Volume VI Special Issue VII October 2026

Name of Author : M. Aniksha, Dr.M.Rashmi

Title of the paper : BEYOND BORDERS OF THE SELF: INDIAN SPIRITUAL THOUGHT AND THE EVOLUTION OF MYSTICAL CONSCIOUSNESS IN PAULO COELHOS HIPPIE

Abstract: Paulo Coelhos Hippie 2018 depicts a journey that extends beyond geographical movement into a profound exploration of the self, spirituality, and alternative forms of knowledge. This paper examines how the protagonist’s encounter with Indian Spiritual thought contributes to the gradual evolution of mystical consciousness. Set against the backdrop of the hippie counterculture, the novel captures a generational revolt against materialism, conformity, and traditional frameworks of meaning, chronicling instead a quest for spiritual transcendence and inner autonomy. The study employs Evelyn Underhills theory of the Mystic Way as its primary theoretical framework, particularly her conception of mystical experience. Through this framework, the paper analyses the protagonists physical journey as a symbolic representation of an inward quest that crosses geographical, cultural, psychological, and spiritual boundaries. Indian spiritual concepts such as meditation, detachment, self realisation, experiential knowledge, and the teacher disciple relationship are examined as alternative modes of understanding the self and reality. The paper argues that Coelho transforms the East West encounter into a dialogue between different systems of knowledge and consciousness. Ultimately, Hippie presents mystical consciousness as a transformative journey from external freedom to inner awareness and spiritual self discovery.

Keywords : Indian spirituality, mystical consciousness, spiritual transformation, counterculture, self realisation

DOI :

Page Number : 7-13