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#3356 - Thursday, November 20, 2008 - Editor: Jerry Katz
The Nonduality Highlights - http://groups.yahoo.com/group/NDhighlights
photo: Dr. Stewart Bitkoff
"The goal of the mystical
school is the completed person.
The completed person has added a degree of spiritual development
to their other capacities. This spiritual development is
accomplished through an interaction between the Master, the
student and Path." - Dr. Stewart Bitkoff, from the
article Mystical School: http://stewartbitkoff.com/Bitkoff/The%20Mystical%20School.pdf
The following is the
first part of interview with Dr. Stewart Bitkoff, author of the
book A Commuter's Guide to Enlightement: http://mysticsaint.blogspot.com/2008/08/commuters-guide-to-enlightenment.html.
Dr. Bitkoff is a doctoral
graduate in education, an expert in Therapeutic Recreation,
Psychiatric Rehab and Psychiatric Treatment. He has been on
Faculty, served as Field Instructor (Social Work/Psychology) for
New York University, Herbert Lehman College, Iona College,
College of New Rochelle, East Stroudsburg University, and
Northampton Community College. He has written many works
centering on the topic of the completed person and the original
human development system.
For years, Dr. Bitkoff studied in two modern mystical schools and
was designated to help make available aspects of this secret,
inner teaching. Professionally, Dr. Bitkoff has taught in various
colleges and universities and worked to help the mentally ill
integrate their altered state of consciousness into the physical
world. In this interview we touch upon mysticism, mystical
schools, sufi path and the training of mystics.
Sadiq M. Alam: The word 'mystic' to general people creates a lot
of confusion. If you were to define, how would you describe who
or what is a 'mystic'?
Dr. Stewart Bitkoff: The word mystic comes from the word mystery;
someone who seeks the mystery. What is the mystery? For different
people, this is always different. In terms of the mystery school,
the student or traveler was/is taught about the mystery of the
universe- in hidden, mysterious, non-traditional, ways.
Throughout history, traditions abound concerning the mystery
schools and what was actually taught there. Keep in mind, if this
knowledge was not a mystery and others knew about it; for
practitioners often it would mean death. Throughout time,
traditionalists would have required the execution of those
involved, because what was taught was not the standard form of
religion. It was the inner current, or perception, connection,
and alignment with the Truth/Light.
My teacher used to say, as he reflected the Light across our
hearts, this was the mystery and learning that was taught in the
great pyramids..
When one uses the word 'mystic' in the context of Sufi path -
what is the emphasis here?
People always need to define something; put it into a category,
so, it is understood. Followers of the Path are given names so
others will understand what is going on. Sufis do not call
themselves Sufis; this is considered egotistical. Limiting, and
not accurate. Others have called Sufis the original mystics; once
again, this is an attempt by them to understand what the Sufi is
doing.
For followers of this Path, the mystery or emphasis is connection
with the Divine; Love of God and direct perception of the
Truth/Light. The traveler does not believe there is a God/Light;
the traveler knows there is a God/Light. Through the intervention
of the Teacher, the traveler connects, is one with this
primordial energy, and aligns their own inner essence (heart)
with the Light.
As love, in a worldly context matures, the lover does not say, I
think/believe that I love my wife and daughter, the traveler
knows he/she loves their family member. It is the same with
spiritual studies and knowledge of God. We do not talk about God,
or say we believe, we know and experience the Divine Essence.
What does a mystic school consist of?
A mystical school consists of a teacher/Master, student/traveler,
and the Path; which is an aspect of the Light. It is the Baraka
(grace) of the Path, which the teacher uses to do his/her work.
The Light is the life force and the way we connect with God;
fused together in a glorious way- which is perceived, known,
experienced and loved. Here, words are limitations. Just as
Christians speak of the Holy Trinity: Father, Son, and Holy
Spirit; the Path, Light, and God are One interconnected and
expressed on infinite levels. The traveler speaks of glimpsing
only a small fraction of this; a lock of hair from the beloved.
Can a person be trained to become a mystic? If the goal of a
mystic school is that, in persent day's respect how an ideal
mystic school should / may look like?
All learning requires training, innate capacity, preparation, and
hard work. It is no different with spiritual studies. Each
traveler is born with a life plan or destiny; we come here with
an agenda of sorts; some of which we choose and some of which is
chosen for us. This life plan or agenda presupposes a skill set,
or inner sense of what we like and wish to accomplish. Once
again, spiritual studies, mystical training, and any other
endeavor are linked through pre-existing factors; some of these
factors stretch across lifetimes, experience in other realms, and
our present requirements. To answer the question, yes, travelers
can be trained to be a mystic. This is the natural Way to
experience God, before there was formal religion. It has always
existed. Does every traveler require this training? Right now. In
this present experience? That is up to each traveler and God.
Remember, each is given what they require. No one’s
experience is better than another’s; it is different,
specifically for them, and guided by the Unseen Forces.
How do you see the concept of 'a complete person?'
A completed person has added a level of spiritual capacity and
aligns their action with the higher potential. In order for this
to occur, the traveler must be balanced and reasonably adjusted
to ordinary life. Spiritual capacity is in addition to all other
capacities and serves as an integrating factor; a foundation from
which a complete life may be lived. We were created to
participate in the world; helping to make it a better place, by
aligning personal action with the highest potential in each
moment. Now, how does one do this sort of thing? That is the
mystery and is at the heart of the Path and mystery school. It
begins by submission and love. Because we love, we are willing to
do for another.
~ ~ ~
Part 2 of the interview with Dr. Bitkoff will be published next week.
