MYSTICAL EXPERIENCE AND MYSTICAL PRACTICES IN THE TESTIMONIES OF RUSSIAN ROSICRUCIANS OF THE XVIII–XIX CENTURIES

Abstract

In the article diff erent forms of mystical experience in the XVIIIth–XIXth centuries Russia are reconstructed on the basis of the sources from Rosicrucian funds of DMS RSL. These sources describe both Rosicrucian and non-Rosicrucian experience and represent mystical enthusiasm of diff erent social groups in Russia. Rosicrucians collected these records in volumes, containing mystical diaries, letters, descriptions of visions etc., which could be classifi ed as special genre of Rosicrucian literature — «mystical testimonies». Article provides classifi cation of such forms of experience based on four criteria: modes of perception, object of experience, its content and relation to mystical practices. The basic modes of mystical perception were: audial, visual, olfactory, tactile, gustatory and synesthetic. Objects of mystical experience could be divided into two groups: characters from New Testament and supernatural beings and powers, both good and evil. Content of mystical experience includes instructions, prophecies and revelations. Instructions could be spiritual or practical (medical) ones. Prophecies concerned historical events, such as war with Napoleon or Decembrists revolt. Revelations concerned structure of the universe, spiritual world and secrets of afterlife. All these experiences could be spontaneous (like dreams or hallucinations) or induced by some practices (for example prayer or «inner conversion»). In the conclusion three main features of these forms of mystical experience are distinguished: their Christian nature, strong connection with Masonic-Rosicrucian worldview and their individual nature

Keywords

• prayer
• esotericism
• mysticism
• mystical experience
• mystical practices
• mystical evidences
• Freemasonry
• Rosicrucianism
• inner conversion
• prophecy
• revelation