John Cottingham argues that traditional university modules in the philosophy of religion take us into a ‘very abstract domain that is often far removed from religion as it actually operates in the life of the believer’. This paper makes four moves based on Cottingham. First, it argues that the application of Ludwig Wittgenstein’s methods supports and facilitates a shift to the anthropological...
Abstract Background and Aims Networks of so-called underground, or illegal, psilocybin mushroom practitioners are popularly known to exist, though few systematic investigations of their practices have been conducted. We sought to uncover the experiences of a hidden community of psilocybin practitioners in order to inform scientific and policy dialogues about safe and effective practices in this...
The term 'cosmic consciousness' is mostly used either as an ontological fundamental in metaphysics or to name a mystical experience (event). It was first popularized as a psychological state, an evolutionary attainment following the event, while extension of the mystical experience over time comprises another state, for which the term is also used. Drawing on a personal journey of discovery...
Psychedelic-Assisted Therapy (PAT) is gaining traction as a novel approach to addressing the psychological and existential distress experienced by patients. This systematic review aimed to investigate the impact of PAT on spirituality, mystical experiences, and spiritual well-being (SpWB) in patients with life-threatening, incurable, or terminal illnesses. A comprehensive search was conducted...
In this collection of essays on major authors and genres of medieval Persian mystical literature, established scholars in the field share their scholarship on one of their favorite subjects. Breaking out of the all-inclusive literary history framework, they write on the choice topics that energized their scholarship over time. The topics are varied. How to interpret the climactic conclusion to...
Adopting a transdisciplinary approach, with specific emphasis on the post-Jungian transpersonal psychological theories on the ‘Spectrum of Human Consciousness’, this paper introduces a transpersonal psychological thread of understanding of ‘Mystical Consciousness’ through an interreligious field of comparative religious approaches to action, contemplation and non-action. This paper draws on...
January 23, 2025Mai M. Younis, Ahmed M. Elissawy, Samir M. Osman et al.
Salvia divinorum Epling & Játiva, commonly named diviner’s sage, magic mint, or mystic sage, is a potent hallucinogenic plant belonging to the mint family (Lamiaceae). It is endemic to Oaxaca, Mexico, and grown in California and other regions in the United States. It is a small to medium-sized shrub characterized by its distinctive thick quadrangular stem, elliptical large leaves, and violet...
In the current digital era, despite technological advancements and increased access to education, there remains a significant population in Indonesia that believes in traditional healing practices associated with ‘mystical’ illnesses. One such illness is sawan. This research aims to provide a comprehensive description of the forms, factors, as well as treatments or prevention of sawan through...
This chapter provides an introduction to the lives of the Hindu sages Sri Ramana Maharshi and Sri Aurobindo, with significant implications for the understanding of Hinduism, interfaith dialogue, and mystical consciousness. The inquiry focuses on Ramana’s and Aurobindo’s existential functions as rishis, avatars, and gurus in India, taking into account their physical locations and their...
This chapter focuses on the implications of the mystical experiences and realizations of Ramana, Aurobindo, and the Christian interfaith pioneers in India for Hindu-Christian interfaith dialogue. The phenomenological commitment is to respect both mystical and worldly experiences, that is, to see both the divine and the human narratives. It leads to an understanding of Hinduism and Christianity...