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Cosmic Mysticism: Quest for the Absolute in the Works of Tagore and Sri Aurobindo

Swati Samantaray

International Journal of Applied Linguistics & English Literature November 19, 2016 DOI: 10.7575/aiac.ijalel.v.6n.1p.298 (opens in new tab)

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AI-extracted from the abstract
Characteristics Theoretical or philosophical paper Peer reviewed
Topics Mysticism
Citations 2
Key points Argues that Tagore and Sri Aurobindo, though depicting cosmic mysticism differently, share an analogous thematic purpose: the spiritualization of earthly life, grounded in the belief that God pervades all Nature and that spiritual intuition enables individuals to become conscious of their own divinity. The paper contends that their works display a cosmic trinity of mind, body, and soul and are committed to cosmic consciousness and social amelioration.

Abstract

Cosmic mysticism is an immediate experience of oneness with God by means of ecstatic and wordless contemplation. The Indian Renaissance poets Rabindranath Tagore and Sri Aurobindo are spiritual humanists who believe that the entire creation is pervaded by the presence of God. Their exceptional minds have an instinctive urge to synthesize and transform, transmute and transcend the aspects of reality. They regard humans as a replica of the Divine Spirit and hence they value man's ideals and aspirations. Their ways of depicting this is very different, albeit their works bear an analogous thematic purpose, which is cosmic mysticism. This paper delineates the perception of cosmic mysticism in the works of Tagore and Aurobindo. The central theme of their writings – the spiritualization of earthly life – rests on their beliefs that God exists in all of Nature and that spiritual intuition makes it possible for every individual to become conscious of their own divinity. The poets display the cosmic trinity of mind, body and soul in their works and are committed to achieving cosmic consciousness and social amelioration.Keywords: Mysticism, Divine, spirituality, nature, love, philosophy, inspiration, humanism

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