Comments on: How to Become a Mystic http://www.anamchara.com/2009/11/11/how-to-become-a-mystic/ Carl McColman ~ The Fullness of Joy is to Behold God in All Wed, 23 May 2012 13:15:27 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.2 By: Steve http://www.anamchara.com/2009/11/11/how-to-become-a-mystic/#comment-5103 Steve Mon, 16 Nov 2009 15:01:24 +0000 http://anamchara.com/?p=2542#comment-5103 I prefer to say that over the last ten years, I've been discovering a deep mystical part of myself. I don't think I could arrive at the title of mystic. Wherever it leads, my j0urney is one of exploring the mystical aspect of my inner life. I prefer to say that over the last ten years, I’ve been discovering a deep mystical part of myself. I don’t think I could arrive at the title of mystic. Wherever it leads, my j0urney is one of exploring the mystical aspect of my inner life.

]]> By: J. Merton http://www.anamchara.com/2009/11/11/how-to-become-a-mystic/#comment-5102 J. Merton Thu, 12 Nov 2009 14:34:36 +0000 http://anamchara.com/?p=2542#comment-5102 See: Practical Mysticism, E. Underhill Mysticism, R. A. Gilbert See:
Practical Mysticism, E. Underhill
Mysticism, R. A. Gilbert

]]> By: Bob http://www.anamchara.com/2009/11/11/how-to-become-a-mystic/#comment-5101 Bob Thu, 12 Nov 2009 11:45:03 +0000 http://anamchara.com/?p=2542#comment-5101 Carl, I think a loose structure has to be there in order to assess where one is on the mystical mountain. Karl Rahner said that the Christian of the future has to be a mystic. You wrote two books on how to become a mystic. It has to be something one obtains or there wouldn’t be some many books written telling us how to get there. Carl,
I think a loose structure has to be there in order to assess where one is on the mystical mountain. Karl Rahner said that the Christian of the future has to be a mystic. You wrote two books on how to become a mystic. It has to be something one obtains or there wouldn’t be some many books written telling us how to get there.

]]> By: Alex Tang http://www.anamchara.com/2009/11/11/how-to-become-a-mystic/#comment-5100 Alex Tang Thu, 12 Nov 2009 10:23:56 +0000 http://anamchara.com/?p=2542#comment-5100 Thank you for linking Christocentricity and the ecclesial community to mysticism. Your definition does away with the program-orientated approach and the God-and-me individualistic approach of many. I enjoyed the post very much. Thank you for linking Christocentricity and the ecclesial community to mysticism. Your definition does away with the program-orientated approach and the God-and-me individualistic approach of many. I enjoyed the post very much.

]]> By: Greenmonk http://www.anamchara.com/2009/11/11/how-to-become-a-mystic/#comment-5099 Greenmonk Wed, 11 Nov 2009 23:37:23 +0000 http://anamchara.com/?p=2542#comment-5099 Beautifully put brother, and a wonderful reminder to ponder what a mystic really is. It is not something that we can check off our list of things to do, but rather a grace. Beautifully put brother, and a wonderful reminder to ponder what a mystic really is. It is not something that we can check off our list of things to do, but rather a grace.

]]> By: Sue http://www.anamchara.com/2009/11/11/how-to-become-a-mystic/#comment-5098 Sue Wed, 11 Nov 2009 22:53:08 +0000 http://anamchara.com/?p=2542#comment-5098 I would never call myself a mystic, although I have tendencies in that direction. It feels too ... ugh, I don't know. I guess for the reasons you have just said. I do call myself a contemplative though. It is dawning on me slowly that this is what part of my life is. That all of what I have been doing (so much of which has felt like laziness, like daydreaming) is actually something more, something good. It's like waking up and having someone call your stuff art when before they just called it a waste of time. Pretty blessed, blissful sort of stuff, you know? Trying to work out how to fit in community without that being taken away is ... well, in all honesty it is basically terrifying me at the moment. Because I want community. I am made for it. I just don't want to cut myself down to fit into it. And I suspect the fears I have that I will need to do that are unfounded, but still they are there. Thanks for your ponderings, Carl. I would never call myself a mystic, although I have tendencies in that direction. It feels too … ugh, I don’t know. I guess for the reasons you have just said.

I do call myself a contemplative though. It is dawning on me slowly that this is what part of my life is. That all of what I have been doing (so much of which has felt like laziness, like daydreaming) is actually something more, something good. It’s like waking up and having someone call your stuff art when before they just called it a waste of time. Pretty blessed, blissful sort of stuff, you know?

Trying to work out how to fit in community without that being taken away is … well, in all honesty it is basically terrifying me at the moment. Because I want community. I am made for it. I just don’t want to cut myself down to fit into it. And I suspect the fears I have that I will need to do that are unfounded, but still they are there.

Thanks for your ponderings, Carl.

]]> By: Dan Bryan http://www.anamchara.com/2009/11/11/how-to-become-a-mystic/#comment-5097 Dan Bryan Wed, 11 Nov 2009 16:49:41 +0000 http://anamchara.com/?p=2542#comment-5097 Now you know it’s going to be difficult to sell a book that doesn’t offer instant results and gratification. We are more accustomed to ordering a kit with everything provided including the simple instructions and “guaranteed results or your money back” printed on the box. What we like about How To books is that somebody else has already done the hard work. They spent the years learning the trade and doing all the research. What you’re proposing is becoming something. What I have found in my short journey of contemplation is that those who have attained any real level of credibility have done so following a path that seemed to be custom made just for them. Perhaps we each follow a path that none else has ever trodden. Now you know it’s going to be difficult to sell a book that doesn’t offer instant results and gratification. We are more accustomed to ordering a kit with everything provided including the simple instructions and “guaranteed results or your money back” printed on the box. What we like about How To books is that somebody else has already done the hard work. They spent the years learning the trade and doing all the research.
What you’re proposing is becoming something. What I have found in my short journey of contemplation is that those who have attained any real level of credibility have done so following a path that seemed to be custom made just for them. Perhaps we each follow a path that none else has ever trodden.

]]> By: jean wise http://www.anamchara.com/2009/11/11/how-to-become-a-mystic/#comment-5096 jean wise Wed, 11 Nov 2009 14:54:10 +0000 http://anamchara.com/?p=2542#comment-5096 wow, lots of wise words here, Carl. I am copying this post to ponder it more. My deepest desire is to have an undivided heart, to be fully devoted to God. You are right to keep the focus on God and our relationship with him and not on some label. Thanks! wow, lots of wise words here, Carl. I am copying this post to ponder it more. My deepest desire is to have an undivided heart, to be fully devoted to God. You are right to keep the focus on God and our relationship with him and not on some label. Thanks!

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