Richard Hooper is a former Lutheran pastor with degrees in both theology and the philosophy of world religions. He has been a nationally syndicated radio commentator for United Press International's web forum www.ReligionandSpirituality.com and is the founder of The Sedona Institute for Comparative Theology. His website is www.sanctuarypublications.com.
The first thing we noticed about this extraordinary resource was the roll-call of mystics from Christianity, Sufism, Hinduism, Buddhism, Taoism, Judaism, and Nonsectarian. We were familiar with many of them and pleased to read quotations on various dimensions of the mystical path.
Hooper defines mysticism as "the inner-directed effort of the individual to realize complete union with the Absolute — to realize our already existing Oneness with all things, or Ultimate Reality." He then goes on to present background pieces on the lover and the Beloved, perception, nondualism, cosmology, the nature of the mystical experience, the human condition, and the way of the mystic.
The actual treasure trove of poetry and prose by mystics, poets saints and sages is divided into sections on the Beloved, Oneness, The Mystic, The Narrow Gate, The Path Within, Relinquishing the Ego, Prayer, Contemplation and Meditation, Love and Compassion, and Enlightenment/Awakening. Here is a sampler of the kind of material in this first-rate resource:
"I have forgotten all of Creation.
Only the Creator remains.
I have turned my attention
to that which is within me.
It is there where I am in love
with the Beloved."
John of the Cross, Roman Catholic
"Nothing exists but You, Beloved.
You are my speech. You are the silence of my mind.
You sleep with me. You walk the path with me.
There is nowhere I can go where You are not.
I have disappeared. Only You remain."
— Bulleh Shah, Sufi
"The moment I have truly realized God
sitting in the temple of every human heart,
the moment I revere every human being as God —
that is the moment when I am set free from bondage."
— Swami Vivekananda, Vendanta (Hindu)
"The whole world is at peace
when the mind is at peace.
Perceiving nothing as real or unreal,
not holding on to this or that reality,
not lingering in the void,
doing nothing holy, nothing wise.
I am just a run of the mill person who has finished his work."
— P'ang Yun, Chan Buddhist
