Mystic

From Encyclopedia Jr, free information reference for Kids

Mystic may refer to:

• Mysticism, the belief in realities beyond perceptual and/or intellectual understanding.
• Christian mysticism, the philosophy and practice of a direct experience of God
• Mystic BBS, a bulletin board software with integrated telnet capabilities
• Mystic Cobra, a 1996 Ford Mustang SVT Cobra with a special paint option
• Mystic, Connecticut, a historic seaport and tourist center
• Mystic, Iowa
• Mystic (comics), the name of three comic-book series by various iterations of Marvel Comics, and one by CrossGen Comics
• Washington Mystics, the WNBA team representing Washington, DC
• a Macintosh Color Classic that has been upgraded with the motherboard of a Macintosh Performa 575-class machine

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Mystic - The above definition presents a modern Western/Scientific view on what a mystic is. In the East, a slightly different perspective is that mystics can be considered as metaphysicians, philosophers, or thinkers who are more similar to the Greek root of the word philosopher - philosophos - meaning lover of wisdom than the present day meaning of philosopher. The primal difference between a mystic and a present day philosopher would be that a mystic works towards spiritual fulfillment where as a present day philosopher in some sense works towards academic recognition, i.e. their motivation for their chosen paths are different. A mystic just as every other thinker, wants to help make a difference in the world, but understands the limitations of language. A true mystic then tries to approach the situation by being mystical and hence truthful to himself in his actions.

When we use the word reality it is in itself an oxymoron, as in the above definition where realities (the plural) is used. Two equivalent definitions of reality are (1) The totality of all things possessing actuality, existence, or essence, or (2) That which exists objectively and in fact. The two uses of the word are contradictory hence making the above definition of a mystic a one sided view.

This is better expressed in Okakura Kakuzo's words. “The ancient sages (mystics) never put their teachings in systematic form. They spoke in paradoxes, for they were afraid of uttering half-truths. They began by talking like fools and ended by making their hearers wise." Good examples of a western mystics are William Blake and Ralph Waldo Emerson. Good examples of eastern mystics are Lao Tze and Swami Vivekananda