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I know it doesn't make any sense. Kapiton was a 'mystic' and recluse of the very worst kind. He was so hostile toward the world than almost the only logical next step in his teaching, which indeed was taken after his death, was to commit ritual suicide. The one thing that has struck me most about mysticism is how utterly physical it is. Mystics follow the rigorous discipline of a top athlete, perform specific, more or less strenuous exercises at set times, putting their bodies to more or less severe tests. Doing so almost inevitably, it seems, brings them experiences which humans normally don't have. Kapiton and his followers almost starved themselves to 'get closer to God', which is what mysticism is ultimately about, if the mystics are to be believed, and Kapiton himself wore an almost 50 kg harness day and night 'for Christ', which he didn't even take off while on the run. It is a strange and fascinating little realm of human activity, as long as it isn't tied up with politics that is. Then it can quickly get very scary.

Description
I know it doesn't make any sense. Kapiton was a 'mystic' and recluse of the very worst kind. He was so hostile toward the world than almost the only logical next step in his teaching, which indeed was taken after his death, was to commit ritual suicide. The one thing that has struck me most about mysticism is how utterly physical it is. Mystics follow the rigorous discipline of a top athlete, perform specific, more or less strenuous exercises at set times, putting their bodies to more or less severe tests. Doing so almost inevitably, it seems, brings them experiences which humans normally don't have. Kapiton and his followers almost starved themselves to 'get closer to God', which is what mysticism is ultimately about, if the mystics are to be believed, and Kapiton himself wore an almost 50 kg harness day and night 'for Christ', which he didn't even take off while on the run. It is a strange and fascinating little realm of human activity, as long as it isn't tied up with politics that is. Then it can quickly get very scary.