Final answer:
The parts of the mystical social body can refer to various non-physical aspects of human existence as seen across different cultures and mystical experiences, often involving a transformative process towards unity with the divine. The impact of these experiences is deeply personal and does not necessarily extend to individuals without such encounters. Historical mystical initiation ceremonies varied greatly in purpose and the types of salvation they promised.
Step-by-step explanation:
In discussing the parts of the mystical social body, it is important to understand that different cultures and religions perceive the non-physical aspects of human existence in various ways. For instance, the Tausug people of the Philippines believe that the soul comprises four parts: the transcendent soul, which remains in the spiritual realm; the life-soul, moving through dreams; the breath, constantly attached to the body; and the spirit-soul, analogous to a person's shadow. Moreover, the concept of the mystical experience often involves a transformation of the individual, leading to a loss of individuality and a unity with the divine or the totality of reality. Mystical experiences can also entail elements such as sexual emotion or imagery, which might suggest that such experiences are an interplay between various aspects of human consciousness.
The influence of mystical states is considered authoritative to the individual who has the experience but does not hold authority over those who have not shared such an experience. Notably, in historical contexts, mystical initiation ceremonies, often called mysteries, were propagated by religious figures and promised a range of benefits, from material well-being to safety at sea and spiritual salvation. These could differ widely across various cults and religious practices, such as those of the Orphic-Bacchic Mysteries or the Mithras cult. In philosophy, the Double Aspect Theory posited by Spinoza suggests a duality of existence, comprising both the mind and the body, where the mind could be non-physical and possibly exist beyond the physical body, a belief held by many in various forms, such as dualism or the transmigration of souls.