International Journal Middle East Studies
November 1, 1979
Khalil I. H. Semaan
1 citation
It is customary to view the mystic and his experience from at least three angles: the theological, the philosophical, and the psychological. To be sure, the mystical experience represents an extraordinary phenomenon of the highest psychological complexity. Mysticism, nowadays, in this age of Aquarius, many would dismiss as a sick or superstitious accident; on the other hand, those who are...
The Canadian Journal of Psychiatry
March 1, 1979
J E Runions
6 citations
This paper reviews the phenomenology of the mystical experience and its varied contexts epilepsy, toxicity, organic brain syndromes, the major psychoses and hysterical dissociative states as well as in apparently normal persons. The impact of the experience on the personality is noted and its significance briefly reviewed. The author notes that two fallacies await the unwary psychiatrist: the...
New Blackfriars
November 1, 1978
Simon Tugwell
In some, perhaps most, cultures metaphysics and mysticism belong together. Even in our own society organizations which bear the name ‘metaphysical’ are likely, an examination, to be found to be concerned primarily with more or less mystical and esoteric doctrines and practices. But it is still typical of the Anglo-Saxon academic world that philosophers have, on the whole, not been frightfully...
American Journal of Psychotherapy
October 1, 1978
E G Solomon, A K Bumpus
The physical technique of slow, long distance running and the mental centering devices of T. M. are combined, using hypnosis in some cases, to enhance a "peak experience," or altered state of consciousness. Indications and contraindications to this technique are described for various psychiatric, psychosomatic and somatic syndromes, and its use as an adjunct to formal individual and group...
Religious Studies
June 1, 1978
James Kellenberger
10 citations
In recent years the issue of whether mysticism can be induced by drugs has been pursued by both scholars of mystical literature and psychological researchers. R. C. Zaehner is perhaps the best known among the scholars of religious literature who have addressed the issues of drug-induced mysticism. While on the side of empirical psychology investigators such as Walter N. Pahnke, R. E. L....
The Thomist: A Speculative Quarterly Review
1978
Reiner Schürmann
10 citations
THE LOSS OF THE ORIGIN IN SOTO ZEN AND IN MEISTER ECKHART SEVERAL JAPANESE AUTHORS who have come into contact with the Western tradition have underlined similarities between key concepts in Zen Buddhism and in Meister Eckhart.1 Sometimes their statements, for instance Suzuki's, betray a rather superficial acquaintance with the schools of thought that intersectinEckhart'shighly syncretistic...
The Journal of Nervous and Mental Disease
September 1, 1977
Bruce Greyson
31 citations
The belief that one can read others' minds has long been considered a symptom of psychosis, despite reports in the parapsychological literature of veridical telepathy. All patients admitted to an inpatient psychiatric unit were screened for paranormal beliefs, and those claiming telepathic abilities were tested in a free-response ESP task. Eighteen per cent of the inpatient population claimed...
Journal of the history of philosophy
July 1, 1977
Daniel Cook
19 citations
James's "Ether Mysticism" and Hegel DANIEL J. COOK THROUGHOUT HIS LIFE, James was a persistent critic of Hegel and Hegelianism . Very often he attacked Hegel with derision as well as earnest argument. One attitude that has been cited as evidence of James's light-hearted and cavalier treatment of Hegel concerns his comments on Hegel while under the influence of nitrous oxide (N20). In this paper...
Journal of Drug Issues
July 1, 1977
Charles W. Swain
The concern of this article is to examine the conceptual framework within which drug-induced ecstasy has been compared to and/or used to interpret religious mysticism. No attempt is made to theorize about the “true” nature of either kind of experience; rather the author articulates the underlying assumptions and examines the social setting within which such discussions are carried on. The...
Journal of the American Academy of Religion
1977
William J. Wainwright
3 citations
Part I examines Walter Stace's classification of mystical experience, R. C. Zahner's criticism of that classification, and Ninian Smart's response to Zaehner. Zaehner rightly faults Stace for distorting theistic mysticism and for ignoring the Hindu tradition of love mysticism. Smart's criticisms of Zaehner are to the point, though inconclusive. However, his own thesis is incoherent. If (as he...