Mysticism remains a contested concept: some view it as vague or mysterious, others as instantly producible by chemical drugs, some as a revitalizing force for religion, and others as unbiblical. This philosophical essay reviews definitions and typologies of mysticism from various authors, examines the possibility of instant chemically induced mystical experiences, and surveys recent research to clarify what mysticism entails.
Eliot's 'Burnt Norton' uses Heraclitus's opposition and interdependence between logos and flux to explore three relationships: temporality and eternity, God and humanity, and structured art versus chaotic experience. The poem's key moments, such as the 'moment in and out of time', may stem from Eliot's personal mystical experiences. Comparing Eliot's poetic rendering with Richard Maurice Bucke's 1901 description of cosmic consciousness reveals similarities but also essential differences: Eliot offers a purely Christian interpretation of the intersection of time and eternity, whereas Bucke takes a more universalist approach. For Eliot, access to eternity comes through temporal human experience, art's timeless configurations, and ultimately Christ as the embodiment of divine love.