What Does The Term “Mysticism” In Literature Mean?

Mysticism, a term used in world literature, refers to the belief in union with the divine nature through ecstatic contemplation and spiritual access to ultimate reality. This practice often involves transcendental states of consciousness and is characterized by an intense realization of the difference between things of this world and the great. The term has been criticized for its irresponsible application in English, making it difficult for scholars to define it.

Mysticism is a spiritual practice that seeks direct communion with the divine or ultimate reality through personal experience, often involving transcendental states of consciousness. C. F. E. Spurgeon’s book Mysticism in English Literature, first published in 1913, provides a precise definition of mysticism, focusing on its etymology, history, and traditions.

Mysticism is popularly known as becoming one with God or the Absolute, but can also refer to any kind of ecstasy or altered state of consciousness. In the strictest sense, mysticism is the direct, intuitional experience of God through unifying love. It is a religious practice where people search for truth, knowledge, and closeness to God through meditation and prayer.

The essence of mysticism is to believe that everything we see and know is symbolic of something greater. Mysticism is a form of poetry that explores the relationship between mysticism and literature, with the understanding that it refers to experiences or phenomena that are fundamentally ineffable.