Mystics, Poets and Philosophers
This sub-section is divided into two parts;
Who are the Mystics?
A brief history is provided of some of the mystics who have appeared in all ages and in all lands.
Website Quotations
Brief biographical sketches are given of the mystics, poets, and philosophers who are quoted in this website.
Note – physicists, cosmologists and other scientists who have changed our view of the universe are also quoted in this website, primarily in The Enchanted Universe section. In this case, a few key pieces of information are shown in parentheses following the scientist’s name.
1 – Who are the Mystics
“Throughout human history there have been individuals who appear to have become fully awake. These are the enlightened ones—the mystics, seers, saints, rishis, roshis, and lamas who in one way or another have discovered for themselves the true nature of consciousness. Although their discoveries have been expressed in different ways, depending on the dominant worldview of their time, the essential message remains remarkably consistent. Aldous Huxley called this the “perennial philosophy,” the timeless wisdom that has been rediscovered again and again through the ages” ~ Peter Russell (scientist, psychologist, futurist, b1946)
“Mystics are found in all cultures and times, and are the original source and lifeblood of the world’s major religious traditions, as well as countless indigenous spiritual traditions. There are also mystics outside the religious and spiritual traditions who are poets, philosophers, musicians or simply ordinary people.”
~ Thomas J. McFarlane
“I happened to stumble on some of the writings of the mystics—men and women who claimed to have discovered a universal and liberating Truth about the ultimate nature of Reality. What I found so striking about their testimonies was that, unlike the works of other philosophers and theologians, whose ideas seemed always to conflict, the mystics’ accounts of this Reality were remarkably similar. And this was true despite the fact that they had lived in very different times and places, and come from very different religious traditions.” ~ Joel Morwood
"Theologians may quarrel but the mystics of the world speak the same language." ~ Meister Eckhart
“Mystics are found in all cultures and times, and are the original source and lifeblood of the world’s major religious traditions, as well as countless indigenous spiritual traditions. There are also mystics outside the religious and spiritual traditions who are poets, philosophers, musicians or simply ordinary people.”
~ Thomas J. McFarlane
“I happened to stumble on some of the writings of the mystics—men and women who claimed to have discovered a universal and liberating Truth about the ultimate nature of Reality. What I found so striking about their testimonies was that, unlike the works of other philosophers and theologians, whose ideas seemed always to conflict, the mystics’ accounts of this Reality were remarkably similar. And this was true despite the fact that they had lived in very different times and places, and come from very different religious traditions.” ~ Joel Morwood
"Theologians may quarrel but the mystics of the world speak the same language." ~ Meister Eckhart
In his comprehensive book, The History of Mysticism, Swami Abhayananda provides a historical overview of a number of mystics, from ancient times to today. The following lists the key mystics, in chronological order, from the book;
In his book, Swami Abhayananda acknowledges that his overview is not intended to be comprehensive. No doubt, there are many other mystics who could be added to this list, e.g. Abraham, Moses, King David, Muhammad, Zoroaster, Mahavira, Sri Yukteswar, Lahiri Mahasaya, Mahavatar Babaji, Eckhart Tolle, Jiddu Krishnamurti, Nisargadatta Maharaj, Gopi Krishna, etc.
The intent here is not to provide a comprehensive compendium on this topic, but rather to indicate that many, many mystics have graced this planet in all lands, from ancient times to the present.
2 - Website Quotations
Brief biographical information is provided below on the mystics, poets, and philosophers that have been quoted in this website, listed alphabetically by last name. Those quoted only once or twice may not be included.
- To start, the unnamed mystics of India, the rishis, who produced the collection of songs of devotion and ceremonial liturgy known as the Vedas (“Wisdom”). The Vedas were originally part of an orally transmitted legacy dating from about 3000-1500 BCE. The rishis later produced the Upanishads as the final portion of the Vedas, also called the Vedanta, or end of the Vedas. As Swami Abhayananda says, “in the annals of spiritual knowledge, the testimonies of the rishis who authored the Upanishads may perhaps be equaled, but they have never been, nor will ever be, surpassed. They have the last as well as the original say in spiritual knowledge. All that has been said since regarding the Source, nature, and final Goal of man is but so many footnotes to the Upanishads; for, in them, the furthest reaches of knowledge have been explored. They have reduced all existence to One, the final number beyond which there is no more reduction. And they have shown the path whereby this supernal knowledge may be attained. Whatever came after the Upanishads, in the way of spiritual knowledge, is only the echoing cries of those who have rediscovered the same Truth, by the same path, and have raised their voices to sing the same joyous song.”
- Krishna (~30th century BCE), the illumined master of ancient India, and perhaps the first known avatar on this planet. His teachings not only form part of the original Hindu religion but also outline the principles of yoga meditation as a universal path to enlightenment.
- The Mahabharata, in this case a great epic classic rather than a person, written sometime between the 10th and 5th centuries BCE by an unknown poet or poets. It tells the story of a war between two rival clans of ancient India, no doubt based in part on ancient historical events. Throughout its complex allegorical fabric, it weaves the philosophical precepts of Kapila's Samkhya. Within the poetic drama of the Mahabharata is found the Bhagavad Gita (The Song of God). It is a philosophical dialogue between the great master, Krishna, and a disciple, Arjuna. Written by the legendary sage, Vyasa, the Bhagavad Gita offers the most comprehensive and definitive expression of the Samkhya philosophy ever written. While it forms a segment of the Mahabharata story, it is also a separate and complete work in itself. “When a book is truly inspired and illumined by the grace of God, it shines so brightly into the hearts and minds of men that it becomes universally revered as a holy receptacle of God's word. Such a book is the Bhagavad Gita,” and it remains one of the world’s most sacred books to this day.
- Kapila, a Vedic sage who lived in India around the 6th to 9th century BCE, whose “beautifully formulated description of Reality has lived on for centuries and centuries, providing the foundation and framework for description by the many seers of the Truth who came after him. Kapila’s explanation of Reality came to be known as the philosophy of Samkhya, a word which, like Veda, means knowledge or wisdom.”
- The author of the Book of Psalms of the Hebrew Bible, attributed to David, king of Palestine, around 1000 BCE.
- The Taoist sages of ancient China, such as Lao-Tzu (6th century BCE), who wrote the profound Tao Teh Ching; and, Chuang-Tzu (4th century BCE) who furthered the mystical tradition of Lao-Tzu.
- Gautama Buddha, or Siddhartha Buddha, or simply the Buddha (6th to 5th century BCE), “the enlightened one” from India whose teachings formed the original Buddhist religion.
- The mystics of the Greco-Roman Era, including Pythagoras; Heraclitus and Xenophanes (6th century BCE); Socrates (5th century BCE); Philo Judaeus (20 BCE to 40 CE); and, Plotinus (205 – 270 CE).
- Jesus of Nazareth (~4 BCE to 34 CE), the illumined master and avatar whose teachings became the foundation of the Christian religion.
- The mystics of the early Middle Ages, such as the anonymous fifth century Christian mystic who authored On the Divine Names and Mystical Theology, often attributed to Dionysius; the legendary sage of India, Narada whose path of divine love is expressed in The Bhakti Sutras; Patanjali, another mystic of India, whose Yoga Sutras outlines the foundation of Raja Yoga as a royal path to achieve God-Realization; Shankara, the Vedantic sage of India who authored The Crest-Jewel of Discrimination, a classic in the field of enlightenment literature; Dattatreya, yet another mystic of India attributed with the writing of the Avadhut Gita; Milarepa, the Tibetan yogi poet and mystic; The Ch’an and Zen Buddist masters of China; and, the Sufi sages of the mystical branch of Islam.
- The mystics of the late Middle Ages, such as Ibn Gabirol the Jewish poet; Ibn Arabi (1165-1240) the Sufi author of Bezels of Wisdom; Fakhruddin Iraqi (1213-1289) the celebrated Sufi poet who penned the exquisite Lama’at verses; Jalaluddin Rumi (1207-1273), the beloved Persian poet; Jnaneshvar (1275-1296), a Hindu yogi and poet ; St. Francis of Assisi (1182-1224), a Christian mystic; Thomas Aquinus (1225-1274), a Christian theologian who attained the mystic vision late in life and thereafter dismissed all of his previous theologian writings as “mere straw”; Meister Eckhart (1260-1328), who similarly was a “master of sacred theology” within the Christian Church, but following his mystic awakening taught the truths that he had experienced and was declared a heretic by his Church; Eckhart’s followers, who may or may not have attained the mystical experience, but who were faithful disciples, including John Tauler (1300-1361), Henry Suso (1296-1381) and Jan Ruysbroeck (1293-1381); and, Thomas à Kempis (1380-1471), whose writings are much beloved by followers of the bhakti tradition.
- The mystics of the modern era, such as Nicholas of Cusa (1401 - 1464), a German Renaissance man noted for his deeply mystical writings; Juan de la Cruz (1542-1591), a Spaniard noted for the clarity and poetic beauty of his description of the mystic vision; Kabir (1440 -1510) the poet and songwriter mystic of India; Nanak (1469 -1539) another poet and songwriter mystic of India, who was chosen as the original Guru of the Sikhs; Dadu (1544 -1603), yet another songwriter and beloved mystic of India; Ramakrishna (1836 -1886), the divinely intoxicated Indian mystic and practitioner of both the jnani and bhakti paths of yoga meditation; and, Swami Rama Tirtha (1873 -1906), another illumined sage of India who taught the Vedantic tradition in America for a short time;
- Finally, the contemporary mystics, such as Ramana Maharshi (1879-1950), the enlightened Indian teacher of self-inquiry; Anandamoyi Ma (1896-1982), the “joy-permeated Mother” from India; and, Paramahansa Yogananda (1893-1952),the great illumined master of India who spent many years teaching in America - a prolific writer who left behind a plethora of teachings outlining the path to enlightenment as well as ecstatic visions in his poetry for the benefit of generations to come. Some of Yogananda’s majestic writings include “Autobiography of a Yogi”, “God Talks with Arjuna – The Bhagavad Gita”, “The Second Coming of Christ”, “Man’s Eternal Quest”, “Journey to Self-Realization”, “The Divine Romance” and “Whispers from Eternity.”
In his book, Swami Abhayananda acknowledges that his overview is not intended to be comprehensive. No doubt, there are many other mystics who could be added to this list, e.g. Abraham, Moses, King David, Muhammad, Zoroaster, Mahavira, Sri Yukteswar, Lahiri Mahasaya, Mahavatar Babaji, Eckhart Tolle, Jiddu Krishnamurti, Nisargadatta Maharaj, Gopi Krishna, etc.
The intent here is not to provide a comprehensive compendium on this topic, but rather to indicate that many, many mystics have graced this planet in all lands, from ancient times to the present.
2 - Website Quotations
Brief biographical information is provided below on the mystics, poets, and philosophers that have been quoted in this website, listed alphabetically by last name. Those quoted only once or twice may not be included.

Swami Abhayananda – modern day mystic. Perhaps best known for his book The History of Mysticism, he has also authored numerous other books and essays, including Body And Soul: An Integral Perspective, Mystical Theology and The Divine Universe. Has also written essays on the parallels between modern science and the words of the mystics. Hosts his own website, The Mystic’s Vision. (born 1938)

Robert Adams – American Advaita Vedanta teacher and disciple of Ramana Maharshi. A book of his teachings, Silence of the Heart: Dialogues with Robert Adams, was published in 1999. (1928 – 1997)

Al-Ghazali – Muslim theologian, jurist, philosopher, and mystic of Persian descent. Wrote more than 70 books on the sciences, Islamic philosophy and Sufism. (1058 – 1111)

Jay Alfred – author of Brains and Realities (2006). A common theme in religious theory is that the reality we perceive in our everyday waking consciousness is an illusion. Science is beginning to say the same. Modern physics clearly points out that we live in a universe where space and time may be stubborn illusions. Mystics who lived more than 2,000 years ago come to the same conclusions without the aid of scientific instruments or advanced mathematics.

Anandamoyi Ma – mystic and spiritual teacher from India. Precognition, healing and other miracles were attributed to her by her followers. Yogananda called her the “joy-permeated mother”. She was in a habitual state of divine joy and bliss. (1896 – 1982)

Angela of Foligno – medieval Christian mystic whose mystical revelations were dictated to a scribe in the late 1200s. These accounts are contained in a compilation of two works, usually published under the title Il Libro della Beata Angela da Foligno. (1248 – 1309)

Annamalai Swami – Self realized disciple and long time attendant of the Indian mystic Ramana Maharshi. Author of Final Talks. (1906 – 1995)

Ibn Arabi - Sufi mystic, poet, and philosopher. (1165 – 1240)

Saint Augustine – an early Christian theologian and philosopher whose writings influenced the development of Western Christianity and Western philosophy. Among his most important works are City of God and Confessions. (354 – 430)

Sri Aurobindo – Indian mystic, nationalist, philosopher, yogi, guru, and poet. Author of The Life Divine. (1872 – 1950)

George Berkeley – also known as Bishop Berkeley, an Anglo-Irish philosopher who advanced the theory of "immaterialism" which denies the existence of matter and instead contends that objects cannot exist without being perceived (as is now the current view of quantum mechanics). Wrote several books including, An Essay towards a New Theory of Vision, A Treatise Concerning the Principles of Human Knowledge, and The Analyst (1685 – 1753)

Srimad Bhagavatam – the Krishna 'bible' of the Hindu universe. The Bhagavad Gita relates to this book like the sermon on the mountain by Jesus relates to the full Bible. This specific collection of Vedic stories is considered the most important of all eighteen classical Puranas of India. It includes the cream of Vedic knowledge compiled from all the Vedic literatures and also the story of the life of Krishna.

Paul Brunton – British theosophist and spiritual seeker. Perhaps best known for introducing Ramana Maharshi to the West through his bestselling books A Search in Secret India (1934) and The Secret Path (1935). (1898 – 1981)

Richard Maurice Bucke – prominent Canadian psychiatrist who had a mystical experience that was the defining point in his life. Besides publishing professional articles, Bucke wrote three books: Man's Moral Nature, Walt Whitman, and Cosmic Consciousness: A Study in the Evolution of the Human Mind. His best-known work, Cosmic Consciousness, was also his magnum opus and perhaps the first Western book that outlined this higher consciousness as an evolutionary goal for all mankind.(1837 – 1902)

Gautama Buddha – also known as Siddhārtha Gautama or simply the Buddha. A mystic on whose teachings Buddhism was founded. Lived and taught mostly in northeastern India sometime between the sixth and fourth centuries BCE. Accounts of his life and various collections of teachings attributed to him were passed down by oral tradition and first committed to writing about 400 years later.

Lewis Carroll - an English writer, mathematician, logician, Anglican deacon, and photographer. His most famous writings are Alice's Adventures in Wonderland, its sequel Through the Looking Glass, which includes the poem Jabberwocky, and the poem The Hunting of the Snark. He is noted for his facility at word play, logic, and fantasy. (1832 – 1898)

Catherine of Genoa – Italian Roman Catholic saint and mystic, admired for her work among the sick and the poor and remembered because of various writings describing both these actions and her mystical experiences. Her prominence is connected with the publication in 1551 of the book known in English as the Life and Doctrine of Saint Catherine of Genoa. She and her teaching were the subject of Baron Friedrich von Hügel's classic work The Mystical Element of Religion (1447 – 1510)

Edgar Cayce – American psychic who answered questions on subjects as varied as healing, reincarnation, wars, Atlantis and future events while in a superconscious trance state. Sometimes referred to as "The Sleeping Prophet." His superconscious “readings” were primarily to heal individuals. A nonprofit organization, the Association for Research and Enlightenment was founded to facilitate the study of Cayce's work. Cayce, a fundamental Christian, had to reconcile these beliefs with the information that came to him while in a trance state on subjects such as reincarnation, etc. (1877 – 1945)

Leonard Cohen - Canadian singer, songwriter, musician, painter, poet, and novelist. Perhaps best known for his songs Hallelujah, Anthem, Bird on a Wire, Suzanne, Alexandra Leaving, Born in Chains, etc. (born 1934)

Timothy Conway – American mystic, psychologist and author. Creator and manager of the website Enlightened Spirituality. (born 1954)

James A. Cusumano - Ph.D., entertainer, musician, scientist, corporate executive, writer and entrepreneur. Author of Balance: The Business - Life Connection and Cosmic Consciousness, Are We Truly Connected? (born in 1942)

Dattatreya – as to whether such a person actually lived, nothing is known. In Indian mythology, he was said to be a divine incarnation. The song (gita) in Sanskrit verse, called the Avadhut Gita, is attributed to him. The actual date of authorship of the Avadhut Gita is unknown, possibly in the millennia prior to the Current Era. Its theme is similar to that of the Upanishads and the Bhagavad Gita.

Dadu Dayal – Indian mystic, spiritual teacher and composer of many songs. Dadu's compositions were recorded by his disciple Rajjab and are known as the Dadu Anubhav Vani, a compilation of 5,000 verses. Another disciple, Janagopal, wrote the earliest biography of Dadu. (1544 – 1603)

Amaury de Reincourt – historian and expert on Southeast Asia and India. Author of several books, including The Eye of Shiva: Eastern Mysticism and Science and The Soul of India. (1918 – 2005)

Dionysius the Areopagite – early Christian missionary. Four theological works are attributed to Dionysius: The Divine Names, The Mystical Theology, The Celestial Hierarchy, and The Ecclesiastical Hierarchy, as well as eleven letters. There are some questions regarding the true authorship of the Dionysian writings. (1st century AD)

Bob Dylan - American singer-songwriter, artist and writer. Perhaps best known for such songs as Visions of Johanna, Desolation Row, Shelter from the Storm, Sad Eyed Lady of the Lowlands, I Shall be Released, When the Deal Goes Down, The Times They are a Changin’, Like A Rolling Stone. (born 1941)

Meister Eckhart – German theologian, philosopher and mystic (1260 – 1328)

Ecknath - prominent scholar and religious poet of India. In the development of Marathi literature, Ecknath is seen as a bridge between his predecessors—Dnyaneshwar and Namdev—and the later Tukaram and Ramdas. (1533 – 1599)

George Eliot - an English novelist, journalist, and a leading writer of the Victorian era. Author of Adam Bede (1859), The Mill on the Floss (1860), Silas Marner (1861), Middlemarch (1871–72), and Daniel Deronda (1876) and other works. (1819 – 1880).

Ralph Waldo Emerson - an American essayist, lecturer, and poet. Author of Nature and many other essays and poems. Contemporary of Henry David Thoreau and Walt Whitman. Interest in mysticism. (1803 – 1882)

Viktor Frankl - Austrian neurologist, psychiatrist and Holocaust survivor. Survivor of four Nazi death camps during WWII. His book, “Man’s Search for Meaning” (1946) tells of his experiences and of finding meaning in the midst of extreme suffering. (1905 – 1997)

Francis of Assisi – Italian Christian mystic and preacher. Writer of various works, including Canticle of the Sun. Founder of the men's Order of Friars Minor, the women’s Order of St. Clare, and the Third Order of Saint Francis for men and women. One of the most venerated religious figures in history. (1182 – 1226)

Robert Frost - American poet whose work frequently employed settings from rural life in New England in the early twentieth century, using them to examine complex social and philosophical themes. One of the most popular and respected American poets. Winner of four Pulitzer Prizes for Poetry. Works include Stopping by Woods on a Snowy Evening and The Road Not Taken. (1874 – 1963)

Mahatma Gandhi – preeminent leader of the Indian independence movement in British-ruled India. Employing nonviolent civil disobedience, Gandhi led India to independence and inspired movements for civil rights and freedom across the world. The honorific Mahatma (“great soul”)—applied to him first in 1914 in South Africa—is now used worldwide. Gandhi wrote several books including his autobiography, The Story of My Experiments with Truth. (1869 – 1948)

Khalil Gibran - Lebanese-American artist, poet, painter, writer, philosopher and theologian. Perhaps best known as the author of The Prophet (1923) which addresses life and the human condition. (1883 – 1931)

Henepola Gunaratana – Sri Lankan Theravada Buddhist monk. Came to the United States in 1968. Has taught graduate level courses on Buddhism at American universities and has lectured at universities throughout the United States, Europe, and Australia. Author of many books, including Mindfulness in Plain English. Currently the abbot of the Bhavana Society, a monastery and meditation retreat center that he founded in High View, West Virginia. (born in 1927)

Thich Nhat Hanh – Vietnamese Buddhist monk, teacher, author, poet and peace activist. Lives in Plum Village in the Dordogne region of France, travelling internationally to give retreats and talks. Has published more than 100 books, including Vietnam: Lotus in a Sea of Fire and The Miracle of Mindfulness. Nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize in 1967. (born in 1926)

Hermann Hesse - German-born Swiss poet, novelist, and painter. Perhaps best known as the author of Siddhartha (1922) and Steppenwolf (1927) which addressed man’s search for self-knowledge. Nobel Prize winner. (1877 – 1962)

Homer – Ancient Greek epic poet. Best known as the author of the Iliad and the Odyssey. (circa 9th century BCE)

Aldous Huxley – English writer, philosopher, humanist, pacifist and satirist. Best known for his books Brave New World and The Doors of Perception. One of the pre-eminent intellectuals of his time. Became a Vedanist with an interest in mysticism. His book on spiritual values and ideas, The Perennial Philosophy, discussed the teachings of many renowned mystics of the world. (1894 – 1963)

Fakhruddin Iraqi – Persian Sufi mystic, poet and writer. Best known for his book Lama’at, which may be translated as “Flashes,” or “Glimpses” (1213 – 1289)

William James – influential American philosopher and psychologist. Writer on many topics including metaphysics, psychology, religion and mysticism. Author of several books, including The Principles of Psychology and Varieties of Religious Experience. (1842 – 1910)

Jami - classical poet of Persia, saint and Sufi mystic, composed numerous lyrics and idylls, as well as many works in prose. Wrote Salaman and Absal as well as other works such as Haft Awrang, Tuhfat al-Ahrar, Layla wa -Majnun, Fatihat al-Shabab, Lawa'ih, al-Durrah al-Fakhirah. (1414-92)

Swami Ji – also known as Swami Govindananda. In 1987, became the first ever Caucasian Swami of Shri Maharaj Ji. Left India in 1989 to help others learn and experience the mysteries of the self. Regularly lectures in many parts of the world. In 1990, established the Bhakti Meditation Centre with branches in Adelaide, Sydney, Melbourne and Auckland. (born in New Zealand in 1953).

Inayat Khan – founder of The Sufi Order in the West in 1914 and teacher of Sufism, focusing on the themes of harmony, love and beauty. Musician and author of several books, including The Mysticism of Sound and Music, The Inner Life and The Heart of Sufism. (1882 – 1927)

Jesus of Nazareth – a mystic and spiritual leader on whose teachings Christianity was founded. Accounts of his life and teachings are recorded in the New Testament of the Bible as well as in other writings such as the Gospel of Thomas. Many interpretations of his teachings have been made and recorded in various books. (~2BCE to 30 AD)

Philo Judaeus – Jewish mystic, philosopher and theologian who lived in Alexandria, in the Roman province of Egypt. Philo used philosophical allegory to attempt to fuse and harmonize Greek philosophy with Jewish philosophy. Author of Legatio ad Gaium, The Contemplative Life, The Giants and Selections. (25 BCE to 50 CE)

Dr. Carl Jung – Swiss psychiatrist and psychotherapist who founded analytical psychology. His work has been influential not only in psychiatry but also in philosophy, anthropology, archaeology, literature, and religious studies. A prolific writer whose books included Psychology of the Unconscious and his autobiography Memories, Dreams, Reflections. Interested in the mystical aspects of religion. (1875 – 1961)

Franz Kafka – German-language writer of novels and short stories, regarded by critics as one of the most influential authors of the 20th century. Most of his works, such as Die Verwandlung (The Metamorphosis), Der Process (The Trial), and Das Schlos (The Castle), are filled with the themes and archetypes of alienation, physical and psychological brutality, parent–child conflict, characters on a terrifying quest, labyrinths of bureaucracy, and mystical transformations. (1883 – 1924)

Krishna / Bhagavad Gita – a mystic, spiritual leader and central figure of the Hindu religion. Lived in India more than 3000 years BCE. Most of Krishna’s teachings were recorded in the Bhagavad Gita, perhaps India’s most beloved scripture. The Gita is a dialog between Krishna and the warrior-prince Arjuna and takes place in a chariot on a battlefield (the historic battlefield of Kurukshetra as well as the battlefield within each human being between ego-consciousness and God-consciousness)

Gopi Krishna – yogi, mystic, teacher, social reformer, and writer from India. In 1967 he published his first major book in India, Kundalini—The Evolutionary Energy in Man (currently available under the title Living with Kundalini). Wrote seventeen books on Higher Consciousness. (1903 – 1984)

Krishnananda – saint, yogi and philosopher. Disciple of Sivananda. Served as General Secretary of the Divine Life Society in India from 1958 until 2001. Prolific author of over 40 books on yoga, meditation, mysticism and poetry (1922 – 2001)

Jiddu Krishnamurti – mystic, speaker and writer on philosophical and spiritual subjects. He wrote many books, among them The First and Last Freedom, The Only Revolution, and Krishnamurti's Notebook. (1895 – 1986)

Elisabeth Kübler-Ross - Swiss-American psychiatrist, a pioneer in near-death studies and the author of the groundbreaking book On Death and Dying. (1926 – 2004)

Paul Levy – pioneer in the field of spiritual emergence, innovator in the field of dreaming, artist, and teacher. Tibetan Buddhist practitioner, studied with some of the greatest spiritual masters of Tibet and Burma (born in 1956)

C S Lewis - British novelist, poet, academic and lay theologian. Author of The Chronicles of Narnia (seven novels written between 1949 and 1954) and other works. (1898 – 1963)

Ramana Maharshi – Indian mystic perhaps best known for his Advaita Vedandist spiritual teachings of introspection on “who am I?” While he wrote little, some of his disciples wrote books which recorded many of his responses to questions from his numerous visitors over the years. His responses varied, tailored to the spiritual understanding of the questioners. (1879-1950)

Nelson Mandela – South African anti-apartheid revolutionary, politician, and philanthropist. President of South Africa from 1994 to 1999 whose government focused on dismantling the legacy of apartheid and fostering racial reconciliation. Served 27 years in prison. An international campaign lobbied for his release which was granted in 1990. Winner of the 1993 Nobel Peace Prize and the US Presidential Medal of Freedom. Held in deep regard within South Africa and worldwide. (1918 – 2013)

Bhaduri Mahasaya – Indian mystic, described as “The Levitating Saint” in Yogananda’s Autobiography of a Yogi.

Thomas J. McFarlane – author of Einstein and Buddha: The Parallel Sayings and Genuine Mysticism. Publications director at the Center for Sacred Sciences in Eugene, Oregon, where he is also one of the Center’s spiritual teachers. Author of numerous articles relating to physics, mathematics, and philosophy. (born 1964)

Franklin Merrell-Wolff – contemporary American mystic and philosopher. His books include Pathways Through to Space, The Philosophy of Consciousness Without an Object (both of which were re-published in a single volume entitled Franklin Merrell-Wolff's Experience and Philosophy), and Transformations in Consciousness: The Metaphysics and Epistemology. (1887 – 1985)

John Milton – English poet and a civil servant for the Commonwealth of England under Oliver Cromwell. Best known for his epic poem Paradise Lost (1667). Milton's poetry and prose reflected deep personal convictions and a passion for freedom and self-determination. His celebrated Areopagitica (1644) is an influential and impassioned defense of free speech. Generally regarded as one of the greatest English authors. (1608 – 1674)

Van Morrison – Northern Irish singer, songwriter and musician. Perhaps best known for such songs as Brown Eyed Girl, Into the Mystic, Madame George, Rough God Goes Riding, In the Garden, Sometimes We Cry, etc. (born 1945)

Joel Morwood – in the early 1980's, left a successful film career in Hollywood to pursue a mystical path. Spiritual director and primary teacher for the Center for Sacred Sciences (founded in 1987). Author of Naked Through the Gate: A Spiritual Autobiography, Through Death’s Gate and The Way of Selflessness.

Guru Nanak – founder and first guru of Sikhism. The spiritual revelations of Guru Nanak (along with those of the subsequent Sikh Guru and other contemporary Hindu and Muslim Saints), form the verses of the eternal and everlasting Sikh Guru, the Guru Granth Sahib, a holy scripture composed and compiled by the Sikh Gurus themselves. (1469 – 1539)

Nisargadatta Maharaj – Indian mystic and spiritual teacher of Advaita Vedanta. The publication in 1973 of I Am That, an English translation of his talks in Marathi by Maurice Frydman, brought him worldwide recognition and followers, especially from North America and Europe. (1897 – 1981)

Bansi Pandit – a nuclear engineer originally from Kashmir who now lives in Glen Ellyn, Illinois. A Kriya Yoga disciple of Yogananda who has spent many years studying yoga and meditation. Author of A New Comprehensive Guide to Hindu Way of Life (1996), Fundamentals of Hindu Religion and Philosophy for All Ages (1998), and Explore Hinduism (2005)

Jonathan Parker – motivational counsellor whose spiritually based techniques expand traditional motivational and self-help formats. The founder of Quantum Quests International. Author of Soul Solution (2011)

Plato – philosopher and mathematician in Ancient Greece. Founder of the Academy in Athens, the first institution of higher learning in the Western world. Along with his teacher Socrates and his most famous student, Aristotle, Plato laid the foundations of Western philosophy and science. Author of The Republic. (circa 428 – 348 BCE)

Plotinus – major philosopher and mystic of the ancient world. His mystical writings have inspired many. (204 – 270)

Nido Qubein – American author, motivational speaker, and President of High Point University since 2005. Has written 11 books, including Stairway to Success: The Complete Blueprint for Personal and Professional Achievement. (born in 1948)

Ramakrishna – Indian mystic and yogi of the 19th-century. His spiritual school of thought led to the formation of the Ramakrishna Mission by his chief disciple Swami Vivekananda. Investigated and found the common ground of all religions, i.e. the direct experience of God. Seekers of all religions are drawn to his ecstatic life and teachings. (1836 – 1886).

Papa Ramdas - Indian mystic, philosopher, philanthropist, and spiritual teacher. His story and teachings have been presented in several different books. (1884 – 1963)

Rumi - 13th-century Persian poet, jurist, Islamic scholar, theologian, and Sufi mystic. Author of Masnavi and other works. His poems continue to be highly popular today. (1207 –1273)

Idries Shah - author and teacher in the Sufi tradition who wrote over three dozen books on a variety of topics, including psychology and spirituality. His seminal work was The Sufis, which appeared in 1964. Founded the Institute for Cultural Research, a London-based educational charity devoted to the study of human behaviour and culture, in 1965. (1924 – 1996)

Shakespeare – Elizabethan Era English poet, playwright, and actor, widely regarded as the greatest writer in the English language and the world's preeminent dramatist. He is often called England's national poet. His work, including collaborations, consists of approximately 38 plays, 154 sonnets and two long narrative poems. His plays have been translated into every major language and are performed more than those of any other playwright. (1564 – 1616)

Shankara – one of the most influential mystics of India who consolidated the doctrine of Advaita Vedanta. Also known as Adi Shankara and Shankaracharya. During his brief lifetime, Shankara wrote commentaries on the Vedanta Sutras of Bhadarayana, twelve on the Upanishads, and also a number of independent works on Advaita Vedanta - among the best known of which are “The Crest-Jewel of Discrimination”, “The Thousand Teachings” and Atma Bodha (“The Knowledge of The Self”). (788 – 820)

Shantideva - 8th-century Indian Buddhist monk and scholar at Nalanda. He was an adherent of the Madhyamaka philosophy of Nagarjuna. Particularly renowned as the author of the Bodhisattvacaryāvatāra ("Entering the Path of Enlightenment”). Born in 685.

Kirpal Singh – spiritual master born in India in the western part of Punjab which now belongs to Pakistan. Earned his living as a government officer until his retirement and then moved to Delhi and founded his spiritual school Ruhani Satsang. Was the President of the World Fellowship of Religions. Wrote an extensive collection of books on spirituality, including The Crown of Life, Godman and The Wheel of Life. (1894 – 1974)

Baba Sawan Singh – Sufi saint and spiritual teacher, also known as "The Great Master" or "Bade Maharaji" (1858 – 1948)

Sivananda – Indian mystic and spiritual leader. Proponent of Yoga and Vedanta. Founder of the Divine Life Society (DLS) in 1936, Yoga-Vedanta Forest Academy (1948) and author of over 200 books on yoga, Vedanta and a variety of subjects. He established Sivananda Ashram, the headquarters of the DLS, on the bank of the Ganges at Sivanandanagar. (1887 – 1963)

Vijnana Bhairava Tantra – a chapter from the Rudrayamala Tantra. Devi, the goddess, asks Siva to reveal the essence of the way to realization of the highest reality. In his answer Siva describes 112 ways to enter into the universal and transcendental state of consciousness. Considered to be an important text in the monistic school of Kashmir Shaivism.

Tantric texts – numerous texts dealing with the esoteric practices of some Hindu, Buddhist, and Jain sects. Tantra refers to a class of post-Vedic Sanskrit treatises similar to the Puranas. They are distinguished along Hindu sectarian lines between the Shaiva Agamas, the Vaishnava Samhitas, and the Shakta Tantras. The earliest manuscripts are traced to the 7th century or earlier.

Swami Tathagatananda – a senior monk of the Ramakrishna Order and the Resident Minister and Spiritual Leader of the Vedanta Society of New York since 1976.

Pierre Teilhard de Chardin – French philosopher and Jesuit priest who trained as a paleontologist and geologist. His comprehensive book The Phenomenon of Man, sets forth a sweeping account of the unfolding of the cosmos and the evolution of matter to humanity . He abandoned literal interpretations of creation in the Book of Genesis in favour of allegorical and theological interpretations. (1881 – 1955)

Alfred, Lord Tennyson – Poet Laureate of Great Britain and Ireland during much of Queen Victoria's reign and remains one of the most popular British poets. Author of numerous poems, including The Charge of the Light Brigade and Ulysses. (1809 – 1892)

Saint Teresa of Avila – prominent Spanish mystic, Carmelite nun and theologian of the contemplative life. She was a reformer of the Carmelite Order and is considered a founder of the Discalced Carmelites along with John of the Cross. Wrote many books of mystical literature, including The Interior Castle, Way of Perfection, On the Lord's Prayer, and Verweilen vor Gott (1515 – 1582)

Eckhart Tolle – modern day mystic and spiritual teacher. Perhaps best known as the author of The Power of Now (1999), Stillness Speaks (2003), A New Earth (2005), etc. He has also given many interviews and offers spiritual workshops. See website entitled Eckhart Tolle. (born 1948)

Thomas Traherne – poet, theologian, writer of Centuries of Meditations, 1636 – 1674

Chuang Tzu – Chinese mystic and philosopher who took Lao Tzu's mystical leanings and perspectives and made them transcendental. What Lao Tzu said in a cryptic and terse manner, Chuang Tzu explained often in a lengthy, detailed manner, and sometimes in metaphorical and satirical stories. He wrote large volumes in clear, explanatory prose to clarify what had only been hinted at by Lao Tzu. Much of what we know today as “Taoism” is derived from the combined writings of these two seers. (circa 4th century BCE)

Lao Tzu – Chinese mystic, philosopher and poet of ancient China. He is known as the reputed author of the Tao Te Ching and the founder of philosophical Taoism. (circa 5th century BCE)

Evelyn Underhill – English Anglo-Catholic writer and pacifist known for her numerous works on religion and spiritual practice, in particular Christian mysticism. In the English-speaking world, she was one of the most widely read writers on such matters in the first half of the 20th century. No other book of its type - until the appearance in 1946 of Aldous Huxley's The Perennial Philosophy - met with success to match that of her best-known work, Mysticism, published in 1911. (1875 – 1941)

Upanishads – series of sacred treatises written in Sanskrit circa 800–200 BCE, expounding the Vedas in predominantly mystical and monistic terms. Chronologically, they follow the Vedas and are commonly referred to as Vedanta, variously interpreted to mean either the "last parts of the Vedas" or "the object, the highest purpose of the Vedas". Of the approximately 108 existing Upanishads, twelve are considered to be the core teachings.

Swami Vidyaranya – exponent of the Advaita school of philosophy. A statesman and philosopher who lived at the court of Vijayanagara, the Southern Hindu kingdom. His most famous works are Pārāśara-Mādhavīya and the Sarvadarśanasaṅgraha "Compendium of Speculations", a compendium of all the known Indian schools of philosophy. (born in 1268)

Swami Vivekananda – a chief disciple of the 19th-century Indian mystic Ramakrishna. Taught Vedanta in America and encouraged a greater understanding between the East and West. (1863 – 1902)

Alan Watts – British-born philosopher, writer, and speaker, best known as an interpreter of Eastern philosophy for a Western audience. Wrote several books, including The Way of Zen (1957), Psychotherapy East and West (1961) and "Nature, Man, and Woman" (1958). He explored human consciousness in the essay "The New Alchemy" (1958) and in the book The Joyous Cosmology (1962). (1915 – 1973)

Paramahansa Yogananda – world renowned mystic and spiritual teacher. “As a bright light shining in the midst of darkness, so was Yogananda’s presence in this world. Such a great soul comes on earth only rarely.” Prolific writer of spiritual gems, including Autobiography of a Yogi, God Talks with Arjuna: The Bhagavad Gita, The Second Coming of Christ, Whispers from Eternity, Man’s Eternal Quest, etc. (born 1893. Entered mahasamadhi in 1952)

Sri Yukteswar – mystic, spiritual teacher and guru of Yogananda. Scholar of the Bhagavad Gita and the Bible, an educator and an astronomer. Author of The Holy Science. Life story told in Yogananda’s Autobiography of a Yogi. (born 1855. Entered mahasamadhi in 1936)
Compilation of some of the mystics of planet earth
(click for larger picture)
Note – the picture on the left includes mystics from the list above as well as many that have not been quoted in this website.
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