Mysticism, Mind, Consciousness / Edition 1

by Robert K. C. Forman

Overview

In an exploration of mystical texts from ancient India and China to medieval Europe and modern day America, Robert K. C. Forman, one of the leading voices in the study of mystical experiences, argues that the various levels of mysticism may not be shaped by culture, language, and background knowledge, but rather are a direct encounter with our very conscious core itself.

Mysticism, Mind, Consciousness focuses on first-hand accounts of two distinct types of mystical experiences. Through examination of texts, recorded interviews, and courageous autobiographical experiences, the author describes not only the well-known "pure consciousness event" but also a new, hitherto uncharted "dualistic mystical state." He provides a thorough and readable depiction of just what mysticism feels like. These accounts, and the experiences to which they give voice, arise from the heart of living practices and have substance and detail far beyond virtually any others in the literature.

The book also reexamines the philosophical issues that swirl around mysticism. In addition to examining modern day constructivist views, Forman argues that the doctrines of Kant, Husserl, and Brentano cannot be applied to mysticism. Instead he offers new philosophical insights, based on the work of Chinese philosopher of mind Paramartha. The book concludes with an examination of mind and consciousness, which shows that mysticism has a great deal to tell us about human experience and the nature of human knowledge far beyond mysticism itself.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780791441701
Publisher:	State University of New York Press
Publication date:	06/03/1999
Edition description:	New Edition
Pages:	224
Sales rank:	884,606
Product dimensions:	6.00(w) x 9.00(h) x 1.00(d)

About the Author

Robert K. C. Forman is Associate Professor of Religion at Hunter College as well as Executive Editor of the Journal of Consciousness Studies and Director of the Forge Institute, Inc.

Table of Contents

Preface

1. Mystics and Constructivists

Part I: The Pure Consciousness Event

2. Reports of Pure Consciousness Events

3. Of Horses and Horse Carts

4. Non-Linguistic Mediation

5. Buddhists and Constructivism

Part II: A New Model for Pure Consciousness

6. Of Horse Carts and Space Capsules Constructive Language and Spiritual Techniques

7. Knowledge by Identity

Part III: The Dualistic Mystical State

8. Silence, Thinking, and Cutting Carrots Characterizing an Advanced Mystical State

9. The Janus-Faced Soul: An Epistemology of the Dualistic Mystical State

10. Concluding Remarks

Notes

Bibliography

Index

Editorial Reviews

"Forman undermines the accepted view of how humans come to know what has rested virtually unchallenged since Kant." — Beverly J. Lanzetta, Grinnell College

From the Publisher

Exploring mystical texts from ancient India and China to medieval Europe and modern America, Forman (religion, Hunter College) argues that the various levels of mysticism may not be shaped by culture, language, and background knowledge, but rather are a direct encounter with our very conscious core itself. He focuses on first-hand accounts, texts and recorded interviews, of two distinct types of mystical experiences: the well-known pure consciousness event, and the new and yet uncharted dualistic mystical state. These accounts and the experiences that generated them, he finds, arise from the heart of living practices and have substance and detail far beyond virtually any others in the literature. Annotation c. Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com)

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