I'm an atheist but I maintain an interest in the mystical practices of various faiths (Sufism, Kaballah, Vedanta, Zen, Vajrayana, etc.) While I know that Christianity has some really intricate and sometimes ancient ties to mysticism (in the Christian's case, spiritual/metaphysical union with God through intense prayer variously called hesychasm/theosis) through the Desert [Church] Fathers, Christian monasticism (especially the Orthodox monks of Mt. Athos), the Catholic mysticism of St. Thomas Aquinas, Augustine, and "The Dark Night of the Soul" and of course Meister Eckhart - I'm wondering what the common Christians' interest is in this and what you think of it. When Jesus said "Go into your closet and pray" was he speaking of contemplative prayer/meditation?
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christian_mysticism
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christian_mysticism