Everything stems from mysticism, or primary religious experience, whether it be revelation or a personal state of consciousness. It is therefore quite natural and appropriate that spirituality should become more primary for people as they grow in their traditions and discover more substantial and ultimate nourishment in the living reality of the source. We need religion, yet we need direct contact with the divine, or ultimate mystery even more. Religions are valuable carriers of the tradition within a community, but they must not be allowed to choke out the breath of the spirit, which breathes where it will.
Wayne Teasdale
(from The Mystic Heart)
