Developing a Mystical Perspective

The mystical perspective varies according to the religion and faith from which it arose. The development of a mystical perspective is different from the normal perspective of the rest of the world, and this can prove to be a barrier to those who are seeking to learn more about mysticism, its processes and techniques. This is even made more difficult by the fact that most mystic texts are written in esoteric and ambiguous terms, which may or may not be filled with hidden meanings. This is in contrast to the perspective of the mystic who sees and understands mystic texts and perspectives as pragmatic and devoid of subtext or weight.

Developing a mythical perspective is often aided by the use of canonical and non-canonical texts, which are often interpreted hermeneutically in order to come up with a philosophical perspective that is different from conventional religious doctrines and viewpoints. Many forms of mysticism were developed from various collections of the texts from different religions and faiths.

In Christianity, the development of the mystical perspective is focused on one ultimate goal: becoming Christ, fully human and yet fully divine. In his book Mysticism in Religion, W.R. Inge quoted a statement made by Otto Pfleiderer which expressed this idea fully: "Mysticism is the immediate feeling of the unity of the self with God."

The development of the mystical perspective can be aided by various strategies such as frequent reference and meditation on religious and spiritual literature, which often come in the form of aphorisms, poems, riddles and metaphysical contradictions as well as parables, humor and humorous stories.

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