Existentialism merges gracefully with modern mysticism in that they both speak of the absence of a God figure and replace it with man’s own responsibility. Modern mysticism appears only on the surface level to clash with the ideas of abandonment and anguish but, on a deeper inspection, only rephrase the same concepts with symbolic terminology.
The Power Lies in Self
Mysticism speaks of signs, of guidance, and of planes of reality that exist beyond the conscious level understandings of many humans. Despite this apparent reliance on outside force, it also argues that the ultimate power is that which is borne within one’s self. Mystics speak of looking within one ’s self for the answers, and they put the responsibility for evolution in the hands of the individual, never really insinuating that this power rests in a solitary force outside of humanity.
Mysticism also speaks of connectivity, assigning the liability for all of humanity to the individual. In so many words, modern mystics attribute the overall expression of humanity to the singular decisions and thus actions put forth by each person and therein give full responsibility for the entirety of existence to one and also to all. Just the same, existentialism relies on the understanding that all is meaningless absent of experience and, in that, a man’s actions define human nature. Both parties argue that responsibility is the most important factor in fully realizing one’s self and all of humanity.
Existentialists claim that there is no one to answer to but self and that self exists before the definition of self is developed, defeating claims that there is some moral blueprint that determines right and wrong or good and bad. While in mysticism, the idea of ‘goodness’ seems apparent, it is also hidden within the context that this goodness is self created. Whereas it may speak of morals and conscious evolution, it does little to define exactly what good or evolving really is but rather leaves that to the observer to define for his or her self. This is because modern mysticism, in contrast to historical mysticism, leans heavily on the power of perception. It attributes meaning to intention rather than to pre-existing laws of morality. In this understanding, both mystics and existentialists share the belief that self is the determining factor in ethics.
Interconnected God and Responsibility
Most importantly, modern mysticism borrows heavily from science and claims that the inherent connection that exists between all things is itself God. Relying on this basis, existentialists and mystics agree that there is no outside force that is creating reality but that reality itself is responsible for creation. Thus the now common phrase ‘man is his own god’ takes on new meaning. It seems that the same reasoning for excessive fear of early existentialism is now the basis for fear of modern mysticism. The fear is not of betraying God but rather of betraying the lies that protect self from the burden of responsibility. If each person is intimately connected to everything, then the decisions and thus actions of each person perpetually and instantaneously determine the definition of everything.
Subjective Truths and Choice
The signs, guidance, and differing dimensions of reality expressed by mystics are simply an acknowledgment of the existential idea of subjectivity. This is why modern mystics seem to so frequently deny any religious or traditional involvement and rather bring together the various options to present their audience. They are emphasizing through this convergence that what an angel is to one person may be a demon to another and that what is a symbol of life to one may be a sign of death to another. They are putting the focus on the decided beliefs of the individual rather than the socially, culturally, or historically built culmination of morals that define one God figure or another. Mystics frequently ask that the student or observer create their own template for conscious evolution. In example, in many meditation groups, the individual is encouraged to create their own mental image and follow that image to find deeper truths.
This is an outright admittance that there is no place that a person travels outside of their own created self in order to find truth. In other cases, mystics will adopt different icons or symbolic deities that lead the meditation in a particular direction. This may appear to deny the clearest claim of existentialism and put some faith or power in an outside force. Truly, however, it is understood that each person has developed their own set of connotations and associations with each symbol, whether consciously or unconsciously, and that they only use this symbol to create within themselves a new train of thought; to arrive at truths that only alluded them previously because they had not yet ‘connected their own dots’.
The idea that there is existence after life at first appears to argue against the existentialist claim that ‘there is no existence outside of life’. However, when existentialists refer to this phrase, they are referring less to physicality than they are to action. And, assuming that action ceases upon death, they attribute existence to life. There is no solid discrepancy between that theory and the theory that the spirit of a person transcends to new levels of existence after death so long as it is assumed that decisions, creation, and action can continue outside of the physical form.
Self Created Destiny
The idea of sacred interactions, destiny, or even intelligent design also do not conflict with existential beliefs. If mystics claim that there is no separation between man and god, then the claim that god may pre-determine is the same as claiming that man pre-determines. That is to say that, if one chooses to believe that they exist as a spirit before a body, then they can simultaneously believe in destiny and in abandonment. They are absent of a reliance, an excuse, or an acceptance, but they are also able to have faith in an agenda. Albeit, this agenda is self created, it is still existence before essence as the self creates the agenda and thus creates self fulfilling agenda. This ultimate acknowledgment of self as creator and experience as subjective is the basis of existentialism.
While historically all things that fell under the title ‘spiritual’, ‘mystical’, or even ‘religious’ were automatically pinned in a battle against ideas that were ‘philosophical’, ‘scientific’, or ‘psychological’, the present day understandings of these things are far different. It is worth the time it may take to look for the areas where these ideas blend, for those areas of merging are where tomorrow’s truths reside.
Cristen Rodgers - Cristen Rodgers, Author of spiritual wellness books Re-Creating Our World and Irreplaceable.
