Psychology of Mystical Experience: Muḥammad and Siddhārtha

A comparison of the psychological states of Muhammad and Siddhartha examines how their mystical experiences occurred and how their presuppositions and personalities shaped interpretation. Muhammad's experience appeared based on an altered state of consciousness. Siddhartha's teachings, which include avoiding blind faith and remaining open to various truths, may reflect high openness to experience, potentially protecting him from delusion. Mystical experiences may have pathological overlaps and could be categorized similarly to psychological states, but mindful presuppositions and personality traits, especially openness to experience, make perceptions of these experiences diverse.

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Abstract

AbstractA comparison between Muḥammad and Siddhārtha's psychological states is made to identify how they had their mystical experiences and how their presuppositions and personalities shaped their interpretation of these experiences. Muḥammad's mystical experience appeared to be based on an altered state of consciousness. Siddhārtha's teachings include that one must not have blind faith and remain open to various truths. These teachings may reflect that he was high in openness to experience, which may have fortified him from becoming delusional. While mystical experiences may have pathological overlaps, they could be categorized in a similar way to psychological states. Yet, mindful presuppositions and personality traits, especially from within openness to experience spectrum, are what make perceptions of these experiences diverse.