DiscussWorldIssues - Socio-Economic Religion and Political Uncensored Debate - View Single Post - How much of Buddhism can be considered "mysticism"?

**TobaccoNUE** · 02-02-2011, 07:06 PM

Personally I would hesitate to describe Buddhist meditation and its results as "mystical".

To quote Ajahn Buddhadasa in 'Handbook for Mankind' p.21 :

" Buddhist practice is designed to teach us how things really are. To know this in all clarity is to attain the Fruit of the Path, perhaps even the final fruit, Nirvana, because this very knowing is what destroys the defilements when we come to know what is what, or the true nature of things, disenchantment with things takes the place of fascination -and deliverance from suffering comes automatically ."

and page 31

"Buddhism is an organised practical system designed to reveal to us what is what."

I tend to associate the word 'mysticism' with other religious traditions and New Age... ...and also with "Magic and Mystery in Tibet" and the books which first triggered the fascination with Tibetan Buddhism in the west, and later in me as a teenager. However, fantasising and speculating about such things doesn't help much with Dhamma practice at 'ground' level and can distract one from the all-important teachings of the historical Buddha,I discovered.

02-02-2011, 07:06 PM	#13
TobaccoNUE Join Date Oct 2005 Posts 514 Senior Member	Personally I would hesitate to describe Buddhist meditation and its results as "mystical". To quote Ajahn Buddhadasa in 'Handbook for Mankind' p.21 : " Buddhist practice is designed to teach us how things really are. To know this in all clarity is to attain the Fruit of the Path, perhaps even the final fruit, Nirvana, because this very knowing is what destroys the defilements when we come to know what is what, or the true nature of things, disenchantment with things takes the place of fascination -and deliverance from suffering comes automatically ." and page 31 "Buddhism is an organised practical system designed to reveal to us what is what." I tend to associate the word 'mysticism' with other religious traditions and New Age... ...and also with "Magic and Mystery in Tibet" and the books which first triggered the fascination with Tibetan Buddhism in the west, and later in me as a teenager. However, fantasising and speculating about such things doesn't help much with Dhamma practice at 'ground' level and can distract one from the all-important teachings of the historical Buddha,I discovered.
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