Mysticism: Experience, Response, and Empowerment

Hermeneutics: Studies in the History of Religions

by Jess Byron Hollenback

This sweeping study of mysticism by Jess Hollenback considers the writings and experiences of a broad range of traditional religious mystics, including Teresa of Avila, Black Elk, and Gopi Krishna. It also makes use of a new category of sources that more traditional scholars have almost entirely ignored, namely, the autobiographies and writings of contemporary clairvoyants, mediums, and out-of-body travelers. This study contributes to the current debate about the contextuality of mysticism by presenting evidence that not only are the mystic's interpretations of and responses to experiences culturally and historically conditioned, but historical context and cultural environment decisively shape both the perceptual and affective content of the mystic's experience as well.

Hollenback also explores the linkage between the mystic's practice of recollection and the onset of other unusual or supernormal manifestations such as photisms, the ability to see auras, telepathic sensitivity, clairvoyance, and out-of-body experiences. He demonstrates that these extraordinary phenomena can actually deepen our understanding of mysticism in unexpected ways.

A unique feature of this book is its in-depth analysis of empowerment, an important phenomenon ignored by most scholars of mysticism. Empowerment is a peculiar enhancement of the imagination, thoughts, and desires that frequently accompanies mystical states of consciousness. Hollenback shows its cross-cultural persistence, its role in constructing the perceptual and existential environments within which the mystic dwells, and its linkage to the fundamental contextuality of mystical experience.

Genres: Mysticism, Religion

656 pages, Paperback

First published November 1, 1996

Reviews

[Tish · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read part of this for a class I'm taking on Modern European Mysticism. My rating is based only on the first 119 pages of the book.

Fascinating tales of mystical experiences from our own earth, from the "roaring" yogic light that illuminates from the spine, to descriptions of the complex structure of an aura. Any fantasy lover will enjoy this.