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Posted by rat on 11/4/2009, 1:18 pm
173.66.52.X
(I published this one on scribd)
Is there any truth to apophatic mysticism?
Almost all mystics insist on the truth/authenticity of their path. Many would be offended by the suggestion that they might be fooling themselves with a mere dream or illusion.
But the apophatic mystic—one example would be Zhuangzi—is not interested in authenticating her practice. She is interested in gaining a know-how, not in obtaining knowledge as to what is and is not ultimately true. She is only interested in le 樂, that beautiful feeling which results in her falling in love with every being and all of being. (容 rong the all-embracing) If you tell her that she is fooling herself, this will not bother her in the least.
She is interested in the know-how that will allow this deep feeling of well-being (樂) to become non-contingent on any material event. Non-contingent le is called zile: 自樂. Zhuangzi: “When she was successful she was content; and when she miserably failed she was content.” ( 窮亦樂，通亦樂 . )
This does not mean that mystics like Zhuangzi are never sad, nor are they never tearful. Indeed we find out that Zhuangzi cried when his wife died. Zile indicates that there is a deep sense of well-being no matter what happens.
The apophaticist has freed (jie 解) herself of all attachments. This includes any attachment to a claim of knowing ultimate truth. She is only interested in practical truth—whatever truly lets her enjoy life at this moment.
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"The Tao is basically utterly open. Utter openeness has no substance. It ends in endlessness, begins in beginninglessnes".
-Li Daoqun
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