Spiritual awareness has extended a means through which mysticism thrives in one’s inner being as a divine self is manifested in an individual’s spirit. Intimacy is revealed in the world elements as nature provides us with mysticism through elements. Intuition, individual relations with the soul and divinity are the pillars of mysticism as a divineness is created between one and the creator. Mysticism, as existed in word religions since time memorial with most religions having their form of mysticism as spiritual individuals, created divinity with the Creator in their respective beliefs and religions. The aim of this paper is providing the comparisons and similarities due to mysticism with Christianity and other world religions mainly Buddhism.
Christian mysticism entails the union with God to achieve an eternal life that is created through the divinity of internal self-righteousness in the path of the mystical light in which the soul is intertwined with the Divine light as this is achieved through faith. Among the Protestants, the divinity of the soul is made through knowledge of the bad and the evil to create a Divine nature with the soul and with God. Christian mysticism can be manifested in various religions that include Catholicism, Protestant mysticism, and early orthodox mysticism. Buddhism, on the other hand, was a combination of various beliefs that had the proponents of faith and tradition.
Buddhism and Christianity possess various similarities about mysticism in that both had similar ideas about the manner in which mysticism could be integrated into an individual for one's divine self. Buddhism is a testification of the basics insufficiencies of the changing realm. Therefore, through divination Buddhism proposes a way of life through which perfect liberation can be achieved through trust and confidence as individuals strive to attain supreme illumination as a cause of divine assistance as stated by Harvey (p. 70). Christianity, on the other hand, accepts a manner of living that is considerate of both liberations from the travesties of life according to Harvey (p. 173). Enlightenment was a common theme in both Buddhism and Christianity through the use of self-realization. A mystical experience in the two religions strived for self-realization through oneness as it lies at the very pinnacle of Buddhism as well as Christianity in a similar fashion to Jesus being one with his Father so does man strive to become one with God according to Harvey (p.170). Spiritual beings travel in mystery as they are merged into reality with God.
Buddhists and Christians all borrow from each other as they are of the similar opinion that eternity lies within an individual’s self. Christians consider the achievement of the Kingdom of God as a seed that is geared towards the growth of one’s consciousness similar to the Buddhist thought process that links the growth of an individual’s self-consciousness as that of a seed according to Harvey (p.70). To achieve the highest degree of one’s consciousness meditation and prayer are critical to our internal growth that puts us in touch with our inner self. Both religions had common inferences in mysticism for the disdain of material pleasures. Belief in divinity for personal growth was against material pleasures as this would not aid in the achievement of self-divinity and mysticism. Material things drive one away from the achievement of complete internal control to achieve self-divination as stated by Harvey (p.171). Additionally, the two religions are similar in manner as they both desire for Divine Edification. Edification in Christianity is achieved through the revelations of the Lord to the Spirit in deep thought to understand better the mystification of divineness in our Hearts according to Harvey (p.171). Serenity through wisdom is rooted in Buddhism to help edify the divine self and transition one into a consistent smooth inner self. Devotion is a commonality between the two religions as both strive to achieve a personal relationship with the divine beings.
Differences that exists between the two religions is in the use of mysticism for what is to be made at the end. Buddhism through self-devotion aims at the achievement of reincarnation at the end through rebirth in various forms. Continuity through personal existence is manifested in the rebirth process. There is the creation of an illusion of rebirth thus the need for reabsorption into Ultimate reality. In the Christian context rebirth is not existent, but rather mysticism and closeness to the divine being will lead to eternity. According to Harvey (p.172), Eternity in this context is mystified through the use of the soul that is to attain eternal bliss with the divine being. Either Christianity brings us closer to God through mystification as Christians can achieve mysticism through suffering. However, the same cannot be said of Buddhism. Buddhism is of the opinion that one must stay away from suffering at all costs as a core element in Buddhism.
Christianity bases its mysticism in being one with the divine being that is God through fostering of relationships that bind us together with God. In contrast, Buddhism does not concern itself with the existence of God and neither is worship considered however non-self (anatman) is what is sought in a mystified religion. Another significant difference that is existent is the religion of both Buddhism and mysticism is the rationality of the belief of the truth that is known through divine revelation according to Christianity. Buddhism is founded on the belief of existential reality as nothing is believed to be existent even the self. The differences and similarities in mysticism between the two religions have been aforementioned above as both religions used mysticism in the various forms.
References.
The Essential Mystics: Selections From The World's Great Wisdom Tradition. Andrew harvey, 1996. Print.
