Every spiritual movement is composed of those who lead and those who follow. It seems that most of us find our place by becoming teachable. We study books, attend classes, and sincerely attempt to create the same patterns that others have outlined for us. Over time these pattenrs become sacred doctrines. The height of spiritual advancement is often measured by how closely one has aligned with these well-traveled doctrinal patterns.
However, within all vibrant spiritual movements there are a few who are not content to master the known patterns. They long for the realm not yet explored. They walk to the edge of their teaching and peer out beyond, just as the founders of their spiritual tradition did. Evenutally, they step into the abyss and uncover a new, higher spiritual Truth. Though they may be criticized by those who police the boundaries of their religious movement, they become spiritual leaders, pioneering new inner realms. We call them mystics.
The mystic is simply one who studies the mysteries of life, the unseen, the unknown, and reaches out to experience these mysteries first-hand. Someone must step ahead of the masses to become the cutting edge of spiritual awakening. More and more people then follow, until these realms become "normal" for large groups. Mystics work with the invisible until human beings awaken enough as a whole to see the potential they describe and accept it as natural. At this point, the mystic has once again forged ahead into the unknown next step. Thus the spiritual advancement of humanity progresses.
Every religion has within it an inner core of mystics who break new ground so that others may follow. World religions are like spokes in a wheel, with their mystics being those closest to the hub. The outer worship practices and names of each tradition seem quite distant. They lie far out on the spoke near the rim. Yet the mystics of different world religions are quite similar, having discovered the same inner spiritual principles and had similar transcendent experiences. The further we go, the more we realize there is only one Truth. There is only one God, no matter what we call Him/Her.
Jesus was a Jewish mystic, perhaps the greatest mystic who ever lived. Thus Christianity began as a mystical offshoot of Judaism. However, since Jesus' understanding and use of hte higher invisible realm was so far beyond those who reached out to embrace Christianity, the church placed him on a pedestal. They developed worship patterns for honoring his teaching, adulated him for his spiritual attainment, but shied away from truly following in his footsteps by colonizing these higher realms.
Christianity slowly became mired in "Churchianity." Most Christians stayed in the safe area: "Pray to God, worship Jesus Christ, follow the rules set by the church, and everything will be all right in the end."
Throughout all this time, there have always been a few who have kept the fire of spiritual exploration burning: monks in certain secluded monasteries, individuals with unquenchable thirsts for spiritual adventure, and small secret orders studying beyond the boundaries of majority opinion. Each chose to experience directly the inner realm Jesus taught so clearly. All carved whatever path they could and left their piece of the puzzle to humanity.
(from the Introduction)
