Mysticism and Spiritualism in the Contemporary Era: Fostering Mental Resilience Amid Modern Challenges
Panji Guniwa Aria Awangga, Muhtar Solihin, Cucu Setiawan, Muhlas Muhlas
Jurnal Iman dan Spiritualitas February 18, 2026 DOI: 10.15575/jis.v6i1.48580 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Descriptive-qualitative analysis Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Interventions | meditation kataphatic contemplation guided visualization |
| Topics | Buddhism Mysticism |
| Keywords | Existentialism Spirituality Humility Introspection Transformative learning Mindset Spiritualism Reflexivity Mental health Epistemology Spiritual practice Thematic analysis Religious experience Autonomy Identity music Psychoanalysis Psychological resilience |
| Key findings | Mystical experiences, when ethically framed, can aid existential meaning-making and resilience, but their clinical integration requires navigating scientific, ethical, and cultural complexities. |
Abstract
This interdisciplinary study bridges psychology, neuroscience, and mystical theology to elucidate mysticism and spirituality's therapeutic role in mental health, particularly in cultivating resilience, emotional stability, and existential recovery. Through descriptive-qualitative analysis of empirical studies, classical theories, and sacred texts across traditions, it probes neurobiological underpinnings—such as Default Mode Network (DMN) dynamics in mystical states—and distinguishes these ethically/clinically from psychosis. Findings reveal that practices like meditation, kataphatic contemplation, and guided visualization modulate brain networks governing emotional regulation, empathy, moral cognition, and autobiographical memory. Framed within coherent ethical narratives, mystical experiences forge existential meaning, aiding adaptation to trauma, loss, and identity crises, thus transcending mere stress reduction toward transformative self-renewal. Yet integration into clinical practice demands navigating ethical complexities: scientific validation, religious bias risks, and safeguarding patient autonomy amid cultural diversity. This research proffers a holistic framework for spirituality in mental health care, urging epistemological openness, interfaith dialogue, and alignment with global models (e.g., US, UK, India, Canada). Ultimately, it posits existential insight and cultural humility as indispensable to contemporary psychological care.
Comparable studies
Other qualitative studies on mysticism, most cited first.
| Study | Year | Design | Participants |
|---|---|---|---|
| Qualitative and Quantitative Features of Music Reported to Support Peak Mystical Experiences during Psychedelic Therapy Sessions Individuals with extensive experience administering psilocybin or psilocybin-containing... | 2017 | Survey and qualitative/quantitative analysis | n = 10 |
| Common Core Thesis and Qualitative and Quantitative Analysis of Mysticism in Chinese Buddhist Monks and Nuns Chinese Pure Land and Chan Buddhist monks and nuns | 2011 | Mixed-methods study | n = 139 |
| Do Drugs Have Religious Import? A 40-Year Retrospective | 2004 | Interview | |
| Narratives of the mystical among users of psychedelics Psychedelic drug users | 2021 | Qualitative study | n = 50 |
| Auras in mysticism and synaesthesia: a comparison. Synaesthetes who experience colors in response to human faces and figures | 2012 | Qualitative study | n = 4 |