As human beings, we all possess a potential window into spiritual experience, though our ability to access the divine can be impeded by doubt.
The philosopher and Harvard Professor William James explored the commonality of spiritual experience in his 1902 book The Varieties of Religious Experience. He deliberately approached the topic objectively, avoiding theological or doctrinal interpretations.
James asserted that religious experience exists beyond our normal conscious awareness:
“It is that our normal waking consciousness, rational consciousness as we call it, is but one special type of consciousness, whilst all about it, parted from it by the filmiest of screens, there lie potential forms of consciousness entirely different. We may go through life without suspecting their existence; but apply the requisite stimulus, and at a touch they are there in all their completeness, definite types of mentality which probably somewhere have their field of application and adaptation. No account of the universe in its totality can be final which leaves these other forms of consciousness quite disregarded.”
He further detailed characteristics of the mystical experience, notably:
- Ineffability: It defies expression; its content cannot be adequately put into words. This means its quality must be directly experienced, not simply transferred to others. Mystical states are akin to feelings—you have to experience them to truly understand. Just as you need musical ears to grasp a symphony’s value or to have been in love to comprehend a lover’s mind, a mystic’s experiences often receive inadequate interpretation from those who haven’t shared them.
- Noetic quality: Despite their similarity to feelings, mystical states are also perceived as states of profound knowledge. They offer insights into truths unreachable by the ordinary intellect. These are illuminations, revelations filled with significance, and typically carry a powerful sense of authority that endures long after the experience.
James also highlighted that spiritual experience brings a sense of coherent understanding:
“Looking back on my own experiences, they all converge towards a kind of insight to which I cannot help ascribing some metaphysical significance. The keynote of it is invariably a reconciliation. It is as if the opposites of the world, whose contradictoriness and conflict make all our difficulties and troubles, were melted into unity.”
The spiritual experience serves as a window to another dimension, one unburdened by the constraints of time and space. It possesses a numinous quality, allowing the experiencer to encounter singular, all-encompassing, and timeless Truth and Wisdom. This experience often feels more real than ordinary reality, leaving an indelible mark of immense significance. Moreover, the illumination gained from a spiritual experience remains undiminished within the individual, serving as a constant source of joy and guidance for the rest of their life.
