The middle path: The non-dual reconciliation of two schools of analysis of the mystical experience

This thesis harmonizes two seemingly exclusive, opposing schools of scholarship about mysticism based on exploration of the non-dual mystical experience. Starting with reviews of both perennial and contextual positions, it explores the basic assumptions of each school as they pertain to mystical experience. It then deals with the debate and criticisms put forth by both sides, examining intentionality and providing a model for interpreting the opposing positions. The end of the thesis provides a non-dual ontological framework taken from Mahayana Buddhist philosopher/sage Nagarjuna that allows for accommodation of the truths of each view.; The thesis is divided into three chapters, covering the respective perennial and contextual stance and debate, the ontological and epistemological assumptions of each school, and a non-dual approach taken from the Madhyamika school of Mayahana Buddhism in which to reconcile the two positions. The first chapter provides the basic positions. The second chapter provides the context of the debate, and outlines the core differences between the schools. The third chapter is more of an ontological exploration of the Absolute and an exposition of Nagarjuna's understanding that leads us to a non-dual position where we reconcile the perennialist and contextualist notions. (Abstract shortened by UMI.)...