The Source Book On Sikhism

Chapter Twenty-Three

A Mystic-A Cosmocentric Social Laboratory

Dr. S.S. Sodhi/Dr. J.S. Mann

Mystic state of consciousness is a highly developed state that human beings are capable of reaching through evolutionary spiritual operations. The mystics establish a conscious relation with the absolute and aspire to have an intimate union with the Divine. By leading a “Purgative life”, a mystic strips the soul of selfishness, and sensuality, and helps it to pass beyond the though of self to the Eternal Wisdom. Mystic is a social surrogate in whose solitary adventure the most profound concepts and values of a culture are systematically isolated, evaluated and reconstituted in the social consciousness of an epoch, e.g. the GURU PERIOD OF SIKH HISTORY.

The mystics social functioning in this respect is not that of a rebel, but that of a reformed effort, raising to collective consciousness, the most important, if often, forgotten values and beliefs of a people. The mystics torturous process of social and cognitive disengagement and re-engagement is, in effect, a physic laboratory in which a society renews its spiritual vigour.

At the beginning of all, must be the awakening or the conversion of the mystic, who becomes aware of what he seeks, and sets his face towards that goal. But a long preparation is needed and the discipline of the “Purgative” life must first be endured. By reframing and amendment of life, must the self be disciplined. To the Eastern mystics and to many mystics of the West, a life of action and re-entry is seemed to be the only way by which the carnal soul could be purified from its sins, which have their root in the desires of self, sensuality and selfishness. For the mystic who lives in the world and the best of the mystics have not withdrawn themselves from the business of life - this stage means the full development of the civic and social virtues and the discharge of all ordinary duties of life and use of ordinary means of grace. Through an inner urge the mystic’s soul seeks to be cleansed from the senses, to be stripped of all that is opposed to the Eternal Order so as to be fit to pass on the second stage, that of IIluminative life. At the Illuminative stage, the mystic’s soul walks in the illumination created by the effulgence; of unclouded light, and the presence of God is an experienced reality to him. He becomes fearless and Fanah-oriented.

In the final stage of the Unitive life, the mystic moves from becoming to being. He beholds God face to face, and is joined to him in a progressive union. This highest stage of union is an indescribable experience in which the ideas, images, forms, differences vanish. The soul of the mystic plunges into the abyss of the Godhead and his spirit becomes one with God. He meets his Sat Guru by producing SAT GURU-like behaviour which may lead to his Fanah. A true mystic after reaching and enjoying the most “exquisite of pleasure” of being face to face with Godhead is then inspired to be part of humanity and throws himself in action. Students studying Indian and Western Mystics such as Farid, Kabir, Guru Nanak Dev, Guru Gobind Singh, Jesus, Buddha, and many score of others would find that the paradigm mentioned in this essay applies universally to the mystics all over the world. Unfortunately, the common person because his neurotic, myopic, and linear level training stays at a very concrete stage of his spiritual evolution. Most of the troubles of the world would disappear if humanity acquires a touch of mysticism, because persons without mysticism sometimes behave like monsters as was demonstrated by the behaviour of some Mughal kings such as Jahangir and Auranzeb.