mythpersonal narrative by simultaneously creating it. It is possible in many
cases that the mystic realizes that he/she is the leading actor in a drama
because he/she is so deeply absorbed in his/her role. The path of the
mystic is not dramatic in the sense that it is playful or necessarily enter-
taining; it is rather dramatic in the sense that it redresses a personal,
spiritual conflict within the individual. By comprehending the mystic
path as a drama, it is implied that mysticism is not a static system; it is
rather a disharmonic process characterized by intense conflict.
For many mystics, there is a return to society after their goal is
achieved, a pattern that gives the mystical path a circular character. The
basic pattern of the mystic path should not be construed as an inflexible
sequence of steps because the fundamental phases of the path tend to
overlap each other. It is preferable to view the path as an interconnected
whole rather than as a series of steps that one must ascend, because, if
the path is a series of steps, it would be easy to distinguish them, and this
is not always the case. Viewed in its totality, the mystic path is a move-
ment from multiplicity, ignorance, conflict, and flux to a position of
unity, certainty, cohesion, and stability. As a point of clarification, the
mystic path presupposes the practice of various forms of asceticism,
which forms the foundation for the mystical quest. Despite the suspicions
raised among orthodox adherents of faiths such as Christianity and Islam
because of its being a potential source for heresy and schism, mysticism
is a macro-concept because of its existence within a cross-cultural
context.
Further reading: Hollywood (2002); James (1902); Katz (1983); Kripal (2001);
McGinn (1993); Smart (1981); Stace (1961); Underhill (1911); Zaehner (1957)MYTH
Derived from the Greek term mythos meaning word, utterance, or speech,
myth is a narrative that embodies knowledge and wisdom about impor-
tant events and actors, whereas mythology refers to the entire corpus of
myths within a particular religious tradition. Myth is more specifically a
narrative about what occurred at the beginning or end of time and exploits
of supernatural beings or cultural heroes, other than tales of trivial events.
These narratives concern substantial stories about such things as creation,
life, and death. These primordial events are not only informative about
what happened in the distant past, but they enable understanding about
how those ancient events shaped our current society and individual lives.