Explanation and Appraisal of Unifying Finding of Essentialists on the Nature of Mystical Experience with Focus on Stace’s and Forman’s Views

Document Type : Research Paper

Authors

1 Professor of Postgraduate levels Hawzah Elmiyye of Qom

2 associate professor of hawzeh and University Research Institute

3 associate professor of Baqir Al-ulum University

4 Ph. D. graduate of Baqir Al-ulum University

Abstract

Essentialists who maintain the common core for mystical experiences are divided into three main groups: emotionists, advocates of correspondence of sense experience with mystical experience and supporters of unifying finding. The latter is shared by Stace and Forman. The problem of common core of the mystical experiences is the most important issue dealt with by Stace. He observed the common characteristics of mystical experiences throughout the world. Stace’s psychological and phenomenological approach in discussing the issue as well as the nature of mystical experience is regarded as a foundation on which he adopts his epistemic view. Robert Forman is also a philosopher who clearly criticizes the constructionism. To him mystical experiences are not the sort of knowledge with relational nature but of conjunctive nature which is in his terms “identity knowledge” by which any duality between knowing agent and object of knowledge is removed. Forman divides mystical experiences into two types of primary and advanced that are called respectively as pure awareness and mystical dual moments. Although Stace and Forman share views in some respects, they do divide in other respects.   

Keywords

Theosophia Practica
Volume 6, Issue 19
June 2014
Pages 167-205

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