seven “mansions” of The Interior Castle show structural similarity with the so-called energy centres that are in Indian (Yoga) spiritual traditions known as “chakras”. If we could prove the existence of similarities between mystical journeys in various mystical traditions or formal conformity in contents, then we could say that mysticism is a universal phenomenon. We believe that declaration of universality of mysticism in the sense of formal and structural level or content level, has a consequence for example in understanding of human being and potential spiritual evolution. It can also be a foundation for reasoning for the possibility and validity of interreligious dialogue that occurs also through participation in spiritual experience in individual traditions. 2 Several methodological ideas on comparing mysticism Comparison is one of the basic tools of process of learning in humans. When we learn something new, we compare it with our older knowledge and experience. If the object of our study starts to intersect with the old knowledge just a little, we start to understand. We usually do not fully understand everything, but it is the beginning of the journey that leads us to further understanding. If there is no footing, then we at least realise that we do not know the given object and start to be aware of those barriers and differences. Through comparison we are presented with a field of meanings, some of them identical to the contents that we already know, some of them different. Experts on linguists and semiotics agree that this learning process is also the basic characteristics of language. Hypothetically speaking, if there were just one term to describe the whole colour spectrum, for example “blue” then we would not even know that blue is in fact blue. The term “blue” must be in correlation with terms describing violet, green or red, for example. Meaning of the words is formed in a grid of position and opposition of symbols. These relations define meaning that is further refined by incorporating more symbols into relations between them. As Umberto Eco (2009, 91) says, understanding thus becomes a never ending process, unlimited semiosis. This is the principle that is similar to the hermeneutic circle in which knowledge is constantly corrected by permanent approaching to the subject of study. Understanding in the sense of complete comprehension is not reached in just one round. For example, the meaning of a historical written document can constantly be amended by new information about the content of the text, but also information about its author and time period in which he or she lived. We can therefore constantly improve our knowledge of an event or important writing. When we compare simple symbols that we use every day, we soon find some differences and agreements. However, we encounter a problem with symbols that originate in diverse cultural and religious areas. A symbol, unlike a sign, has a number of meanings and is based deeper in culture and religion. This base also relates to deeper levels of human psyche, otherwise the sym98 (2) Slavomír Gálik - Sabína Gáliková Tolnaiová
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