The Making of Mysticism | Ancient Greece to Modernity

[@SeekersofUnity]

Ch. 2: Did William James Get Mysticism Wrong? kzbin.info/www/bejne/aHS9ZK2AfLlnkLM Ch. 3: The Debate that (Almost) Broke Mysticism: kzbin.info/www/bejne/pJC1e4SJYq-Fra8 Check out Justin Sledge's accompanying video on Hadewijch of Antwerp: kzbin.info/www/bejne/an-8enV4f7hnp8U

[@TheEsotericaChannel]

Wonderful to work together again, Zevi. So thankful to know you, learn with you, and create content alongside you. You are a blessing - gut shabbos!

[@belteshazzarbenyakovleib1071]

Already has , great stuff , thanks for this recommendation Justin , great work I have them all on my subscription list .

[@ready1fire1aim1]

Trinity solution: "4 beings hidden in ONE God." Pentachoron seems like it's 5 sided (penta) but God Most High (top of Pyramid) is everything and infinite and Light so he had to back off to allow emptiness (space/darkness) so he technically doesn't count "illusion". The 4th being is "hidden" inside the 4D Pentachoron. My guess is the 4th being is Yaldabaoth/Devil/Darkness/Chaos. Yin yang ☯️ = "As above, so below" Have to have darkness and light. Day and night. Good and Evil, etc. So our world right now is 4D. Not 3D. Bam. Can we have World Peace now? ✌ Trinity solved sure seems like World Peace. The math/myth checks out. Google images of a Pentachoron. Hidden Devil in the middle 😀

[@ready1fire1aim1]

Try a 4D Pentachoron in place of the 3D Tetrahedron 😀

[@singhjasbeer5216]

A gentle breeze flew from West, the sun seemed so bright. I had feeling that today everything’s gonna be right. And then I receive a notification that my Brother Zevi is back on site. Welcome Brother💐💐

[@SeekersofUnity]

Good to be back with you brother 😘 Things are alright alright ;)

[@johnvervaeke]

Beautiful and helpful. Thank you.

[@SeekersofUnity]

Thank you John. That means a lot to us. Thank you for sharing the series. Your unprovoked kindness and generosity is delightful to experience. Love, Zevi and team

[@johnvervaeke]

@@SeekersofUnity your work is good and important my friend.

[@SeekersofUnity]

Thank you.

[@DaveTheTurd]

OK, this is a phenomenal video. I wish I could get a transcript. I need to watch this a few more times and take copious notes. This is exactly the watershed I was looking for. Thank you immeasurably.

[@SeekersofUnity]

You’re most welcome. I’m glad it was helpful.

[@asielnorton345]

i actually like this guys delivery pace. i watch esoterica for example at 1.25 or 1.5. a lot of people who talk about these subjects on youtube (philosophy, mysticism, psychology, myth, religion), do so way too slowly. like they are talking to children or an audience of canines rather than adult humans.

[@henriquecaldeira]

Outstanding synthesis! Thank you, brother. A meal for months.

[@SeekersofUnity]

You’re most welcome. Thank you brother. Enjoy 😉

[@alexcody93]

Came from Esoterica. When you showed a Magic card on screen I was sold. Great content.

[@SeekersofUnity]

Thanks Alex. Glad you came to visit. Hope you enjoy and stick around.

[@gianluigisegalerba4543]

Excellent. Congratulations.

[@WolfkingTwennytwintwin]

Thank you dear sir and I give thanks to Dr Sledge for the introduction this has been very informative and gave me great description and insight on my death and rebirth last December I very much look forward to learning more from you and again Thank You

[@SeekersofUnity]

You’re most welcome dear friend. Thank you for joining us.

[@dahnell932]

I came here from Esoterica, really happy to find my way to your content!

[@SeekersofUnity]

Glad to have you join us friend. Hope you enjoy the work.

[@kimberlylloyd5313]

Thanks to Dr. Justin Sledge's recommendation, I came over to your channel. Wow...I am so glad I did! Like Dr. Sledge, you are a wealth of knowledge. I took notes on this topic. I am so grateful to have found you. Keep up the fantastic work! Thank you, truly, for your scholarship and the time you give to helping so many of us expand our knowledge and increase our understanding. 🙏🙌

[@SeekersofUnity]

Thank you so much for coming over and thank you to Dr. Sledge for the recommendation. Glad to have you join us. Welcome. It's a pleasure. Looking forward to learning together.

[@Grmario85]

Mate i'm a Greek archaeologist and businessman and i just discovered your channel and i love it! Really hope we can have a coffee and nargile next time i am in Jerusalem!

[@SeekersofUnity]

Would love to brother 🙏🏼 Welcome to the channel. Make yourself at home 😉

[@Grmario85]

@@SeekersofUnity 👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻 thank you brother

[@javiersoto5223]

Great work like always! Mysticism is the key to our salvation and your videos are bringing us closer to that goal! Best wishes!

[@SeekersofUnity]

Thank you Javier 🙏🏼

[@jimhaut480]

"YES" ofcourse make sure "YOU" Get the Jab ! Lmao

[@iamlinaris]

A very informative introduction, placing thw word into 'historical' framework. Great job and looking forward for the rest of the series.

[@SeekersofUnity]

Thank you Vasilis. We are too :)

[@andoreh]

Thank you Zevi for providing us with such amazing content, always good hear from you, all the best from Brazil ♥

[@SeekersofUnity]

Good to be back with you Andre. Thank you. Love from the holy land 😘

[@Bullboy_Adventures]

Brazil, go for the women, leave from the fascists

[@Jason-ms8bv]

We missed you Zevi!! But clearly our time apart was worth it, because you sure know how to make a (re)entrance!! Really looking forward to the rest of this series!!

[@SeekersofUnity]

Thank you Jason. I missed you guys too. It’s good to be back. Thanks for your patience while i was gone. Me too, it promises to be a fun one :)

[@middleburyastrology]

Happy to have found you..and through Justin. Wonderful content. Just subscribed. Thanks for the great work.

[@SeekersofUnity]

Happy to have you join us. Hope you enjoy the work we’re putting out. Welcome.

[@shamanverse]

First of all, thank you for the clarity of this exegesis. My take is that "shamanism'' is now advancing intercivilizational dialogue, heterogeneity, and immanence as a responsive heir to the "mystical."

[@lewiakk5844]

Welcome back. We missed you

[@SeekersofUnity]

Good to be back. I missed you too 😘

[@justinbirkholz]

Informative and enjoyable content as always! I will always remember when my grandfather introduced me to transcendentalism and through that to mysticism. I didn't get it at the time because I was young and foolish but he was a real sage and he saw the seed of the mystic within me far before I would allow it to grow. I'm very excited for the next video! William James is my man. Maybe we'll even get a little sprinkling of perennialism? Well, whatever happens I'm sure it will be great. It's good to see you again brother.

[@SeekersofUnity]

Good to be back with you Justin. Any grandfather who introduces their grandchild to Transcendentalism is a sagely man. We may even get more than a sprinkle of both ;) Good to be back 😘

[@rkmh9342]

384th to like! Thank you for the illuminating discussion. The tension in Canada i've observed with the general attitude to mysticism and mystics does seem to be a love-hate sort of thing. The mystic is a scary figure to many, no matter how kind and loving. The attitude softens if the mysticism is more of a nature-loving sort or universalist rather than religious. Your genealogy of the concept made sense of this attitude. 20 years ago, i felt forced to adopt a surfer persona in order to be acceptable in society as a mystically inclined person.

[@thebookofkeys-thetoracle7637]

Welcome Back Brother. It's so beautiful to walk together bs"d.

[@SeekersofUnity]

Good to be back with you brother. Thank you, TG 🙏🏼

[@The.Collective.Objective.]

So happy to see your face Zevi!

[@SeekersofUnity]

Thank you Shannon 🥰 It warms my heart to be back with you.

[@The.Collective.Objective.]

@@SeekersofUnity ❤️

[@AmidstTheLight85]

I'm taking notes from this one. It is timely as ever for my current project. Thank you for your dedication, because I was struggling to reach certain conclusions on my own. There certainly is an underlying Process. I'm still on the beginning of The Unity of Mystical Traditions from Studstill that you recommended. I keep bouncing around to other books, but find that many paths are leading to Process Theology. Mystically different perspectives keep coming to this same three stages approach too and they seem to almost all fit together. Keep up the Great work and Search to Manifestation! Love you, Zevi ❤️

[@SeekersofUnity]

Glad we could be of assistance ❤️ Much love. Looking forward to hearing more about your project.

[@belteshazzarbenyakovleib1071]

Being a destined mystic the Poet is never far away , I have many. Poetic friends some are published . This was a great talk, was not too fast at least not for me .

[@Hand_Shake]

Well and thoroughly done. Thank you for all the work that you did to make this look effortless.

[@SeekersofUnity]

Thank you Paul. That’s really kind of you. You’re most welcome. It’s a pleasure putting in the work for sweet people like yourself who appreciate it. Thank you.

[@aharon672]

Welcome back Zevi! Sucks that you were sick I was missing your content! Glad you're well again!

[@SeekersofUnity]

Thank G-d, it’s good to be human and good to be back. Thanks for being patience while we took some time to recuperate. Good to be back with you 😘

[@mujaku]

"The most important, the central characteristic in which all fully developed mystical experiences agree, and which in the last analysis is definitive of them and serves to mark them off from other kinds of experiences, is that they involve the apprehension of an ultimate nonsensuous unity in all things, a oneness or a One to which neither the senses nor the reason can penetrate. In other words, it entirely transcends our sensory-intellectual consciousness." ~ W.T. Stace, Mysticism and Philosophy

[@SeekersofUnity]

We’re gonna get into that in next part of the series next week 😉

[@jimhaut480]

Two words . :) Texxe Marrs

[@joyhunter2362]

For The Hope and Information ℹ️

[@thesuperhero]

Absolutely beautiful

[@SeekersofUnity]

Thank you friend 🙏🏼

[@daughterofdivine.313]

Welcome back🙏🏽

[@SeekersofUnity]

Thank you Abigail. Good to be back :)

[@volvo507]

Love your videos, Zevi and love you

[@SeekersofUnity]

Thank you Charlie. Love you too 😘

[@yep999]

I enjoyed watching this. You are beyond intelligent wow! Great work 🙌

[@SeekersofUnity]

Thank you friend 🙏🏼 You’re most welcome. Thanks for joining us to learn and seek together.

[@yep999]

@@SeekersofUnity looking forward to that 😊

[@ChabadSociologist]

Excellent! Would you say that de Certeau's view of hagiography may also apply to hagiographies in other religions...?

[@SeekersofUnity]

Thank you brother. I think de Certeau observation, about the way traditions go about shaping and portraying themselves through the careful selection and cultivation of what exactly in the life of a saint they choose to focus on and retelling in their hagiographies, is an observation that applies to many a tradition. I can think back to some childhood readings within my/our own tradition which substantiates this claim. 😋 If you’re asking a more specific question, whether hagiographic literature in other traditions/religions show a similar shift in emphasis from recounting the extraordinary deeds and traits of saints, to their extraordinary states. (Perhaps even text from the same period?) We’d have to made a survey of the relevant literature and find out. 😉

[@MarlonOwnsYourCake]

I've actually been wondering for a long time exactly how and when people, especially religious people, especially Christians became so un-spiritual when , as far as I understand, religion used to be intertwined with science and history and everything was spiritual (that's probably a real oversimplification and maybe not actually true but it's the impression I get about ancient people) so I'm really glad you covered that

[@quinnjohnson9750]

From my understanding, the Enlightenment and Protestant Reformation of the 16th and 17th centuries killed spirituality within Western Christianity. That along with the age of science and secular humanism made a lot of people give up on the spiritual and mystical as they were told that we merely exist on a floating water rock in the void of space and live lives that have no purpose or meaning. Of course it is far more complex then what I have just stated but if I had to run it down that's what I would say lead to the current state of religion/spirituality here in the West.

[@mediocrates3416]

I think liturgy in a foreign language was a big part of why mysticism in spirituality got lost to western european religious structures. There's that; the fact that anarchy is necessary for truth to present and at the same time anathema to power structure generally; and the Protestant reformation sloughed a lot of mystical context, i think. Also, mass production has diminished artisanship; i think it goes, artisanship first, then gnosis/spiritual knowing. Fewer artisans means less gnosis, in any religion; i think.

[@Hand_Shake]

@@mediocrates3416, Conformity kills spirituality?

[@TheMagicofJava]

@@mediocrates3416 that's an interesting perspective which I must give consideration to. As a Kejawen believer, I dip into many Sufi thinkers who distinguish between Wahhabism as Islamic Protestantism and Sufism as Islamic Catholicism. Although of course, Christian mysticism probably owes more to a gnostic tradition, which was never fully suppressed within Islam. A good many of us don't have a good enough understanding of Arabic to appreciate our own prayers and so these take on a mystical quality. So I have always seen the Latin mass as also having this mystical quality.

[@mediocrates3416]

@@Hand_Shake ... Conformity of a sort; ... not sure what sort exactly but, ... maybe functional?

[@sebastiangaete7479]

Brilliant. Thank you!

[@SeekersofUnity]

Thank you Sebastian 🙏🏼

[@sebastiangaete7479]

@@SeekersofUnity Thank you Zevi! ;)

[@williamjmccartan8879]

I hope that you and your loved ones are all doing well, I was wondering when I would see you again yesterday, so nice surprise. I think that all religions have tried to incorporate mysticism into their doctrines because of its historical value to so many people throughout the world, by including mysticism a door is provided to those people who might not choose to join the new thought systems as they would be foreign to their original ways of communicating with their gods. Mysticism would really be the basis of all religious thought as its older than any written word. Just my 2 cents, glad to see you back Zevi, peace.

[@didack1419]

*_all religions have tried to incorporate mysticism into their doctrines because of its historical value to so many people throughout the world (...)_* Even without that historical context, it's pretty clear that for religious founders (and sometimes for philosophers inside religious traditions) mysticism is the way to attain knowledge of cosmological (and moral, soteriological...) truths that are (or seem) unknowable through the experience of physical reality. Beyond that, *the only thing is to study the scriptures* (apart from the ocasional silogistic reasonings and natural-theology arguments, and both are ultimately analysed based on the scriptures and culture) *which are fundamentally supposed to come from revelatory experiences,* i.e. mysticism. So, at least in most cases, it's not that they tried to adopt mysticism for proselitistic reasons, it's that the foundations of the religions were heavily mystical; not in the distant past ( _"Mysticism would really be the basis of all religious thought as its older than any written word"_ ) but at the moment the religion was founded.

[@mediocrates3416]

@@didack1419 "... supposed to ..."; there's the rub!

[@didack1419]

@@mediocrates3416 Yes. Although I consider very likely that the basis of some parts of the Bible came ultimately from mystical experiences (nevermind their epistemological nature as "revelations"). Saint Paul's writings look like that.

[@mediocrates3416]

@@didack1419 Agreed!

[@SeekersofUnity]

Glad to be back with you. Thank you brother 🙏🏼

[@sreebuszeebus1343]

Nice video. A video on Islamic Mysticism would be interesting

[@SeekersofUnity]

Thank you 🙏🏼 Sufism and Kabbalah | Comparative Mysticism kzbin.info/www/bejne/o3THkoysorJpZpY Hope you enjoy :)

[@joyhunter2362]

Thank You So Much 🥰

[@SeekersofUnity]

You’re most welcome Joy. Thank you 🙏🏼🥰

[@MarlonOwnsYourCake]

6:31 too bad learning about mysticism already started influencing my life in a mystical direction 😂

[@MarlonOwnsYourCake]

Also, hearing the word mystical so many times is influencing me to listen to the Y2k hit album Let's Get Ready

[@ktkatte6791]

Death is still scary to me, because the immediacy of demise can still beget self preservation reactions that largely go untested and undiminished until those moments, but I am kind of in the camp of "once youve seen it, you're not afraid of what comes next" To "know" what happens beyond the moment of death confers some comfort, at least. But knowing and believing are different things, I find blind faith a cold comfort

[@arielfine8252]

nice new glasses Zevi

[@SeekersofUnity]

Thank you bro. Congrats on being the first to notice 😉

[@StianKeyn]

I love your videos, thank you :) Would love it if you gave kabbalah and the book of revelation an interpretation. If this far fetched wish would come through, I personally love it if you could include your thoughts upon the phrase "the seven spirits of God" (rev 1:4, 3:1, 4:5, 5:6) as well. But get it that this is far fetched... there is just so few really thorough and good interpretations upon the book of revelation from a Kabbalistic viewpoint :)

[@SeekersofUnity]

Thank you so much Stian. I’m glad you’re enjoying them. You’re most welcome. We’re made some videos attempting to explain certain aspects of Kabbalah and Jewish Mysticism. Here’s the playlist, hope you enjoy: kzbin.info/aero/PL_7jcKJs6iwXMZBTUvza15Fh2C1Re16eZ

[@kenclarkeis]

Brilliant.

[@SeekersofUnity]

Thank you Ken 🙏🏼

[@DarkMoonDroid]

I just listened to a wonderful podcast/video called: *The Crisis of Mysticism: Quietism in 17th Century Spain, Italy, and France* on the *Lumen Christi Institute* channel. It focused on the late 17 Century issues that the Catholic Church had with Mysticism - in particular, "Quietism". It's an hour and a half long if anyone is interested. The books discussed in this video sound xlnt.

[@crustymcgee6580]

I'd like to explore an issue that's been on my mind for a while. Does paganism preclude mystical experiences because of its (presumably) anti-unitive theology? Or do pagans consider all divine entities as attributes of Hashem? Were the Moabites, Admonishes, etc. capable of mystical experiences? Is there any speculation regarding this in the Mishna or any other commentaries?

[@level4286]

07:25 Wondering why didn't you harken back all the way to Akenahten's time line, to talk about the mystery religions; A Druze would've done that. (I know so, because i had many lovely encounters with some in Dubai, of all places)

[@SeekersofUnity]

Thanks for the question. The reason is because we were addressing the word mysticism, which has specifically Greek origins, as opposed to the concept or phenomena of mysticism which is far broader obviously.

[@level4286]

@@SeekersofUnity Got it, i think. Yet not honoring what could or must likely be the origin or flowering of the Mystery Schools, is to negate history to Africa. Some might even consider it racist. Specially with so much talk about "conserving western culture" going around these days. Mind you I am not from Africa but I am aware that we belong to one human race, that literally resembles a relay race - where each generation and race passes the baton via DNA, language, art, "religions", culture, knowledge, technology. (I would humbly request for you to edit this mishap, some might think "mystery schools" came to light because of the Greeks, and this would be a lie even by omission). Shalom.

[@kevanhubbard9673]

I don't think that there is a lack of mysticism more that it is no longer codified as mysticism.For example we have had the return of panpsychism in recent years although those involved would probably prefer to call themselves philosophers rather than mystics.

[@sagethecommunist5275]

Aw yeah content

[@SeekersofUnity]

Hehe. Thanks Sage 🙏🏼

[@thelucidinstitute]

love you thank you

[@SeekersofUnity]

Love you too :) You're most welcome.

[@thelucidinstitute]

@@SeekersofUnity your videos are blessings for real. this one especially struck me.

[@SeekersofUnity]

Thank you friend. What about it struck you, if i may ask?

[@lionelchan1601]

Peace Friends, Bismillah and in the spirit and Shem of Confucius, who advised the importance of "rectifying the names" as foundation for any other work.... Guenon makes a solid case that "mysticism" is of the traditions of the West, not the East. There is nothing at all "mysterious" or "misted" about the immanent clarity and logical alignment of Indian Moksha, Chinese "having arrived" of the Fana/annihilation of the Sufis. This is not to deny the value of Greek Mystery Schools and the impenetrable mystery ("if you get it you don't get it") of the Trinity, for certain ancestries and tendencies. Salaam.

[@eswn1816]

John 18:20 KJV - "Jesus answered him, I spoke openly to the world; I ever taught in the synagogue, and in the temple, where the Jews always resort; and in secret have I said nothing." God's truth is not a secret or hidden mystery revealed only to a select few... 🙏

[@lindacrez9025]

How about staven Katz kritik about mistisme

[@SeekersofUnity]

Keep watching till part three of this series.

[@myshuvahstory6589]

Where do you get your shirt from?

[@SeekersofUnity]

Got it in Capetown a couple years ago.

[@Bullboy_Adventures]

I always thought old world mysticism was just people interpreting science and animals as monsters and magic

[@DaveTheTurd]

Do you think mysticism can be traced back further than Ancient Greece? Could it go back to Ancient Egypt or Babylon, or even further? I can't imagine the Greeks really created it...

[@SeekersofUnity]

I agree, but we must find the paper trail or else it’s mere speculation.

[@zevilover3591]

What does that actually mean?🤔

[@profbri.02]

Why are there electrical sockets way up on ur wall?

[@SeekersofUnity]

For people who don’t like bending down.

[@profbri.02]

@@SeekersofUnity Ahh, I see. I thought perhaps it was for picture frame lights or something along those lines. Of course, it also serves a safety function for those with small children, I suppose. I'm enjoying your content, keep up the good work, peace.

[@SeekersofUnity]

Thank you friend. I hope you continue to enjoy.

[@stalkholm5227]

(33:00) Taoism demands representation, there are literally dozens of us!!

[@SeekersofUnity]

Sorry you didn’t get a specific mention. But as far the encyclopedia categories we were looking at, Taoism would fall under Chinese mysticism. No hard feelings. Much love ❤️

[@stalkholm5227]

@@SeekersofUnity I refuse to accept your apology, because it wasn't necessary, and also you're right that it would be covered by Chinese mysticism, now that I think about it. Fantastic episode, thank you for your hard work!

[@SeekersofUnity]

You’re most welcome. Thank you friend :)

[@DarkMoonDroid]

11:29 I'm dropping this timestamp here to return to later. Hermeneutics.

[@SeekersofUnity]

Hope you’re enjoying it thus far :)

[@DarkMoonDroid]

@@SeekersofUnity I'm on my 4th listen... ☺

[@SeekersofUnity]

Hehehe :)

[@hakayma7560]

young copy cat book