The Expansion of Consciousness during Mystical Experiences: The Example of Moses
Religions October 21, 2022 Mona Jahangiri
During meditation, the brain undergoes changes that neuroscientists like Andrew Newberg link to self-transcendent experience (STE) or Absolute Unitary Being (AUB), which resemble mystical experiences across faiths. This paper examines the Islamic mystical concept of fanāʾ (annihilation of self) through the Qurʾānic story of Moses seeking to see God, falling unconscious from awe, and attaining a new consciousness. It aims to connect neuroscience with the mystical feeling of union with God, investigating whether spiritual experiences such as Moses' can be measured neuropsychologically. The paper presents different consciousness models and asks whether Newberg's STE or AUB theory equates to fanāʾ, and which psychological experience applies to Moses.