| the greatest writers in world literature was the Russian | | | | demonstrating a certain level of attainment by intending |
| novelist Dostoyevsky whose profound insight into | | | | to create a change in material world phenomena |
| human nature is most succinctly captured in his | | | | which goes against our perception of natural law. |
| statement about the only three things by which the | | | | These types of events are recorded in Buddhism, |
| typical person is truly moved: mysticism, miracle and | | | | Hinduism, Judaism, Sufism, Islam, Christianity, |
| authority. The writer hopes to be able to relate these | | | | Shamanism and so on. In some cases the more |
| three primary motivations to his spiritual path and | | | | prosaic word magic is used to describe the event - a |
| explain something of the perceived connection | | | | magician being one whose capability to focus |
| between these principles and the material in this work. | | | | "supernatural" powers results in unusual physical |
| Can we first consider the inter-connectedness | | | | manifestations against the expectations of ordinary |
| between the three? Could they be seen as three | | | | reality. Such a magician would most certainly have to |
| faces of one primary urge: the urge freely to create | | | | have been engaged in practices that enable him to |
| creation in God's name? Is it self evident that we are | | | | control mind, body and breath, very similar to those of |
| with this study, concerning ourselves with religion | | | | the mystic. In fact it is argued that mystic and magician |
| (whose auspices most certainly include miracle and | | | | are actually engaged in the same activity, one focuses |
| mysticism and, as a social phenomenon, authority too)? | | | | more away from the earth, the other towards the |
| Then we ask: what is religion, its purpose and | | | | earth and each can expect to reach a stage of |
| practices, and the extent to which it achieves its | | | | competence in both states of awareness when each |
| purposes with its practices? | | | | can annihilate his ego in meditation and each can bend |
| One would hope to be able to affirm that its primary | | | | the accepted laws of the physical world. |
| purpose is to bind back its adherents to Universal | | | | Authority is an expression of identity. It is the "I am" of |
| Truth, and that its practices are designed to lead in that | | | | an organisation, that which identifies it as what it is, in |
| direction and only in that direction. We can easily | | | | other words the reach of its influence, the extent and |
| accept that there are many paths which lead from | | | | limit of its power. Whether this organisation is an |
| separation to Unity and so there are many religions | | | | institution or an individual, these ideas seem to apply, a |
| which teach different practices - yet we would hope | | | | person having a well developed sense of identity |
| that these practices would have some similarities, | | | | exudes an aura of authority and is more able to |
| especially the closer we get to Unity. Happily we find | | | | influence and less ready to be influenced by the |
| this to be the case, that even when very different | | | | overpowering authority of another. It is interesting to |
| forms of religion are examined with the consciousness | | | | note that the phrase "
in the name of
is a |
| of a mystic it can be seen that the essential message | | | | declaration of authority as well as an invocation - and |
| is repeated again and again. | | | | a mystic would consider it a practice of attunement |
| The mystic has an equivalent mystical insight whatever | | | | (Bismillah, Beshemi, Shema). It is also noteworthy that |
| his or her religious background. Affirming this, Hazrat | | | | certain words which appear to be statements of |
| Inayat Khan has given us the message emphasising | | | | authority can also been seen as mystical affirmations |
| the unity of religious ideals. A mystic seeks direct | | | | ("Inana" of Jesus", "I am .... that which shapes" of |
| experience of Unity and is given to practices which | | | | Amairgin, and "I and I" of Rastafarian linguistic structure). |
| have the effect of lightening his vibration, reducing his | | | | Therefore a link can be drawn between principles of |
| involvement in the worldly and softening his sense of | | | | authority, mystical awareness and magical capability |
| self in order to surrender to God. | | | | and one can use the model of an hourglass to good |
| Miracles are reported to have occurred on numerous | | | | effect. Looking away from the earth, the mystic is |
| occasions throughout history and are generally | | | | empowered by the authority of God, looking towards |
| associated with saints, prophets and masters. There | | | | the earth the magician is empowered by the authority |
| clearly is the expectation that a miracle in some way is | | | | of self. Authority here is the strait gate of self - God - |
| related to the mystical leanings of the miracle-worker, | | | | knowledge. Know yourself and you shall know God. |
| that this person is already a mystic and is | | | | |