We assess St. Paul's account of kenōsis in Philippians 2:5–8 from a neurophenomenological horizon. We argue that kenōsis is not primarily a unique event but belongs to a class of experiences that could be called kenotic and are, at least in principle, to some degree accessible to all human beings. These experiences can be well analyzed, making use of both a phenomenological approach and the...
The article focuses on the exploration of the under-researched area of the philosophy of mathematics, as presented by Valerian Nikolaevich Muravyov (1885–1930). The article focuses on concepts related to set theory, Pythagoreanism, and mathematical mysticism, with a particular emphasis on Muravyov’s concept of dialectical construction of plurality. Muravyov developed this concept based on the...
The present article explores Daoist effortless meditation with particular attention to its association with the inner cultivation lineages of classical Daoism (ca. 350–ca. 90 BCE). In addition to discussing the technical specifics of the practice, including its intimate connection to wúwéi 無為 (lit., ‘without acting/doing’; non-action/effortlessness), consideration is given to related...
The recent mainstreaming of psychedelics has distanced itself from the countercultural image of the past, yet the question of whether psychedelics are political remains pressing. What happens when psychedelics meet politics?On one hand lies the politics of the unitive mystical experience: harmony, beyond good & evil, beyond space & time, and with love to all. Studying ayahuasca groups of...
William Blake (1757-1827) is a unique romantic poet who has been labelled unorthodoxly by critics as a visionary, mad, and mystic, Mysticism has multiple facets; however, this study views his poetry considering a Muslim perspective as propounded by Ibn-e-Arabi (1165-1240). He is known as Sheikh-e-Akbar (The Great Master), who has systematised mysticism as per the teachings and scriptures of...
This cross-cultural study undertakes a comparative analysis of Hegel's concept of Geist as Absolute Immanent Totality and Ibn 'Arabi's mystical doctrine of the Unity of Being, characterized by absolute Transcendence and Hiddenness. By establishing a con- nection with Plato's notion of "the One" as "beyond Being" (ἐπέκεινα τῆς οὐσίας), which aligns with negative theology where the One surpasses...
Griffiths et al.'s recent "Effects of Psilocybin on Religious and Spiritual Attitudes and Behaviors in Clergy from Various Major World Religions" is an important study in the literature on psychedelic medicine and religious experience. In this commentary on the study, we argue: (1) The study design's implicit presupposition of perennialism in its conception of mysticism burdens it with...
The book Divine Knowledge in the Mystical and Sadraean Tradition by Seyyed Ahmad Ghaffari Qarabagh is a profound and systematic study of one of the most intricate theological and philosophical topics in Islamic thought: divine knowledge. The author adopts a comparative approach, examining and contrasting the perspectives of Islamic mysticism (particularly Ibn ʿArabī and his followers) and Mullā...
TeosofiDecember 1, 2025Muhammad Ahmad Ibrahim Aljahsh
Classical Sufi manuals present the spiritual stages achieved through disciplined Sufi practice. This article argues that the seventh/thirteenth-century mystic Muh}yī al-Dīn Ibn ‘Arabī reimagined the spiritual stations as ontological realities rather than behavioral achievements. Through a systematic reading of the twenty-second chapter of his Meccan Revelations in dialogue with his fellow Sufi...
This study presents a comparative investigation of the notions of mokṣa (Liberation) in Advaita Vedānta, as interpreted by Śaṅkarācārya, and fanāʾ (Annihilation of the Self) in Sufism, as explained by Mawlānā Jalāl al-Dīn Rūmī. The research portrays mokṣa as the ultimate realization of the individual self’s (ātman) identity with the universal absolute reality, Brahman. This state is achieved...
The Contemplation Sutra is central to the Pure Land Buddhist tradition, although its philosophical elements have received little scholarly study beyond doctrinal exegesis. This paper addresses the sutra as a systematic "salvific paradigm," using phenomenological tools to explain the fundamental patterns of religious awareness and soteriological orientation. Through rigorous examination of the...
This article examines the integration of mysticism, spirituality, Sufism, and neurotheology as a means to bridge the spiritual and biological dimensions of human religious experience. Mysticism is interpreted as the pinnacle of transrational religious experience, while spirituality is viewed as a progressive development of ethical and inner consciousness. Sufism, as the mystical path of Islam,...
This essay examines one of the most enduring theological paradoxes in biblical literature-the hardening of Pharaoh’s heart-through the interpretive lens of the Me’or Einayim of Chernobyl (R. Menachem Nachum Twersky, 1730-1797), a foundational text in early Hasidic thought. The biblical narrative presents a profound dilemma: if God hardens Pharaoh’s heart, how can Pharaoh be held morally...
Contemporary interpretations of psychedelic spirituality are dominated by the “mystical experience model,” which emphasizes that psychedelics can lead to well-being through bringing about ego dissolution and a unitive mystical experience. Rooted in perennialist and dualist assumptions—often derived from Christian mysticism, Vedanta, and Plotinian Neoplatonism—this framework has shaped both...
Mystical experiences are generally considered to be rare and special experiences, characterized by feelings of unity and self-loss. Still, certain researchers have recently proposed that mystical experiences could be placed on a continuum with more common and mundane experiences. In this paper, we present the results of an exploratory study, the goal of which was to identify ordinary...
ABSTRACT This article investigates the neurophysiological basis of autonomously induced mystical states of consciousness (MSCs), with a focus on speculative mysticism, a tradition that centers on intellectual contemplation rather than emotional or sensuous experience. Drawing from historical sources, the paper explores the role of paradox and contradiction in mystical thought. It argues that...
Shamanism is one of the earliest examples of mankind’s healing modalities, beginning with African bushmen such as the Kalahari Kung. Some Africans and others still use trance dancing and medicinal substances to heal themselves and their patients, whether for free or through barter. Traditional Chinese Medicine (approximately 5,000 years old) heals the body and mind through affordable herbs or...
Algernon Blackwood's fascination with the concept of the personal ‘cage’ and the potential for liberation is central to both his worldview and literary legacy. This article explores these themes in his early, often-overlooked story, ‘The Eccentricity of Simon Parnacute ’, examining its depiction of emotional repression and freedom, particularly within the context of early twentieth-century...
Rabindranath Tagore’s poetry embodies a profound synthesis of spiritual philosophy and artistic expression, where the essence of Sufism becomes a central lens to understand his vision of divine love and unity. This paper explores how Tagore’s poetic universe resonates with Sufi concepts of Ishq (divine love), Fana (self-annihilation), and Tawhid (oneness of being), revealing an intense quest...
Abstract In my paper, I will explore the web of meanings constructed through the poetics of air and breath in a 16th century text Haqā’iq-i Hindī. My approach will view the Sufi-Bhakti interaction in early modern South Asia through lateral processes of knowledge formation, which found common ground in the emphasis on embodied rituals. This dialogue for both traditions shared a common grammar of...