This is the first of a series of key Wilberian concepts
The mystical experience is indeed ineffable, or not capable of being entirely put into words; like any experience – a sunset, eating a piece of cake, listening to Bach’s music – one has to have the actual experience to see what it’s like. We don’t conclude, however, that sunset, cake and music therefore don’t exist or aren’t valid. Further, even though the mystical experience is largely ineffable, it can be communicated or transmitted, namely, by taking up spiritual practice under the guidance of a spiritual master or teacher (much as Judo can be taught but not spoken; as Wittgenstein would have it, the mystical ‘can be shown but not said’.
One of the great challenges is to legitimize spiritual experience in the eyes of those who feel the concept to be alien. Sunsets, cake and great music are pretty good ways to bridge understanding.
I wonder if Wilber has read the great poet-philosopher of the ineffable – Abraham Joshua Heschel – I do hope so, they are comparable masters, same hymn-book but slightly different styles.
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