MYSTICISM…SCIENCE …RELIGION
Dear Rafi Aamer,
Now
that you have inspired me to read Sam Harris’s book The End of Faith
, I am quite pre-occupied with a number of ideas that he has
presented in his book. In this letter I would like to share some of my
reflections on the last chapter titled Experiments in Consciousness.
Sam Harris has used the words spirituality and mysticism in
that chapter. Many atheists would wonder why a freethinker like Sam
Harris who has no respect for organized religions would like to use
religious terms. I can empathize with Sam Harris as I have faced similar
problems with my writings. Like me he is trying to focus on human
experience and discuss the psychological dimension of mysticism rather
than focusing on the theological and religious dimensions. In this way
the terms spirituality and mysticism are used with a special focus in
mind. We are sometimes forced to use those terms, as we do not have any
alternative words to focus on those aspects that we would like to
emphasize. Sam Harris is aware of that dilemma as he states, “I will use
both “spirituality” and “mysticism” interchangeably here, because there
are no alternatives, but the reader should remember that I am using them
in a restricted way.” p 205
The
discussion of spirituality and mysticism is a challenge for scientists
as they are used to logical, rational and conceptual thinking and
believe that spirituality and mysticism are illogical. They confuse
mysticism with religion. Harris states, “ Mysticism is a rational
enterprise. Religion is not.” The difference is that the tradition of
religion is engulfed with blind faith that does not welcome rational
discussion. On the other hand mysticism deals with human experiences
that are open to rational approach. That is why many psychiatrists and
psychologists like Richard Bucke, William James and Abraham Maslow
studied the personalities of mystics and their spiritual experiences
from the scientific and psychological points of view. Bucke related them
to Cosmic Consciousness and Maslow called them Peak
Experiences. I would like you to read Maslow’s book Religions,
Values and Peak Experiences to have a better understanding and
appreciation of such encounters.
Harris highlights in that chapter that Western scientists are so used to
logical and rational and analytical thinking that to conceive human
personalities and minds experiencing life without thinking is difficult
if not impossible for them. That is where Eastern Mysticism enriches our
appreciation of the human condition. Eastern Mystics have taught us that
human beings can learn to experience life without intellectualization.
They are more preoccupied by subjective rather than objective states of
mind and existence. In such lives thinking becomes a tool and is used
when needed. Experiencing life directly can be more enjoyable and
peaceful. The I of a person, in other words, his human consciousness, is
the thread, in which all experiences are connected like beads.
All
human beings have the potential to find that inner peace and happiness
if they can transcend the duality of the thinking mind. Such duality is
the source of conflict and tension and anxiety. Many such people get so
overwhelmed by that anxiety that they need to seek the counsel of
psychologists and psychotherapists. Western psychologists have used
meditation for relaxation techniques but for Eastern mystics the goal is
not just to relax but also to lead a peaceful life, full of love and
compassion for other human humans, animals and living beings. They want
to become better human beings.
I
believe the time has come for Western psychologists and Eastern mystics
to have a genuine dialogue. I have been working on that project for the
last ten years. I just finished my next book From Breakdowns to
Breakthroughs…Exploring the mysteries of Creativity, Insanity,
Spirituality and Psychotherapy in which I have written a chapter
Building a Bridge between Western Psychotherapy and Eastern Spirituality.
When the book is ready I will send you a copy as a gift.
When I meet those scientists and atheists who are critical of mysticism
I ask them not to focus on the differences but think of the
similarities. Science is very conceptual and mysticism is very
experiential and both disciplines can complement each other and both can
challenge traditional religions. I believe that scientists and the
mystics can breakdown the wall of blind faith, science from the outside
and mysticism from the inside thus paving the way to human growth,
evolution and enlightenment. That is why in my mind an ideal human being
has
…the
mind of a scientist
…the
heart of a poet
and
….the
personality of a mystic.
I
have many differences with Sam Harris and his book but this is one area
in which I agree with him that alongside science, mysticism also
challenges religion and to have mystical experiences we do not need the
traditional faith of traditional religions. All of us as human beings
have the potential to encounter the spiritual dimension of life and then
understand it psychologically and analyze it scientifically. Harris ends
his book by stating, “While spiritual experience is clearly a natural
propensity of the human mind, we need not believe anything on
insufficient evidence to actualize it. Clearly, it must be possible to
bring reason, spirituality, and ethics together in our thinking about
the world. This would be the beginning of a rational approach to our
deepest personal concerns. It would also be the end of faith.” P 221
Harris is highlighting that science and mysticism have more in common
than we appreciate and they can complement rather than contradict each
other.
I
am hoping that in the future scientists and mystics would be able to
work together to contribute to human growth and evolution and make our
world a better place to live. For our future evolution we need people
who not only have humanistic philosophy but also humanistic personality.
Science helps us in developing humanistic philosophy while mysticism
helps us in developing humanistic personality and I think both
disciplines help us become healthier, happier and peaceful human beings
individually and collectively
Affectionately,
Sohail
Feb 17th,
2006
