Traces of Mysticism in Buddhism and Hinduism

Abstract

Mysticism seems to have no bounds as it appears to »appraise« or »test« itself in every religion - as if to leave its trace in every religion. We shall put aside what is in vogue in order to look into all areas that mysticism touches upon, the way in which its presence is manifested and how it occurs and copes in the face of non-monotheistic religions such as Buddhism and Hinduism. One is baffled to find common points among Christian asceticism, Buddhist mysticism, and the Hinduistic ascent toward the Divinity, for fear of personalizing and consequently degrading the divine essence of the Divinity or the Divine. This is what is fascinating about the mystical experience and what I wish to present in brief on Buddhism and Hinduism without burdening the article with the general teachings of these faiths. The Christian must uncover for himself what is relevant in his discoveries for his own abiding Christian experience. In any case, it is mysticism before all other components of a religion, which paves the way for interreligious dialogue.