Metaphysical Psychology and Practical Mysticism, Research Paper Example

Metaphysical Psychology

Philosophy is the attempt to define a qualitative approach to life. What is a qualitative approach to life? It is simply an in-depth study of human behaviour and the reasons for such behaviour. Effective thinking in philosophy requires rational and psychological forms of analytical ability.  British nineteenth century philosophy removed philosophy from psychology for mathematical reasons but here and now we put them back together for the purpose of explaining metaphysical psychology and its uses.

“The highest realm of thought for man is that of metaphysics. Metaphysics deals with the creativity and destructiveness within creation, with the purpose and the meaning of evolution, and the way that it functions. Man enters into metaphysical discourse when he creates values and meanings.”[1](Heath, I., 2003). “A genuine metaphysics is not a flight from materialism but assimilates it into a greater perspective that has fewer boundaries. The practical role of psychology is demonstrated with the role of good and evil.  This defines a person’s ethics by which they choose to live by.  Intuition and rationality are needed in order to understand the true complexity of metaphysics as we understand it today. What is the truth for me represents the truth for everyone else as I see it. The first premise is a subjective view and the second is objective. A sceptic person would totally omit the second viewpoint as irrational. Truth and need play a role between philosophy and psychology.  Psychology is dependent upon need and philosophy works with truth. Both factors need to be examined if true wisdom is to be attained, though.  Intense life experience is what separates need from truth. This is referred to as the existentialist approach.

Metaphysics gets into the ‘umph’ of the substance of why something has occurred or perhaps what is the world made of? Is the universe made of pure substance or is it made of a mental or spiritualism? This is the science of idealism.  William James came up with the idea of ‘pluralism’. He suggests there is math, logic, mental and more than two substances. “Ralph Waldo Emerson described metaphysics psychology as the mind’s reflexive inquiry into its own processes and activities almost as a form of prayer.”[2](Abrams, R., 1983)

Practical Mysticism

“When I speak of “practical mysticism,” I refer to a teaching which can be used to achieve a definite state of higher consciousness, distinguished from a teaching which merely discusses such a higher state.” [3](Plotinus, 2009).” Plotinus begins by saying that he cannot reveal the mysteries of spiritual ascent to the initiate who has not achieved initial flashes of spiritual union.” So-called Plotinus scholars love to make elaborate metaphysical charts of his supposed spiritual cosmology.

“Mysticism is also referred to the art of reunion with reality.”[4](Underhill, E., 2000). Sceptics view reality as something that will cause them stress.  Union represents a binding of rare and unimaginable conscious life for the mystic. We learn this by uniting, assimilating and interpenetration with ourselves.  It is said that Pilgrimage to the wise is escaping from the flame that separates us.  Wisdom is the fruit of communion and ignorance is the inevitable portion of those who choose to keep to themselves and stand apart judging and analyzing things that they have truly never known.[5](Underhill, E., 2000). Mysticism sometimes leaves the average person wondering and learning that he never really knew as much as he thought he knew about a subject. We normally live through a world of labels and ignore symbolic values of which something really represents. As time proceeds we begin to attach a fragmentary meaning to things through the practise of mysticism.  A brightening of languid consciousness begins to develop overtime.

Conclusion

Metapsychology and Practical Mysticism go hand in hand that they are truly marvelled and reliant on philosophy and the greatness of the mind and spiritual sense. With the willingness to examine the truth of reality man can genuinely decipher the true meaning of life and the applications of the universe as truly seen from a non-biased point of view. This view is highly elevated to a more educated level that will bring true peace and serenity to a new perspective.

Emotions and Thoughts While Reading the Book

My emotions and thoughts were both philosophical and mathematical based and were based on the spiritual and idealist sense of what human beings are made of. I viewed the book as an approach to converse with reality of opening my mind to learn what the symbolic meaning of something truly represents rather than what it appears to be on the surface. I learned that the true meaning of life is only visualized through seeing the universe through a nonbiased subject and willingness to explore with an open mindedness.

References

Heath, I. (2003) A Modern Thinker. The Pursuit of Truth. Article 1

Abrams, R. (1983) Emerson at the Limits of Metaphysics Psychology

Plotinus (2009) Plotinus’ Practical Mysticism

Underhill, E. (2000) Practical Mysticism, Courier Dover, NY:NY, p2.

Underhill, E. (2000) Practical Mysticism, Courier Dover, NY:NYp.3-4.

[1] Heath, I. (2003) A Modern Thinker. The Pursuit of Truth. Article 1

[2] Abrams, R. (1983) Emerson at the Limits of Metaphysics Psychology

[3] Plotinus (2009) Plotinus’ Practical Mysticism

[4] Underhill, E. (2000) Practical Mysticism, Courier Dover, NY:NY, p2.

[5] Underhill, E. (2000) Practical Mysticism, Courier Dover, NY:NYp.3-4.