Being a mystic is a lifelong process of learning and deep contemplation which you can't afford to treat as a game.Identifying the spiritual practice or tradition which speaks to you and answering the questions you're interested in is the first step.Your real work starts after that.
Step 1: Feel the guidance of a person.
A mystic is someone who seeks to find order in the chaos and collect evidence of that order.If you're the kind of person who sees every strange coincidence, elegant metaphor, or pretty rainbow as a sign of something greater, you might begin to feel the presence of a guiding hand in which you place your trust.A powerful being that creates and controls the world is what religious mystics place their trust in.In the case of Zen Buddhism, religious mystics will place their trust in the practice of meditation and asceticism as the best way to understand the world.Some mystics are not always religious.The writing of quantum physicists and Jungian psychologists is often mystical.Whatever system, being, or practice you've found in which to place your trust, place it there.
Step 2: You should look for the interconnectedness of things around you.
Rather than emphasizing differences and disparity, seek to find order and balance in the world.There are things you have in common with your enemies.It's good to read and study a wide variety of mystical writings regardless of your spiritual or religious leanings.Thomas Merton studied Zen Buddhism.
Step 3: There is a possibility that this is not the case.
What is a mystic?What distinguishes a Christian mystic from a Buddhist mystic?Across practices, disciplines, and cultures, mystics have one thing in common: a deep personal and spiritual connection to their belief system.A personal experience of spirituality is more important to the mystic than a book-learning experience.The mystic needs more than just going to church.The showy materialist trappings of some religions can be avoided.To be a Buddhist mystic, you don't have to spend a lot of money.You don't need a 13th-century crucifix to be a Christian.
Step 4: Be present
Being present at all times is what mystics need to center themselves on.A mystic is not distracted by electronic devices, stresses, or complex schedules.The mystic should only be doing one thing at a time.Don't eat dinner when you're eating lunch.Take care of your body by enjoying what you eat.Focus on learning, reading the words, and understanding the concepts when you read the newspaper.You should put yourself completely into each task.It will not happen right away.It can be hard to slow down and focus in the 21st century.You should try to simplify your life as much as possible.Start small.If you need to make a call or send a message, put your phone away.
Step 5: Ask everything.
Personal connections to the spiritual world are what mystics want.Wisdom and platitudes are questioned by mystics.Ask the big questions if you want to develop your mystical connections to the world.The big questions: Why are we here?Is it possible to live a good life?Who am I?What will happen when we die?I don't know what death means to me.
Step 6: Trust your intuition.
It is important to ask the big questions and to trust that your instincts will lead you to the answers that you are looking for.Trust in yourself.You need to develop your intuition and self-reliance.You'll have the faith to discover what you're looking for if you eliminate your doubts.
Step 7: You can read the writings of mystics.
Studying mystical writings and tomes is a great way to learn about the lives of the mystics.It is important to get a sense of the scope of different writings in each tradition.Thomas Merton's No Man is an Island and The Cloud of Unknowing are both written by anonymous authors.
Step 8: Make a list of the central tenants of your practice.
There is a combination of self-imposed meditation and contemplation and the specific guidelines of your religion or other practice.Each religious life is different.Only one person can decide what is most important to you and your practice.You.Living life as close to the way Christ lived is the most important aspect of practicing for some mystical Christians.It is important for others to spread the word of God.Both ways of thinking can lead to mysticism and deep appreciation of the spiritual world.
Step 9: Your main priority should be your spiritual practice.
They aren't part-time.Whatever your deep connection to religion and the big questions, it needs to be your biggest priority in life.Not your job, family or hobbies.The biggest commitment you can make is your connection with the universe.Being a mystic is a solitary life for a lot of people.Most mystics have a reason for being monastic.It's hard to go out on Saturday night and have fun if you want to be a mystic.Do you have the will to commit?
Step 10: Don't let mystery get in the way of embracing it.
Zen meditation involves letting go of big concerns and embracing the void.It should be your living room for the mystic.Trusting in your instincts and diving into the biggest questions can lead to more questions than answers.It's possible that you won't know what will happen after you die, or if you're really right about your way of interpreting the world.
Step 11: A deep belief system can be developed with prayer and contemplation.
If you don't align yourself with any organized religion at all, you need to carve out time in your schedule for deep contemplation and meditative training.Pray, meditate, and ponder.To start praying, focus on feeling rather than asking specific yes-no types of questions.What is it like to get in touch with the higher power in which you believe?How does talking with your god affect you?Time needs to be divided evenly between meditating, reading and experiencing the world for some monastics.Don't spend more time praying than you do studying the religious texts, as a rule of thumb.
Step 12: You can develop your awareness through meditation.
There is no goal or outcome of a meditative practice.You don't come out of a meditation sitting feeling like you have solved the big problems that you are looking for.If you want to take that into the world, focus on stilling yourself and increasing your awareness.If you want to start meditating, you need to keep your thoughts still and watch them float through your mind.Fix your gaze on the void by sitting and focusing on your breathing.Try to hold onto your mind for as long as possible.Take notice of the little things.Slow down.
Step 13: Abandon unneeded beliefs.
A Zen saying compares Zen to a boat.You don't take it with you when you need to cross the river.It is a good idea to leave your Zen on the shore.Religion, meditative practices, and other aspects of your mystical experience should help you understand the world.
Step 14: You can surround yourself with mystical people.
It's important to get to know like-minded believers who are serious about their mystical practice.You can learn by observing and having complicated conversations with people from your church, organization, or other religious group.You can bounce ideas and interpretations off each other.You should learn as much as you can.Finding a teacher, mentor, or guru is an essential part of practicing your own brand of mysticism and developing as a mystical thinker in some traditions.If you're ready to commit to a serious practice, you should look for a personal teacher.