The Psychology of Mystical Experiences

June 12, 2015 - PRLog -- Over the last 5,000 years, inspired leaders and saints of all the great spiritual traditions have produced a rich collection of writings describing the transcendent states they have experienced. A new edition of a book by noted religious scholar Andrew Vidich, PhD, called Love Is a Secret, describes these states. Exploring the poetry, prose, and sacred art they have used to illuminate their experiences, Vidich illustrates how strikingly similar experiences occur to mystics of every spiritual tradition.

Drawing from all the great traditions, from Taoism to Christianity, from Sufism to Judaism, it articulates the psychology of humankind's deepest spiritual encounters. Vidich, a former professor at Manhattan College, identifies ten distinct psychological states common to all religious experience. A study of the specific characteristics of each state reveals that sages from widely different theologies, times and cultures have experienced transcendent love in remarkably similar ways. Their words show us what intimate encounters with "the Great Beloved" feel like, and how we can cultivate these mystical unions in our own lives.

Vidich provides guidelines on how to identify a genuine mystical experience, and the effects that “a love affair with the divine” can have on the life of the seeker. He stresses that these states are accessible to everyone through the writings and art of the mystics, and believes that extraordinary experiences are now accessible to ordinary people in contemporary society. The compassionate wisdom in the pages of this book, which has been completely updated in the form of a 25^th anniversary edition, provides a moving testament to the majesty, variety, and splendor of the direct experience of the mystical union.

Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/dp/1604152532

Book info: Energy Psychology Press, $14.95, ISBN: 978-1-160415-253-1