The Forgotten Core of Religion: Why Religious People Often Misunderstand Mysticism
Religions often begin with direct inner experience, yet evolve into institutions focused on ritual and structure. This article explores the forgotten mystical core across traditions and why inner transformation remains central. Religions did not originally arise from theory. Before institutions, dogmas, or rituals existed, there was usually a profound inner experience at the beginning—an experience that completely transformed a person’s life. In Christianity, this experience is associated with Jesus. In Buddhism, with the awakening of the Buddha under the Bodhi tree. Both figures stand at the origin of traditions that today include millions of followers. Yet if one looks more closely, something becomes apparent: Many religious people identify with these traditions, but the actual path that leads to the original experience is often barely visible anymore. Religion frequently becomes something else: a mixture of moral orientation, social belonging, and occasional forms of piety. ...