What is Mysticism?
[[File:Hildegard von Bingen Liber Divinorum Operum.jpg|thumb|''Liber Divinorum Operum'', or the Universal Man of St. [[Hildegard of Bingen]], 1185 (13th-century copy)]] '''Mysticism''' is the belief that people can ''directly'' experience [[God]] or true [[reality]], rather than through books, ritual or other people. People who practice this are called ''mystics''. Mystics exist within most [[religion]]s, though not all people who practice religions are mystics. Mystics may experience [[vision]]s or [[dream]]s, or hear God as a voice. ==Hindu mystics== Some examples of [[Hinduism|Hindu]] mystics: :[[Adi Sankara|Shankara]] :[[Ramakrishna Paramhansa|Sri Ramakrishna]] ==Christian mystics== Some examples of [[Christianity|Christian]] mystics: :[[Augustine of Hippo]] (354–430) :[[Pope Gregory I|Gregory I]] (590–604) :[[Bridget of Sweden]] (1303–1373) :[[John of the Cross]] (1542–1591) :[[George Fox]] (1624–1691) :[[William Blake]] (1757–1827) :[[Thomas Merton]] (1915–1968) ==Islamic mystics== Islamic Mysticism is known as ''Tassawuf'' (or Sufism) and a detailed list of [[Muslim]] Sufi mystics is given on the [[Sufism]] page. ==Jewish mystics== Some examples of [[Jew]]ish mystics: :[[Menachem Mendel Schneerson]] (1902-1994) ==Buddhist mystics== Some examples of [[Buddhism|Buddhist]] mystics: :[[Gautama Buddha|Siddhartha Gautama]] (563 BC-483 BC) :[[Bodhidharma]] (440-528) ==Related page== *[[Spirituality]] {{religion-stub}} [[Category:Theology]] [[Category:Reality]]