Mysticism is now being considered as the way to comprehend Reality, by experts in all scientific fields. Hopes are pinned on mysticism, that it will take us to a final theory of everything.
Gurudev defines "mysticism denotes that attitude of mind which involves a direct, immediate, first-hand, intuitive apprehension of God". It is silent enjoyment of God.
Gurudev said that God Realization is a process and not an event. The aspirant approaches Reality in an asymptotic way, thus establishing approximation to Reality. God Realization comes as a mystical experience to the aspirant. When Mysticism is understood in this sense, there is no reason why it should be taken to signify any occult or mysterious phenomena as it is occasionally done.
Mysticism is fully rational.Its characteristics are
1. Central Initiation
Knowledge of the objective world is from the sense data received in the brain due to peripheral initiation. Whereas mystical experience is generated from inside due to the activation of brain centres by the spiritual energy which is produced on account of the aspirant's meditative process.This is central initiation.
2. Super - Sensuousness
It is transcendence of senses. When the aspirant perceives a spiritual form or hears the unstruck sound, it is not the physical eye that sees or the physical ear that hears. The perceiving or hearing is by the faculty of intuition and sense organs have no part to play in it. The mystical experience is, thus, super-sensuous.
3. Intuition
It is a faculty of super-sensuous experience which is aroused in us by proper spiritual initiation and practice. It transcends intellect, feeling and will. This is that inner sense of the soul called intuition through which the aspirant comprehends Reality in direct, immediate and first-hand manner.
4. Beatificism
The consummation of spiritual life lies in Beatificism or blissful experience of Reality.