Mysticism in Ancient Greece

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This was a fantastically thorough yet concise overview of a vast subject I've been studying for decades. You brought together many disparate threads elegantly. I had never heard that Plutarch quote on the Eleusinian mysteries, so thanks for including that. Thanks as always Filip!

I had similar experiences. I do not know, what I should write here - maybe... okey: there was some event, where I got in fear of dying, and suddenly it switched over to some kind of bliss. Or maybe it was real bliss. I do not know. First I was kind of fighting death for a while, but then I thought: let it happen, let it happen... And then it switched over. It was a real and full release and also a full surrender to it. I got calm and blissful, my spine grew warm, very pleasantly warm. My breath was calm, free, and healthy. It was an unbelievable experience. It lasted for about 3 hours or so - this very strong experience. I totally lost fear and got somehow free. (Maybe this was something which is called here in this video "initiation"? I don't know.) Then I had reflections on many things. I also thought - in the face of death - what should I do with my life, with my remaining lifetime? Living the positive only, that was my decision. Living what is the good thing, the right thing, the positive thing - what I consider positive. Being it. Doing it. I made this decision just for me and myself in this process - I mean it was a totally individual decision -, and I stayed with it since then. Later, when this kind of strong experience was over I remained in a thinking process for quite a while, right after this very intensive experience and also for a month or so at least. Again and again I had to think about it, about many issues. It was not a strong and strict way of thinking, more a soft and revealing way. Again and again I got new and smart thoughts, I saw connections, and many things became very obvious to me. It was one of the strongest experiences of my life, maybe the strongest. To some other points of the video: "Yes", it is all about the soul, I fully understand what is said about the Greek philosophers and their statements. I completely agree. And this issue of life after death: maybe what I experienced was already something like that? It was overcoming death.

Thank you for making this video. These ideas, the role of mysticism in ancient Greek philosophy, this is how my professor Tom Trelogan introduced his students to ancient philosophy, and it kindled my love for the search and study of wisdom/truth.

The immense influence of such eastern Mediterranean mystery cults on the early development of Christianity is an underrated notion as well.

This deep dive into the mystical and philosophical aspects of ancient Greece challenges the commonly held perception of this era as solely the cradle of rationalism and logic. It's intriguing to see how deeply intertwined mysticism, altered states of consciousness, and religious practices were with the philosophical inquiries of figures like Plato, Parmenides, and Socrates. The exploration of mystery cults, the Eleusinian Mysteries, and the Bacchic rituals, alongside the philosophical mysticism evident in Plato's dialogues, underscores a complex culture where the quest for knowledge encompassed both the rational and the transcendental. It's a reminder that our ancestors recognized multiple pathways to understanding reality, valuing both the intellect and experiences beyond the ordinary. This video serves as a compelling invitation to reconsider our historical narratives and acknowledge the rich panorama of human thought and spiritual exploration in ancient Greece. Thank you for shedding light on this often overlooked aspect of ancient Greek culture and inviting us to broaden our understanding of their legacy.

I really enjoyed learning from this as I am currently reading "Philosophy as a Rite of Rebirth" by Algis Uždavinys.

Mysticism in ancient Greece was very good. Nero requested initiation into the Eleusinian mysteries, and they refused. Now you'd expect them all to be executed, right? But they weren't. That's how highly-respected the Eleusinian initiates were.

Honestly, I'd like you to do videos: 1) The maniots who practiced Greek paganism up until the 9th century, as they've pretty interesting as an ethnic subgroup of Greeks. 2) Modern-day Neopaganism in Greece as well, as it'd be cool to see how they compare to their ancient ancestors.

More please! Love Pre-Socratic nostalgia.

I think this is my favorite episode I've watched so far. Kudos from someone who has had mystic experiences and has been seeking meaning from, and exploring them for many years. Thank you. 🙏🏼💜✨

this is such a timely video for me, i am working on a long piece about lot's wife as a prototypical mystic, that a turn back toward the divine (even in horror, as your video mentions) leaves one totally changed. thank you for another great video

Man, every time I was about to ask a question, you answered it, particularly with regards to Plato's Esoteric teachings that he kept private to his closest pupils and confidantes. It leads me to believe he kept a somewhat gnostic view that direct experience is the only way to reveal truth and some things cannot be related through mere explanation or definition bound by the limitations of language.

Absolutely delightful work. A rich goldmine of clarity and rigor. Thank you Filip.

I really enjoyed this video. It's practically a short summary for my college course my professor made. However, he titled it "Greek Religion". We did get to learn why the word choice of religion was poor and other substitutes, like "mysticism" and "ritualistic activities". Very nice to be able to have all of this material put together to help me comprehend his studies. Thank you!

As always, beautifully narrated with superb visuals and quotes. It's such a pleasure to immerse oneself in the enlightenment found in your soul quenching productions, Filip. This resonates deeply with me. Thank you. 🙏

Wound also love to learn more about the influence of Greek mysticism on the formation of early Christian thought and theology.

I love all your videos but this is the one I've been waiting for... Excellent job!

46 minutes of excellence coming up. Love this channel.

despite this being a topic that I felt like I had nearly exhausted, you have once again brought it back in an engaging, fresh, and interesting video. thank you so much, Filip!