Mysticism

Some examples of other mystics:. Today their sound is more country & western, with a bit of rock, and adult contemporary thrown in. Some examples of Jewish mystics:. Wayne and Merrill continue to perform as The Osmond Brothers, with an occasional appearance by Jay. Some examples of Muslim mystics (also called sufi):. Alan's eight sons occasionally perform as "The Osmonds - Second Generation". Some examples of Christian mystics:. All of the brothers are married with large families themselves.

Some examples of Hindu mystics:. The brothers are also well known as devout members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, and are particularly strong on family values. Examples of major traditions and philosophies with strong elements of mysticism are:. There are also two older brothers, Virl and Tom, who were born deaf. At the end of the 20th Century books like Conversations With God (a series of books which describes what the author claimed to be his experience of direct communication with God) hit the bestseller lists. Donny and Marie also performed as a duo hosted their own variety show,"The Donny and Marie Show", on the ABC network in the seventies. This trend later became absorbed in the rise of the New Age movement which included a major surge in the popularity of astrology. Donny, and to a lesser extent, Jimmy, both achieved success as solo artists, as did their one sister, Marie Osmond (born October 13, 1959).

Madame Blavatsky and Gurdjieff functioned as central figures of the theosophy movement. They were joined for a time by younger brothers Donny Osmond, (born December 9, 1957) and subsequently "Little" Jimmy Osmond, (born April 16, 1963). Theosophy became a major movement in the popularization of these interests. They were so successful that a new word, "Osmania" was coined to describe the phenomenon. The late 19th century saw an significant increase of interest in mysticism in the West that combined with increased interest in Occultism and Eastern Philosophy. One of their first major hits, "Crazy Horses", could be described as rock, but they followed it with gentler, more sentimental songs such as "Let Me In" and "Love Me For a Reason." This music, combined with the brothers' good looks and clean image, greatly appealed to the teenybopper market. [1] (http://chastitysf.guidetopsychology.com/guide.htm). The Osmonds career started with a big break at Disneyland, followed quickly by regular appearances on "The Andy Williams Show" in the early sixties, but their most successful period was the seventies, when they achieved a string of chart hits.

In Catholic traditions, mystical theology is informed by revelation, which averts an apparent tendency to become lost in formless thought. Christian mystics, too, are obligated to obey the forms of ascetical and moral theology, as following Christ is their primary objective, rather than seeking mystical experiences for their own sake. The group originally comprised brothers Alan Ralph Osmond (born June 22, 1949), Melvin Wayne Osmond (known as Wayne) (born August 28, 1951), Merrill Davis Osmond (born April 30, 1953), and Jay Wesley Osmond (born March 2, 1955). In his work, Kabbalah, Gershom Scholem, a prominent 20th century scholar of that field, stated: The Kabbalah is not a single system with basic principles which can be explained in a simple and straightforward fashion, but consists rather of a multiplicity of different approaches, widely separated from one another and sometimes completely contradictory.. The Osmonds are an American family pop group who achieved enormous worldwide success as teenybopper idols in the 1970s. Readers frequently encounter seemingly open-ended statements among studies of mysticism, throughout its history, for example in Taoist thought and in studies of Kabbalah. I Can't Live a Dream (October 1976). Thomas Aquinas' mystical experiences all occurred squarely within the love of the Catholic Eucharist. I'm Still Gonna Need You (November 1975).

For example, St. The Proud One (May 1975). In some definite cases, theology remains a distinct source of insight that guides and informs the mystical experience. Having a Party (March 1975). For example, Christian mystics, through the centuries, have not decided that Jesus is not God after all: in other words, not all mysticism results in syncretism. Love Me For a Reason (August 1974). Some systems of mysticism are found within specific religious traditions and do not relinquish doctrinal principles as a part of mystical experience. I Can't Stop (April 1974).

Mystical philosophies thus can exhibit a strong tendency towards syncretism. Let Me In (October 1973). The Vedic tradition is inherently mystic; the Christian apocalyptic Book of Revelation is clearly mystical, as with Ezekiel's or Daniel's visions of Judaism, and Muslims believe that the angel Gabriel inspired the Qur'an in a mystical manner. Indigenous cultures also have cryptic revelations pointing toward a universal flow of love or unity, usually following a vision quest or similar ritual. Goin' Home (July 1973). Some mystics perceive a common thread of influence in all mystic philosophies that they see as traceable back to a shared source. Crazy Horses (November 1972). Elements of mysticism exist in most religions and in many philosophies. Down By The Lazy River (March 1972).

Based on extraordinary perception, mystics may believe that one can find true unity of religion and philosophy in mystical experience. One Bad Apple (March 1970). Mystics of different traditions report similar experiences of a world usually outside conventional perception, although not all forms of mysticism abandon knowledge perceived through normal means. Historically in some cultures and traditions, mind-altering substances -- often referred to as entheogens -- have had a place as a 'guide'; others use rituals and methods such as meditation, self-reflection or self-enquiry. Some mystics use the term to refer to a manner wherein the mystic plumbs the depths of the self and reality in a radical process of meditative self-discovery to discover the true nature of reality experientially.

In philosophy, the term Perennial Philosophy is used, and relates to a primary concern:. This causes the subjectivist tendency of mysticism to be curtailed, as experiences not aligned with truths otherwise known are discarded. In Catholicism the mystical experience is not sought for its own sake, and is always informed by revelation and ascetical theology. Thomas Aquinas, a Catholic mystic of the 13th century, defined it as cognitio dei experimentalis (experiential knowledge of God).

St. One can receive these very subjective experiences as visions, dreams, revelations, prophecies, and so forth. Theistic, pantheistic, and panentheistic classical pantheist/cosmotheist metaphysical systems most often understand mystical experience as individual communion with a god or goddess. Many assert that the triggering of such experience can involve ritual prayer and contemplations focused on such union, or may sometimes occur spontaneously with some individuals.

Among these the idea of union or interrelationship of oneself and of all mortal beings with the ultimate imperishable being is often declared to be something that can be experienced in profound, definite, and personally undeniable ways, rather than something that is merely conjectured. Different traditions adopt a range of intellectual or rational assessments of what is likely, possible, provable, approvable, or factual. A wide range of perspectives occur among spiritual traditions and beliefs which embrace direct experiential knowledge of God, Divinity, or Ultimate Reality. In the context of epistemology, it can refer to using any kind of non-rational means, such as feeling or faith, in attempt to arrive at any kind of knowledge or belief.

Mysticism (ancient Greek mysticon = secret) is meditation, prayer, or theology focused on the direct experience of union with divinity, God, or Ultimate Reality, or the belief that such experience is a genuine and important source of knowledge. Zen Buddhism. Yoga. Vedantic Hinduism.

Transcendentalist Unitarianism. Tibetan Buddhism. Taoism. Sufic Islam.

Quakerism in its theology. Near Death Experiences. The New Age movement