PS:

Isn't mysticism the acceptance that everything
cannot be logically explained?

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Dear Foxy,

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Yes, it seems there are several strands of mysticism and “the acceptance that everything cannot be logically explained” is a common characteristic of all the strands.

The OED identifies two main categories of mysticism :

1. Belief that union with or absorption into the Deity or the absolute, or the spiritual apprehension of knowledge inaccessible to the intellect, may be attained through contemplation and self-surrender.

2. Belief characterized by self-delusion or dreamy confusion of thought, especially when based on the assumption of occult qualities or mysterious agencies.

Yuyutsu’s mysticism obviously falls into the first category and, as you surmise, it is probably one of the numerous Hinduistic strands.
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I’m afraid I’m very skeptical about mysticism. I see it as a purely subjective activity, at best a form of meditation and introspection. That is the positive aspect of it. I think we all need to stop and meditate seriously on our lives and the universe occasionally, but that is a strictly personal activity.

I don’t think we can learn much about life or the universe in general through mysticism. It has no application beyond the human brain in my opinion.

I find more interesting the French psychologist Pierre Janet’s idea of a subconscious that I see as capable of imagining associations and solving problems that the conscious mind is incapable of achieving, however hard we try. For that, a good night’s sleep usually proves more effective than meditation and introspection, autohypnosis, entering a trance, evoking God, or any other mystical method.

Better to sleep on it is usually pretty good advice.

While all that does not prevent me from respecting Yuyutsu’s mystical and religious beliefs, I think it explains my difficulty in following him in his world of mysticism.

I do not know enough about him or his thought process.

A little background explanation of how and why he thinks as he does would be helpful in my opinion.

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Dear Banjo,

Ross Douthat writing for The New York Times
tells us that:

"Mysticism is dying and taking true religion with it.
Monastries have dwindled. Contemplative orders have
declined. Our religious leaders no longer preach
about the renunciation of the world. Our culture scoffs
at the idea..."

He points out that as our society has become more
materialistic, our churches have followed suit - giving up
the ascetic aspects of religion and emphasizing only the
more worldly experiences of faith."

And yet people are still searching for spiritual epiphany.
And there are so many choices to choose from.

Douthat points out -

" A would be mystic can attend a Pentecostal healing
service one day, a class on Buddhism the next, experiment
with crystals, dabble in Kabbalah,
practice yoga every morning, meditate in the afternoon and
spend week-ends at an Eastern Orthodox Retreat centre."

He says you can name your preferred path to spiritual
epiphany and it's probably available.

You're probably going to laugh - but I do practice yoga
daily to stay fit. I don't meditate. And I have spent
a week-end at a Retreat run by nuns. Which I did enjoy.

However, on the whole - I find that a good night's sleep
does wonders for me. As does being outside - going for a
long walk - spending time in nature. Even going for a drive,
And so on.

Regarding Yuyutsu? I think we have to respect his wishes.

Dear Foxy,

«I hope that your life has not be a fight as
the name suggests. And that your struggles
have not been major.»

Life on earth is and meant to be a fight to improve one's character and morality, a fierce struggle between one's divine and demonic tendencies.
(off-topic, this is also what is meant in Islam by the term 'Jihad', not what the ignorant terrorists think it means)

The Mahabharata tells of this great war between morality and immorality. Most characters stayed in the company of and took sides with those they grew up with, but Yuyutsu was the exception: Just as the great battle was about to begin, Yuyutsu defected from his brothers of the evil camp and moved across to the opposing camp of righteousness.

And thank you for producing the interesting quotes by Ross Douthat.

A good night's sleep indeed does wonders. The teachings of Vedanta say that during deep, dreamless sleep, one experiences the deepest roots of their being, just short of God. While our memories cannot capture it and our intellect cannot understand its own roots, this is why we come out so refreshed.

Dear Banjo,

I do not find it wise or healthy to expose identifying information on the internet. Even here on OLO there is one lawyer who would like to sue me for things I wrote had he access to my private details, not to mention what powerful politicians could do if they found who it is that criticises them and does not even agree with the very existence of their positions of power.

While I have no care to be personally understood or accepted, I do want to forward the principles I advocate for, especially the freedom of religion, which in my analysis cannot be protected without protecting all freedoms whatsoever, including even the freedom to make mistakes.

I fail to see why belief is so important that you need to know how I came to this or that belief: beliefs are just fleeting ideas of the mind and can often change. What's the difference anyway between one who entertains the idea "There is God" and another who entertains the idea "There is no God"? That does not make one a better person than the other, nor more religious.

Even the term "believe in God" is so vague and could mean so many things to different people (even to the same person at different times). What for example if someone believes that "Yea, this omnipotent grandpa on the clouds promised success to all who pray to him, therefore I always pray before I go to rob a bank"? So depending on your own particular interpretation of the term, perhaps I never even believed in God and therefore could not answer your question even if I wanted!

I do not discard any belief: it can be a good religious technique for certain people at certain segments of their spiritual journey, but there comes a time to shed old and childish beliefs before one can gain a deeper understanding, thus believing in "No God" is often also an important step along the path to God.

[continued...]

[...continued]

The Bhagavad-Gita speaks of people who have made spiritual efforts in previous lifetimes but died before they could complete their journey. Such people are not drawn to traditional religions, including to old-fashioned beliefs in God's existence. They may well adopt atheistic attitudes and mistakenly consider themselves to be non-religious:

"Indeed, they feel drawn toward God, even against their will, on the strength of their past discipline. Such seekers naturally rise above the ritualistic principles of the scriptures." [Bhagavad-Gita 6:44]

«In the meantime, your brief explanation to Foxy would seem to indicate that your belief was not the result of a personal choice.»

Again, you must be specific about what you refer to as "your belief".

As I told Foxy, my interest in God is inner rather than societal driven, but then there is this intriguing question of personal choice: as per the above quote, due to my efforts in previous lifetimes I indeed now find myself with no choice but to feel drawn toward God.
If you like to explore this question of personal choice, I can suggest that you try the test in: http://www.philosophyexperiments.com/newcomb

«My comprehension is all too often derailed by your mysticism. Your message is lost, and we are no longer able to communicate.»

May I suggest instead, that your comprehension is derailed by the combination of association and dissatisfaction with the Biblical-based religions along with your habitual dependence on Western materialistic scientism?