Remedies for Discontent?
John Blofeld
Routledge eBooks October 9, 2023 DOI: 10.4324/9781003442615-8 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Theoretical or philosophical paper Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Key points | Argues that mysticism offers no broad remedies for modern social ills, which require collective action, but may address individual discontent, and that Eastern mystical traditions transplanted to the West may flourish anew. Contends that attaining direct perception of reality demands unswerving dedication, and that the adept's particular religious affiliation is of doubtful importance. |
Abstract
Poverty of the tragic kind found, say, in India or Bangladesh demands vast-scale collective action and so does the terrifyingly rapid deterioration of the environment; but boredom and discontent in the midst of plenty are a problem for the individual and it is that the ancient mystical traditions may be looked to for an answer. Well, mysticism offers no broad remedies for modern ills. From the response aroused in the West by Ch‘an (Zen) and, more recently, tantric Buddhism, it seems possible that Eastern mystical traditions uprooted from their native soil are destined to flower anew beyond the seas. In all cases, to attain that direct perception of reality which is the crown of mystical experience requires an unswerving dedication that makes great demands upon the adept. Where the mystic’s path is concerned, there is a doubt that any real importance attaches to whether the adept subscribes to one religion or another.