Who Am I & Why Am I Writing Here
A Spiritual Mystic Perhaps but Not Quite
In case you’re wondering, and I must confess I have an obligation to ask the same question to myself - why did I create this Substack site, and what qualification do I have to do so, and the title, oh the title..? Well, I am not quite a mystic in the accomplished sense of the word, and I am not here to pose as one. I’ve been in the company of a few mystics in my life and have been fortunate to have had, to a limited degree, their direct tutelage and guidance. I consider that a real blessing.
I’ve studied the wisdom traditions and scriptures of the world religions for fifty years to date. Before that, I had a traditional Catholic upbringing and catechism. I’ve been through all the layperson’s sacraments. I’ve had some mystical experiences, short and sweet, spread out over the years, and I have practiced various forms of meditation and prayer, from Christian to Hindu to Buddhist. I have no particular bragging rights; I wouldn’t brag or embellish them even if I did. In any case, my pedigree in mysticism is more intellectual than accomplished; nevertheless, it’s a subject that I am most comfortable with, is most dear to my heart, and draws my aspirations. I have some specialized training in human psychology that supports my knowledge base in this arena, as it is helpful to my understanding of human nature, patterns of behavior, and obstacles to spiritual life - many of which are universal and cross-cultural. I am writing this Substack to share my particular thoughts, insights, and ideas around the words of wisdom and concepts, as an exercise in exploring the truth, and to hopefully help my readers in their own spiritual lives and paths.
There is no shortage of religious and spirit-filled literature in any faith. What is sometimes lacking is perhaps an objective rendering, an exploration into the contextual validity, a comparative integration of religious ideals, and an understanding of the immediate relevancy of some of the teachings. Although it may seem easy to read the teachings, we may not hear them ring deeply within. No one can keep the totality of this vast subject area of wisdom and spirituality in his or her mind at once. It is important to visit the maxims, sayings, teachings, and practices again and again to keep our spiritual life alive and rushing forward. This Substack is intended to be a place where readers can experience an eclectic mix of world wisdom and spirituality. It is intended to inspire and breathe renewal and revival into your spiritual quest. It is dedicated to seekers and spiritual aspirants. On these pages, I also intend to explore my own personal musings on some of the subjects presented. Hopefully, readers won’t find them too daring but instead take them as food for thought and come away with your own insights. I will include somewhat deep forays into Asian religious traditions and philosophy as well as Western religious traditions and teachings. My intention is ultimately to weave together a harmonious and contextual tapestry that makes for an expanded view of our approach to the Divine and a respect and appreciation for each holy tradition and its great saints and sages.
Humility is something that must not be forgotten or overlooked when approaching such material, whether we are writers or readers of sacred subjects. In the Philokalia (Greek), aka Dubrotulbye (Russian) scripture of the Christian holy men, as translated by Valentina Dutko (Sivananda Valentina), it says, “He who is advertising his own intellect and asserting his own willfulness attracts to himself the crowds of demons and cannot be in the proximity of the Spirit.” Let this Substack not be that, but instead a humble attempt by a largely imperfect seeker at sharing and exploring the teachings of the great sages, mystics, masters, and holy ones who have come before for the good of all humanity, particularly those who have been gifted the ears to listen and are willing to approach them with a pure and open heart and mind.
- The American Mystic May 5, 2024