\section*{Introduction}
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This paper is an elaboration of a lecture given at the University of 
Delft (October 2, 1992)
for the symposium {\em Over grenzen} (On boundaries); a preliminary version
(in Dutch) is in Vlug [1993]. A
model will be presented for the human mind in which mysticism  plays a clear
role. Moreover, the model discusses also the cause of human suffering and desire
and our possible liberation from it.

The model is based on experience obtained during several intensive vipassana
meditation retreats (more than 90 days over a period of 7 years, after several
preparatory years of so called concentration meditation). The motivation for
such a training is twofold. First of all, the purpose  of the training is inner
calm and freedom, in themselves of enough value. Secondly, part of the  training
consists of an introspective study of consciousness. Thereby one obtains insight
in  the functioning of the mind, complementary to information obtained in 
disciplines  such as neurophysiology and cognitive science.

First several misunderstandings are discussed in $\S 1$. 
Then in $\S 2$ the model will be  presented. 
It will be useful for the understanding of the description of the 
phenomenological data described in $\S 3,4$.
In $\S 3$ mystical and other experiences are 
described that are obtained during the path of mental purification. In $\S 4$
the account of this
training will be continued, but no longer focused on existentialist
experiences. It turns out that  there is something better than mysticism: {\em
freedom}. Finally in $\S 5$ a program is sketched for scientific verification
of the reported phenomena  and other statements.
