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Mysticism and Indian spirituality
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the popularisation of Yoga inevitably followed. In that context it had to satisfy the emotional involvement people nor. mally have in religious matters and so it found its natural expression in theistic mysticism which opened the gate to the Divine for large numbers of people to whom a methodical approach and solitary meditation did not mean much. Their attitude was one of devotion which could be nourished only on mutuality. And thus appeared on the scene bhakti yoga which found its early exposition in the Bhagavad Gitā which also popularised some of the more technical methods of Yoga as well as the doctrines of the Upanişads.
On the Buddhist side it was the compassion expressed in the Bodbisativa approach which gave the opportunity to masses of followers, previously left out of the immediate liberation scheme of the strict eightfold path, to have an outlet for their emotional need for an all-embracing and assisted path.
All this meant that mystical experience at least in its elementary forms, became almost universally available. This, obviously, does not represent a peak in the development of Indian approaches to spiritualily, but it did give both Hinduism and Buddhism as religions a certain awareness of the mystical dimension on all levels of worship wbich is still alive in them to a large degree and which is not easily found in other religions.
However, there is no escaping the fact that the mystic way is an exclusive way. Its true aim is the realisation of the ultimate reality which requires detachment from the immediate relative reality and this can never become the prevailing concern of multitudes. Consequently, the elitists character of mysticism made itself felt again very quickly. A Bodhisattva may have compassion for all creatures and sacrifice his final release for the sake of helping them, but he nevertheless aims at complete enlightenment which includes the perfect skill of an accomplished teacher and spiritual powers which will enable him to pursue his mission. All this points to a mystical expe
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