Thursday, March 10, 2011

Mysticism without Metaphysics

Mysticism without Metaphysics
by Scott Bradley


For personal reasons I seek a way free of belief. By belief I mean faith which has an objective focus — a god, a creed, a salvation, an enlightenment...in a word, metaphysics. Metaphysics explains things. Mysticism experiences them. This is one reason why I have become so enamored with Zhuangzi; his critique of all objective knowing likewise applies to belief. And he found a way of mysticism without recourse to myth.

Many find that belief works fine for them, thank you very much. Who am I to object or dispute? Others might say that cynicism and despair are a way much more honest and noble. I say, ‘whatever turns you on’ and go laughing all the way to the...grave.

You can check out Scott's other miscellaneous writings here.

4 comments:

  1. laughing all the way to the...grave? Do I detect cynicism and belief embedded in this laughter?

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  2. With most men, unbelief in one thing springs from blind belief in another.
    Georg Christoph Lichtenberg

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  3. I see no cynicism. Both the cynic and the laughing mystic are destined for the grave. Might as well be the latter, eh?

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  4. What is the laughing sage laughing "at"? That is the question to ask. Is it just an innocence laughter without thought and pious attitude or is something else swelling up from within?

    In regards to preference of the later being laughter over being a cynic, why choose between the two? Is there any other choice to consider?

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