FAQs about Metaphysics and Mysticism

Metaphysics

What is Metaphysics?
Metaphysics is the study of any of the most fundamental concepts and beliefs about the basic nature of reality, beyond the known laws of physics. It is the study of that which underlies the unseen or noumenal realm. It attempts to define Ultimate Reality.
These attempts are incapable of being proven by scientific observation, analysis, or experiment and frequently, although not always, cannot be disproved. Metaphysics uses logic based on the meaning of human terms "ontology", rather than on a logic tied to human sense perception of the objective world. Metaphysics might include the study of the nature of the human mind, the definition and meaning of existence, or the nature of space, time, and/or causality.

What are the origins of the word?
“Meta” means after or beyond and “physika” means the external material world in Greek.

What are some areas of Metaphysical study?
Subjects might include existence, the soul, being, the supernatural, astral travel, psychic phenomenon, mysticism, religion, and other spiritual subjects.

When did Metaphysics originate?
The Greek philosopher Aristotle produced a number of books, which together were called the Physics. An early edition of these books had another set of works placed right after them. These books concerned an area of philosophical inquiry, which at the time did not have a name. Early Aristotelian scholars called the books "ta meta ta physika", "the (books that come) after the (books about) physics." The subject matter of the books is about things that underlie, or are beyond, the physical.

What are the different areas of Metaphysics?
Originally Metaphysics was divided into three parts ontology, theology, and universal science. In addition there was also a philosophical lexicon, a definition of philosophy, and several extracts from Aristotle’s Physics.

What is Ontology?
Ontology means “being” and “word or speech” in Greek and is the study of existence or the science of being. Itis the most fundamental branch of metaphysics.
The Platonic school of philosophy contends that all nouns refer to entities. Other philosophers contend that some nouns do not name entities but are a shorthand way of referring to a collection of objects or events. The word mind could thus be referring to an entity or to a collection of mental events experienced by a person, depending on which school one subscribes to.
Any ontological system must explain which words refer to entities, which do not, why, and what categories result. This makes ontology fundamental to many branches of philosophy.

What is Theology?
Theology is the study of God or the gods and of questions about the divine.

What is Universal Science?
Universal science studies first principles, which underlie all other inquiries, such as the law of non-contradiction: A thing cannot both be and not be at the same time, and in the same respect. Universal science is “being qua being” or what is basic to all science before one adds the particular details of any one science.

What are the different types of Metaphysics?
Metaphysics can be general or special. General metaphysics is the science of all being. Special metaphysics is the science of one kind of being such as, the metaphysics of chemistry, of morals, or of politics.

What are some criticisms of Metaphysics?
Empiricists attack metaphysics on the grounds that our knowledge of reality is based on the phenomena of appearances but metaphysical ideas are indemonstrable. Much of Eastern philosophy rejects many of the basic tenets of metaphysics.
Metaphysical ideas are not based on direct experience with material reality and so are often in conflict with modern science. Contemporary acceptance of scientific knowledge over other forms of knowledge helps explain the controversy and skepticism concerning metaphysical claims, which are considered unverifiable by modern science.
In religion, the problem of validating metaphysical claims is seen in all of the "proofs" for the existence of God. The difficulty arises out of the attempt to scientifically study and objectify something, which, by its very nature, cannot become an object of our scientific studies. The belief that everything can be explained scientifically in terms of natural causes is called naturalism and it causes many to think that only what is sensed and tested can be true.



Mysticism

What is Mysticism?
Mysticism is the immediate consciousness of or union with the transcendent one or ultimate reality or God.

What does the word Mysticism mean?
The term mystica appeared in the Christian treatise, Mystica Theologia, by a Syrian Neo-Platonic monk of the late fifth or early sixth century, who was known as Dionysius the Areopagite. In this work mysticism was described as the secrecy of the mind.It may have come from the classical Greco-Roman mystery cults as the word myein, meaning to close the lips and eyes. This refers to the sacred oath of the initiates, the mystes. In Neo-Platonism “mysticism” came to be associated with secrecy of any kind.

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What are the seven common themes of Mysticism?
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(1)A unifying vision and perception of the One by the senses and through many objects;
(2)The apprehension of the One as an inner life;
(3)An objective and true sense of reality;
(4)Feelings of satisfaction, joy, and bliss;
(5)A religious element that is a feeling of the holy and sacred;
(6)A paradoxical feeling;
(7)An inexpressible feeling.

How does a Mystical experience occur?
The mystical experience is usually considered to be an individual communion with a god or goddess. This would be a subjective experience in the form of visions, dreams, revelations, prophecies, etc. St. Thomas Aquinas, a Catholic mystic defined it as cognitio dei experimentalis (experiential knowledge of God).
The experience is profound, definite, and personally undeniable, rather than something that is merely conjectured. It may occur through ritual prayer and contemplation, or may occur spontaneously with some individuals. In addition, some cultures and traditions use mind-altering substances sometimes called enthogens.

Are Mystical traditions universal?
Many different traditions report similar experiences and mystics may believe that one can unify religions and philosophies in mystical experience. A common thread may be traceable back to a shared source.

What are some examples of Mysticism in major traditions?
Many would say that the following major traditions and philosophies have strong elements of mysticism:
Christian Gnosticism, Christian mysticism, Eastern Orthodox Hesychasm, Judaic Kabbalah, Mystery religions, Native American Ghost Dances, Near Death Experiences, Theological Quakerism, Sufic Islam, Taoism, Tibetan Buddhism, Transcendentalist Unitarianism, Vedantic Hinduism, Yoga, Zen Buddhism, and Hindu mystical ideals.

What are the two types of Mysticism?
There are two theories of Divine Reality: emanation or immanence.
In emanation, all things in the universe are overflowing from God.
In the immanence view, the universe is not projected from God, but is immersed in God.

What are the two types of Religious Mysticism?
It can be either monistic or theistic. The objective of monistic mysticism is to seek unity and identity with a universal principle; while theistic mysticism seeks unity, but not identity, with God.
Monistic mysticism is displayed in the Upanishads of India, as in the concepts of "I am Brahman" (the all-pervading principle) and tat tram asi "that thou art," meaning that the soul is the eternal and Absolute Being. Monistic mysticism is also found in Taoism, which seeks unity with Tao, the ineffable way.
Theistic mysticism, unity with God, characterizes Christianity, the Kabbalah, the Sufi sect, and is also found in Hinduism.

Is there any Non-Religious Mysticism?
Nonreligious mysticism is experienced through Nature. A person becomes one with Nature; all boundaries or separation between the person and Nature disappears. The person becomes part of nature and is not separate from it. This is seen in neo-Paganism and neo-Pagan Witchcraft, which worships Nature.

These questions are offered as a simple introduction to the Metaphysics and Mysticism.
They are presented as an opportunity for further exploration and understanding. No claim is made as to their accuracy or validity.
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