memphis can see Elvis in their meditation, are we then supposed to believe in the spiritual mastership of Elvis? Don't get me wrong, I am the first to admit that the King had some great songs during his career, but just because a crew of devoted fans have glimpses of him in the alleged after-life does not constitute documented proof of his spiritual attainment. What is the primary difference between a fundamentalist Christian and a mystically inclined yogi, especially when it comes to evaluating their ultimate truth claims? Both think they have uncovered the truth. The former by the revealing "Word" of the Bible; the latter by the manifesting inner "Word" of the higher regions. Yet, in both cases, the neophyte is subject to doubt, to skepticism, to deception, since revelations of truth (both inner and outer) are manifold. The Muslims have their Koran; the Sikhs have their Guru Granth Sahib; and the Christians have their Bible. And, for the mystics, yogis, and sages who turn inward what do we find? The Hare Krsnas' see Lord Krishna; the Saivites see Lord Shiva; and Ruhani Satsangis (depending upon your affiliation) see Sant Darshan Singh, or Sant Thakar Singh, or Sant Ajaib Singh.

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