Purification
"The first, purification is where aspiring traditionally Christian mystics start. This aspect focuses on discipline, particularly in terms of the human body; thus, it emphasizes prayer at certain times, either alone or with others, and in certain postures, often standing or kneeling. It also emphasizes the other disciplines of fasting and alms-giving, the latter including those activities called "the works of mercy," both spiritual and corporal, such as feeding the hungry and sheltering the homeless.[citation needed]
Purification, which grounds Christian spirituality in general, is primarily focused on efforts to, in the words of St. Paul, "put to death the deeds of the flesh by the Holy Spirit" (Romans 8:13). This is considered a result of the Spirit working in the person and is not a result of personal deeds. Also in the words of St. Paul, "...he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus." (Epistle to the Philippians 1:6). The "deeds of the flesh" here include not only external behavior, but also those habits, attitudes, compulsions, addictions, etc. (sometimes called egoic passions) which oppose themselves to true being and living as a Christian not only exteriorly, but interiorly as well. Evelyn Underhill describes purification as an awareness of one's own imperfections and finiteness, followed by self-discipline and mortification.[45] Because of its physical, disciplinary aspect, this phase, as well as the entire Christian spiritual path, is often referred to as "ascetic," a term which is derived from a Greek word which connotes athletic training. Because of this, in ancient Christian literature, prominent mystics are often called "spiritual athletes," an image which is also used several times in the New Testament to describe the Christian life. What is sought here is salvation in the original sense of the word, referring not only to one's eternal fate, but also to healing in all areas of life, including the restoration of spiritual, psychological, and physical health.[citation needed]
It remains a paradox of the mystics that the passivity at which they appear to aim is really a state of the most intense activity: more, that where it is wholly absent no great creative action can take place. In it, the superficial self compels itself to be still, in order that it may liberate another more deep-seated power which is, in the ecstasy of the contemplative genius, raised to the highest pitch of efficiency.
— Underhill 1911, p. 50"
Well I'm gonna give that a big CHECK .
Remember, ones an accident.
"Illumination
The second phase, the path of illumination, has to do with the activity of the Holy Spirit enlightening the mind, giving insights into truths not only explicit in scripture and the rest of the Christian tradition, but also those implicit in nature, not in the scientific sense, but rather in terms of an illumination of the "depth" aspects of reality and natural happenings, such that the working of God is perceived in all that one experiences. Underhill describes it as marked by a consciousness of a transcendent order and a vision of a new heaven and a new earth.[citation needed]"
Well guess what?
That gets a big CHECK as well.
Two is a trend my friend.
"Unification
The third phase, usually called infused or higher contemplation (or Mystical Contemplative Prayer[46]) in the Western tradition, refers to the experience of oneself as in some way united with God. The experience of union varies, but it is first and foremost always associated with a reuniting with Divine love, the underlying theme being that God, the perfect goodness,[47] is known or experienced at least as much by the heart as by the intellect since, in the words 1 John 4:16: "God is love, and he who abides in love abides in God and God in him." Some approaches to classical mysticism would consider the first two phases as preparatory to the third, explicitly mystical experience, but others state that these three phases overlap and intertwine.[citation needed]
Mystical Contemplative Prayer is the blessing for which the Christian mystic hopes. No human effort can produce it. This form of prayer has three characteristics. (a) It is infused (i.e. implanted by God in the soul, not the result of human effort.) (b) It is extraordinary (i.e. indicating that the intellect operates in new way). (c) Moreover, It is passive (i.e. showing that the soul receives something from God, and is conscious of receiving it.) It can manifest itself in one of four degrees. The four degrees are the prayer of quiet, the prayer of union, ecstatic union, and transforming deifying union.[46]"
Wanna guess?
Yep.
Check once again.
Three is a pattern.
"THE DARK NIGHT OF THE SOUL:
In the strongest mystics, Illumination gives way to what St. John of the Cross called "the dark night of the soul." This fourth phase of mystic development is the final, deepest and most radical purgation the mystic experiences in his movement into the divine.The heart and mind are arid; no longer does the mystic experience the joys (the mere pleasures) of Illumination. The task now is to learn to "dissociate the personal satisfaction of mystical vision from the reality of mystical life." (p. 170)
In other words, the mystic must overcome all attachment to self and ego (to selfish ego) in order to merge with the great One in, under, behind and through all things. To do this, the mystic must finally give up the greatest good he or she has ever known – the powerful attachment to the transcendent pleasures and visions of Illumination. Giving them up, all things seem at first to have become ashes – the Divine seems to have fled."
Not sure what it becomes after a pattern has been established but, yep, CHECK.
"UNION:
But passing through the dark night, the mystic enters at last into Union, the fifth and last phase of mystic expansion into the transcendent. Union is essentially ineffable. In it, one no longer merely perceives and enjoys the transcendent (as with Illumination) but becomes one with it."
That's a CHECK as well and that's five. Didn't know what to call it after a pattern so, same holds true here.
Simple facts is this, it happened right in front of peoples eyes and the simplest truths are sometimes the hardest for people to rationalize.
Throughout it's history The Protestant Church has pretty much dismissed mysticism or met it with out right hostility/antagonism etc.
Course correction impending y'all.
I love you baby.
TTYS.
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