DeepSummary
In this podcast episode, Chase from Faith and Capital and Brett from Rev Left Radio discuss the concept of mysticism, its manifestations across different religious traditions, and mystical experiences. They explore the potential benefits of mysticism in cultivating interconnectedness, self-reflection, and solidarity, as well as critiquing its potential pitfalls such as individualism and secrecy.
The discussion then shifts towards Mao's principles of criticism and self-criticism, which were developed as a method to strengthen revolutionary organizations and movements. They analyze the goals, functions, and prerequisites of this method, highlighting its importance in maintaining ideological unity and correcting errors within a shared basis of struggle.
Finally, the two hosts connect mysticism and criticism/self-criticism, drawing parallels between Buddhist principles of ego dissolution and the practice of criticism/self-criticism, as well as finding analogues within the Christian tradition, such as confession, judgment, conversion, and grace.
Key Episodes Takeaways
- Mysticism is a direct, visceral experience of unity with the ultimate or divine, transcending language and intellectual understanding.
- Mao's principles of criticism and self-criticism were developed to strengthen revolutionary organizations and movements by maintaining ideological unity and correcting errors.
- Criticism and self-criticism require an established basis of unity and shared goals to be effective and constructive.
- The Maoist principle of 'one divides into two' emphasizes the struggle between correct and incorrect ideas until one prevails, rejecting the idea of synthesis.
- Mysticism and criticism/self-criticism share goals of transforming the self, obliterating false notions of selfhood, and cultivating interconnectedness and compassion.
- Buddhist principles like dissolving the ego and Christian concepts like confession and judgment can be seen as mirroring the practice of criticism/self-criticism.
- Potential pitfalls of mysticism include individualism, secrecy, and spiritual materialism (the ego co-opting spiritual practices).
- Engaging in criticism/self-criticism can lead to periods of intense spiritual suffering or 'dark nights of the soul' as layers of the false self are peeled away.
Top Episodes Quotes
- βSo mysticism is the direct, visceral experience of unity with God, nature, eternity, the absolute, whatever language you have. And in fact, language itself kind of breaks down. There's not a colloquial, shared language around very, you know, previously esoteric, direct first person experiences.β by Brett O'Shea
- βThe function is to obliterate in some sense, sometimes suddenly, but often, I think, gradually, every aspect of oneself that is not real. That is not true. Identifying with that chattering voice in your head is an illusion. That voice in your head is not really you.β by Brett O'Shea
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Episode Information
Revolutionary Left Radio
Revolutionary Left Radio
3/8/22
Chase from Faith and Capital and Breht from Rev Left Radio discuss religious mysticism and the maoist method of criticism and self-criticism. In the end, they connect their religious and spiritual traditions to this method forged through revolutionary struggle.
Timeline:
00:01 -- mysticism
01:02:40 -- criticism and self-criticism
01:32:45 -- Buddhism and Christianity mirroring criticism and self-criticism
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