Mysticism is a religious path where a person tries, through prayer, sitting quietly, or deep meditation, to know what is true and to come so close to God that the two are not felt as separate. It is less about arguing from a book, and more about experience. You find it in many faiths — Christian mystics, Sufi Muslims, some Hindus and Buddhists — though each tradition has its own way.

Mysticism isMysticism指的是 a religious path一種宗教修行方式， where a person在這條路上，一個人 through prayer, sitting quietly, or deep meditation透過祈禱、靜坐或深度冥想 tries試著 to know what is true去認識真理，and to come so close to God並且與神靠得極近，that the two are not felt as separate近到感覺不到彼此的分別。It是它 less about arguing from a book比較不是從書本上去爭辯, and more about experience而是比較重視親身的體驗。You find it in many faiths你在很多信仰裡都能找到它 — Christian mystics, Sufi Muslims, some Hindus and Buddhists基督教的密契者、蘇非派穆斯林、一些印度教徒和佛教徒 — though each tradition has its own way不過每個傳統各有各的做法。

In careful English, mysticism is the practice; a mystic is the person.

In careful English在講究的英文用法裡 mysticism is the practicemysticism指這種修行本身；a mystic is the personmystic則指這樣的人。

Though actually, people stretch the word. In loose talk it can mean anything spiritual and hard to put into words, even when God is not in the picture. Then it starts to mean only mysterious, which is a different idea.

Though actually不過其實, people stretch the word大家會把這個字用得更寬鬆。In loose talk在隨口的說法裡 it can mean它可以指 anything spiritual and hard to put into words任何靈性、難以言喻的東西, even when God is not in the picture就算裡面根本沒有神的成分也一樣。Then接著 it starts to mean only mysterious它就開始只剩下「神秘」的意思, which is a different idea而那是另一回事了。

Real mysticism can look quiet and ordinary; it does not have to be magic, incense, or a secret club.

Real mysticism can look quiet and ordinary真正的mysticism可以看起來安靜又平凡；it does not have to be magic, incense, or a secret club它不一定要有魔法、香火或秘密社團那一套。