Postmodern and Islamic Mysticism: differences and approaches

The present collection is an overview of the intellectual basis, fundamental orientations and different aspects of Islamic mysticism (based on religion) and postmodern mysticism (based on secularism). Mysticism, as an Islamic term, deals with an internal and heartfelt force and capacity for cognition, through which a mystic can reach the horizons of ascendancy in his relationship with God. Getting to such a capacity and obtaining this type of completion depends on quitting the worldly interests and ego-centricism. Taking steps in such a direction, a mystic can find his real and godly entity combined with absolute and pure reality of existence. Nevertheless, mysticism as a term in new esoterique schools of thought and modern spiritualism in developed communities, particularly from the viewpoint of postmodernism, is merely a mental and imaginary process. In such a mystical approach, human heart is not considered to be a place for wisdom any more. In addition, in the instructions of this type of approach to mysticism, purification of inner nature from any attachment and getting to spiritual completion are not significant. Instead, this process is considered to be a strategy for preventing the deterioration of intellectual, spiritual and physical forces of human beings in a hasty path that today's men follow in their movement towards the pinnacles of materialistic advancements. Through using the instruments of mysticism, the developed man intends to temporarily alter the taste of life in order to avoid being trapped in the monotony of the materialistic enjoyments and to obtain the highest rate of pleasure from the natural life. Therefore, the postmodern mysticism is used as a spiritual strategy to serve the materialistic objectives.