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===='''''[[Mysticism]]'''''====

===='''''[[Mysticism]]'''''====

Q. Machiventa, I have a couple of questions I would like to ask you. This is my second time here. Last week, I believe that [[Welmek]] stated that we should envision in our [[minds]] our highest [[concept]] of [[God]] during our [[meditations]]. I was reading in the [[Urantia Book]] on [[100:5|page l099]] that it states "Under no circumstances should the trance-like state of visionary consciousness be cultivated as a religious experience."[http://nordan.daynal.org/wiki/index.php?title=100:5_Conversion_and_Mysticism (100:5.8)] There are also other [[references]] to this section on the [[dangers]] of [[mysticism]]. Could you [[explain]] that to me?

Q. Machiventa, I have a couple of questions I would like to ask you. This is my second time here. Last week, I believe that [[Welmek]] stated that we should envision in our [[minds]] our highest [[concept]] of [[God]] during our [[meditations]]. I was reading in the [[Urantia Book]] on [[100:5|page l099]] that it states "Under no circumstances should the trance-like state of visionary consciousness be cultivated as a religious experience."[https://nordan.daynal.org/wiki/index.php?title=100:5_Conversion_and_Mysticism (100:5.8)] There are also other [[references]] to this section on the [[dangers]] of [[mysticism]]. Could you [[explain]] that to me?

A. What your [[teacher]] referenced is simply a [[point]] that when you find your [[mind]] [[wandering]] in [[random]] [[thought]] during this [[Stillness|quiet time]], to re- [[focus]] on a particular thought or a particular [[image]]. In and of itself, this is not a [[religious]] [[experience]]. It is [[simply]] an attempt for you to [[focus]] your [[mind]] on that which is [[spirit]], on that which is [[love]], or whatever it is you [[wish]] to refocus it on. The religious [[experience]] in your life comes from your actual [[realization]] in daily living, when you [[interact]] with an [[associate]] and you [[feel]] and witness the [[love]] being exchanged, when you serve [[unselfishly]], many ways one can have [[religious]] [[experiences]].

A. What your [[teacher]] referenced is simply a [[point]] that when you find your [[mind]] [[wandering]] in [[random]] [[thought]] during this [[Stillness|quiet time]], to re- [[focus]] on a particular thought or a particular [[image]]. In and of itself, this is not a [[religious]] [[experience]]. It is [[simply]] an attempt for you to [[focus]] your [[mind]] on that which is [[spirit]], on that which is [[love]], or whatever it is you [[wish]] to refocus it on. The religious [[experience]] in your life comes from your actual [[realization]] in daily living, when you [[interact]] with an [[associate]] and you [[feel]] and witness the [[love]] being exchanged, when you serve [[unselfishly]], many ways one can have [[religious]] [[experiences]].