Mysticism Defined — And the Goal of Yoga
What Is Mysticism? Mysticism is a vast subject. Many mystics and many dictionaries define mysticism in a myriad of ways. Here is a fundamental definition from the Miriam-Webster Online Dictionary:
Mysticism: 1: the experience of mystical union or direct communion with ultimate reality reported by mystics, 2: the belief that direct knowledge of God, spiritual truth, or ultimate reality can be attained through subjective experience (as intuition or insight), 3 a: vague speculation: a belief without sound basis, b: a theory postulating the possibility of direct and intuitive acquisition of ineffable knowledge or power.[1]
Mysticism defined by the Concise Dictionary of the Occult and New Age
Here is how the Concise Dictionary of the Occult and New Age defines “Mysticism”:
“The view that awareness of Ultimate Reality may be gained through a heightened state of mental perception and excitement. The mystical experience is designed to take participants beyond the boundaries of reality through a succession of physical sensations, resulting in the perception of direct communication with the inner god. The goal is to become awakened to the deity within, thereby uniting with the universal life force. Sharing in this common objective are the Ultimate Reality of the New Age, the satori of Zen, the samadhi of Yoga, and the Nirvana of Hinduism… New Age mysticism gained its initial popularity during the 1960’s. Eastern mystics promised their followers personal freedom, spiritual fulfillment, and a limitless array of innate abilities. Even today, proponents tell initiates they can achieve altered states of consciousness through self-discipline, diet, meditation, and the use of hallucinogenic drugs. They introduce these initiates to ascended masters who will guide them in their journey to enlightenment. New Age mystics report feelings of euphoria, peace, and universal oneness, as well as a renewal of energy and a greater appreciation for the earth’s beauty. They assert that universal life forces have given them intuitive bursts of insight and creativity. See also: ALTERED STATES, NEW AGE MOVEMENT, SATORI, TRANSCENDENTAL MEDITATION.”[2]
A Warning for Christians Regarding New Age/Occult Mysticism as a Pathway to God
Reader, please note carefully that Christians who practice yoga, Contemplative “centering prayer,” “visualizing Jesus,” “chanting,” or inwardly rehearsing “mantras” experience precisely the same thing as stated above. However, being “Awakened to the deity within, thereby uniting with the universal life force” is not at all the same thing as being made alive in Christ (or being “born-again”). We are not divine, and we are certainly not gods. Nor are we part of Brahman, the divine consciousness of Hinduism.
Undiscerning Christians are taking mystical concepts, techniques, and methods and mistakenly “sharing in this common [unbiblical] objective” of experiencing “the Ultimate Reality of the New Age, the satori of Zen, the samadhi of Yoga, and the Nirvana of Hinduism…”
This ought to cause serious alarm to anyone who claims to follow the Biblical Jesus Christ and yet is dabbling in or promoting these alternative New Age/occult spiritual paths.
What Is Yoga?
What Is Yoga? The Concise Dictionary of the Occult and New Age, written by Debra Lardie, describes Yoga this way:
“A Hindu physical and mental discipline. Hinduism teaches that the self is divine and distinct from the activity associated with the body, mind, and will. Through yoga’s system of exercises, people can train their consciousness to control the body and mind, thereby attaining a higher state of awareness…”[3]
“Through the regular practice of yoga, people can achieve perfect spiritual insight, tranquillity, and well-being, experiencing freedom from ignorance, suffering, and ultimately achieving rebirth.”[4]
This New Age/Occult dictionary then goes on to describe the etymology of the word “Yoga.”
“The name ‘yoga’ comes from the Sanskrit term that means ‘to join’ or ‘to unite.’ This etymology fits with the underlying philosophy of yoga. Hindus claim that God is a vital energy source from which all reality emanates. People are connected to this universal life force and are archetypes of it. According to Hindu teaching, the human predicament is caused by a lack of awareness of this vital link between people and the cosmic consciousness.”[5]
Spiritually yoking to anything other than the God of the Bible is forbidden, and it will bring a tremendous burden. Instead of being yoked and united to other gods and occult forces, humans are encouraged by God to be yoked/united to Himself, through our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. Jesus Himself said,
“All things are delivered unto me of my Father: and no man knoweth the Son, but the Father; neither knoweth any man the Father, save the Son, and he to whomsoever the Son will reveal him. Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.” (Matthew 11:27-30)
The Goal of Yoga
What is the Goal of Yoga?
“The goal of yoga is to help practitioners reexperience their oneness with the universal self. As people practice yoga, a higher level of connection with the infinite Oneness will result. Their view of the world will be radically changed as a particularization of Ultimate Reality.”[6]
Several Types of Yoga Exist
“Jnana yoga refers both to the path of discrimination and wisdom, whereas bhakti yoga refers to the path of love and devotion to a personal god. Kama yoga refers to the path of selfless action, whereas hatha yoga, which is popular in the West, stresses physical postures or positions. Japa yoga requires the repetition of mantras, or sacred sounds, to enable a person to concentrate without being interrupted by external distractions. Kriya yoga enables devotees to channel cosmic energy to their souls in order to establish a harmonious union of the mind, body, and spirit, releasing innate miraculous powers. Kundalini yoga emphasizes opening psychic energy centers called chakras supposedly located up and down the spinal column. This is thought to animate the Kundalini, a cosmic force coiled at the base of the spine.”[7]
Gurus Teach Spiritual Techniques
“Typical exercises, such as those found in hatha yoga, are practiced under the tutelage of a guru or yogi, a personal religious guide and spiritual teacher. Gurus teach students to combine a variety of breathing techniques with asanas, or relaxation postures. In each of the postures, students must first enter the position, then maintain it for a certain length of time, and finally leave it.[8]
Now we come to the place where this writer states very clearly how Westerners have mistaken yoga to be “mere breathing and relaxation exercises,” when in reality, “The practice of yoga serves as a gateway to Eastern mysticism and occult thinking.”
Author Debra Lardie states:
“Some in the West incorrectly think of yoga as mere breathing and relaxation exercises to develop, stretch, and strengthen the body’s muscles, extend and align the spinal column, and enhance cardiovascular circulation. The practice of yoga serves as a gateway to Eastern mysticism and occult thinking. Certain postures, such as the lotus position, are taken to activate the psychic energy centers. And specific breathing exercises are practiced to infuse the soul with cosmic energy floating in the air. A guru might have students gaze at a single object, such as a candle, to develop and focus concentration. The guru might have them chant a mantra to clear their minds and become one with the object in front of them. The goal is to achieve increasingly higher meditative states until reaching oneness with the cosmic consciousness. This state of being is characterized by a blank stare in which the devotee is receptive to esoteric wisdom from the Universal Mind. See also: CHAKRA; HINDUISM; KUNDALINI; LOTUS; MANTRA; YOGANANDA; PARAMAHANSA.”[9]
What Does Scripture Say?
Anyone who promotes, teaches, practices, or endorses any cultism, mysticism, occultism, or New Ageism is seriously misled and is misleading others! The following Bible verses ought to be seriously heeded by Christians and non-Christians alike. All who place any value whatsoever on human life ought not to dabble in these dark arts. The reason? Because when one opens the door to the kingdom of darkness, the demonic realm is more than willing to come flooding through.
In Deuteronomy 18:9-14 God says:
When thou art come into the land which the LORD thy God giveth thee, thou shalt not learn to do after the abominations of those nations. There shall not be found among you any one that maketh his son or his daughter to pass through the fire, or that useth divination, or an observer of times, or an enchanter, or a witch. Or a charmer, or a consulter with familiar spirits, or a wizard, or a necromancer. For all that do these things are an abomination unto the LORD: and because of these abominations the LORD thy God doth drive them out from before thee. Thou shalt be perfect with the LORD thy God. For these nations, which thou shalt possess, hearkened unto observers of times, and unto diviners: but as for thee, the LORD thy God hath not suffered thee so to do.
It is up to you and you alone to read your Bible, discern between truth and error, and “earnestly contend for the faith which was once delivered unto the saints.” (Jude 3)
“Beloved, when I gave all diligence to write unto you of the common salvation, it was needful for me to write unto you, and exhort you that ye should earnestly contend for the faith which was once delivered unto the saints. For there are certain men crept in unawares, who were before of old ordained to this condemnation, ungodly men, turning the grace of our God into lasciviousness, and denying the only Lord God, and our Lord Jesus Christ.” (Jude 3-4)
As Christians, we are to “Prove [test] all things; hold fast [cling tenaciously to]that which is good. Abstain from all appearance of evil.” (1 Thessalonians 5:21-22)
Something important to remember is that casting aside the Biblical standard of divine revelation to have an “experience with God” will always end in spiritual disaster. The world of pagan [and Christian] mysticism and the kingdom of the occult do just this. They either reject Biblical truth outright or cleverly redefine it to justify having an unbiblical “direct experience” with the divine. This is done in the name of spirituality and according to men’s wisdom, not God’s. It must be noted that the world of satanic deception is based on one thing: Experience!
It’s also important to note that people somehow think that if they have a spiritual experience, it must be of God. Which God? Jehovah, the God of truth, or some other God? We are to commit ourselves to the true and living God who alone is the God of truth. “Into thine hand I commit my spirit: thou hast redeemed me, O Lord God of truth.” (Psalm 31:5). Satan, the god of this world, is the author of false religion, yoga, and mystical, spiritual delusions.
“But if our gospel be hid, it is hid to them that are lost: In whom the god of this world hath blinded the minds of them which believe not, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine unto them.”(2 Cor.4:3-4).
The heart of paganism, occultism, and mysticism is to have a direct spiritual experience with “the divine” – but in doing so, intentionally or unintentionally sacrificing divine revelation in the form of Biblical truth and discernment. When Biblical truth is cast aside or distorted to fit one’s cleverly designed spirituality, one can be sure that deception will come. This is how Satan works!
Here’s the reason for defining the terms in this article: To spare Christians from becoming involved – naively or openly – with pagan spirituality that leads to spiritual darkness and despair.
Christians today need to be more discerning than ever before. Let us avoid embracing the paganism, occultism, mysticism, and New Age spirituality that is now prevalent in our world.
Endnotes
[1] Merriam-Webster Online Dictionary, Mysticism, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/mysticism.
[2] Debra Lardie, Concise Dictionary of the Occult and New Age, Kregel Publications, Grand Rapids, MI, 2000, p. 180.
[3] Ibid., pp.288.
[4] Ibid.
[5] Ibid.
[6] Ibid.
[7] Ibid.
[8] Ibid.
[9] Ibid., pp.288-289.
Note: This article by Chris Lawson was revised and expanded from a portion of the original March 2010 article, titled DEFINING DECEPTION: What is Yoga, Mysticism, New Age and the Occult? (Source previously posted at http://www.spiritual-research-network.com/definingdeceptionyogamysticism.html)
