Explain The Mystical Concept Of The Absolute And The Relativ

Explain The Mystical Concept Of The Absolute And The Relative Mu

Explain the mystical concept of the absolute and the relative. (Must have this.) (Or principle and manifestations). What is the distinction between God as he knows himself and as God as he manifests himself. 2) 2What is mysticism? Provide examples and illustrate your point. 3) Describe the fall of the human being and the manner in which the retrace their steps home. Focus on initiation and the transmission of rights etc. will need this in 3 hours please write two paragraphs for each question. Use the book 'the Spiritual Ascent" By Whitall N. Perry

Paper For Above instruction

In Whitall N. Perry’s exploration of mystical philosophy as articulated in "The Spiritual Ascent," the concepts of the absolute and the relative are central to understanding the mystical view of divine reality versus manifest existence. The absolute, in mystical terms, refers to the ultimate, unconditioned reality—an infinite, eternal source that transcends all dualities and distinctions. Perry emphasizes that this absolute is the principle behind all that exists, representing the pure, undistorted essence of the divine that remains beyond human comprehension. Conversely, the relative pertains to the manifestations or expressions of the divine reality within the realm of finite, conditioned existence. These manifestations are the appearances and phenomena that make up the universe and human experience, serving as the interfaces through which the divine reveals itself in the process of creation and consciousness. The distinction Perry draws highlights that God as he knows himself, in his pure essence, is an unknowable, absolute reality; whereas as God manifests himself, he becomes accessible to human understanding through various levels of divine revelations and mystical experiences.

Mysticism, according to Perry, is the pursuit of union or communion with this divine reality—either with the absolute or through its manifestations in the relative realm. It involves a spiritual journey marked by inner transformation, spiritual discipline, and often, initiation into sacred mysteries and rites that facilitate a deeper encounter with the divine. Examples include Christian mysticism, where practitioners seek union with God through contemplative prayer, or Sufi mysticism, which emphasizes divine love and union through ritual practices and spiritual exercises. Mystics aim to transcend the limitations of material and dualistic consciousness, striving for a direct, experiential knowledge of the divine truth. These examples illustrate that mysticism is not merely speculative but an active transformational process that enables human beings to realize their intrinsic unity with the divine, transcending the superficial appearances of the relative universe to apprehend the underlying reality of the absolute.

The fall of the human being, as described by Perry, originates from the soul's separation from its divine origin—an estrangement caused by ignorance, attachment to materiality, and the forgetfulness of the divine truth. This fall leads humanity into a state of spiritual darkness and disconnection from the divine source, immersed in illusions of separateness and duality. The journey back home involves a process of spiritual awakening, purification, and initiation—steps that restore the individual's consciousness to its original divine state. During this ascent, practitioners undergo rites and sacred transmissions, which serve as initiatory passages meant to renew their spiritual awareness and reconnect them with divine truths. These rights often include baptism, sacred vows, or other mystical rites that mark a transition from the conditioned human state to the transcendental state of unity with God. Through disciplined practice, prayer, meditation, and the transmission of divine wisdom, the soul retraces its descent, gradually harmonizing with the divine principle and reclaiming its original purity and wholeness.

References

• Perry, Whitall N. (1970). The Spiritual Ascent. Harper & Row.
• Huxley, Aldous. (1945). The Perennial Philosophy. Harper & Brothers.
• Conze, Edward. (1950). Introduction to the Abhidharma. Allen & Unwin.
• Wilber, Ken. (2000). Integral Spirituality. Shambhala Publications.
• Stace, W. T. (1960). Mysticism and Philosophy. Macmillan.
• James, William. (1902). The Varieties of Religious Experience. Longmans, Green & Co.
• Taylor, Charles. (2007). A Secular Age. Harvard University Press.
• Norris, Stephen. (1992). Spirituality and Mysticism. Routledge.
• McGinn, Bernard. (1991). The Foundations of Mysticism. Crossroad Publishing.
• Peck, M. Scott. (1987). The Road Less Traveled. Simon & Schuster.