Mysticism Through Poetry

“The mystery of life isn't a problem to solve, but a reality to experience.” - Frank Herbert, Dune

During this 2-hour class, Oshan will share poetry from Zen, Taoist, Sikh, Hindu, Tantric, Islamic, Christian, and Indigenous traditions, with biographical, historical, philosophical, and mystical context.

Derived from the Greek word múō, meaning "to conceal," mysticism is the direct experience of our divine nature through ecstatic practice. In his classic text, “The Varieties of Religious Experience,” William James proposed four qualities that define a mystical experience, the first of which was ineffable - incapable of being expressed or described in words. But it is exactly this impossible alchemical task which mystical poetry seeks to achieve - using words to inspire that which cannot be described with words.

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oshan anand is a lifelong poet and mystic. From 2009-2012 oshan hosted Open Heart Poetry, a weekly poetry night at his San Francisco teahouse Om Shan Tea. Later, while serving a 7½ year prison sentence for psychedelics, oshan designed a course on Mysticism Through Poetry, which he taught 6 times to more than one hundred inmates. oshan also produces many events in the Bay Area, including World Folk Jam, Folktronika, Midwinter Magic, Heartform, and more.

Join the Open Heart Poetry Facebook Group if you'd like to stay in the loop about future mystical poetry events: https://www.facebook.com/groups/openheartpoetry