Genuine spiritual ecstasy is usually associated with great outward calmness and almost perfect emotional control. [1]
Religious ecstasy is permissible when resulting from sane antecedents, but such experiences are more often the outgrowth of purely emotional influences than a manifestation of deep spiritual character. [2]
The practical test of all these strange religious experiences of mysticism, ecstasy, and inspiration is to observe whether these phenomena cause an individual: [3]
- To enjoy better and more complete physical health.
- To function more efficiently and practically in his mental life.
- More fully and joyfully to socialize his religious experience.
- More completely to spiritualize his day-by-day living while faithfully discharging the commonplace duties of routine mortal existence.
- To enhance his love for, and appreciation of, truth, beauty, and goodness.
- To conserve currently recognized social, moral, ethical, and spiritual values.
- To increase his spiritual insight—God-consciousness.