"I LIVE, NOT I; IT IS CHRIST WHO LIVES IN ME" (GAL 2:20)

A YOGIC INTERPRETATION OF PAUL'S RELIGIOUS EXPERIENCE

Abstract

The basic and final goal of all religions is promotion of union between their devotees and the God these religions profess and proclaim. This union can have manifold articulations, either as the final union with God after the life in this world or asan ex- perience of a divine union already during the earthly life. Here again the issues and the criteria of divine experience could becon- siderably different one from another, and hence it is difficult to delineate the principles and nuances of such divine-human union and its manifestations. Some writers would call it mysticism while others would give some related expressions to articulate such aprofound union. The main purpose of this study is to see how Paul also had this experience of a union between himself and Christ in whom he believed, an experience which lies at the very basis of his life and mission. The purpose of this analysis is to explain this Christ mysticism of Paul from a Yogic perspective in the hope that this attempt would contribute towards an Indian interpretation of a biblical text, an exercise of biblical exegesiscurrently undertaken by some Indian exegetes.