Theory and practice are two important aspects of religion. In terms of the latter, practitioners of all religions inevitably have some experiences in the process of practice. Master Sheng Yen is a rare Ch’an master in modern Chinese Buddhism who is able to clearly explaining the possible experiences that may arise in meditation of his own lineage, and integrate them with the experiences of other religions and philosophies around the world. Since these experiences are different from daily experiences, Master Sheng Yen often names them as “Mystical Experience” or “Religious Experience”. The meanings of these two terms seem to be the same in some works of Master Sheng Yen, but they are different in some other works. Are they the same or different? This is the starting issue being discussed in this paper. First of all, I examined Master Sheng Yen's religious view. The results show that Master Sheng Yen has established a hierarchical religious view between the ages of 26-38. On this basis, he believes that there are different levels of practice experience among world religions. Secondly, I clarified how Master Sheng Yen distinguished the definitions of “Mystical Experience” and “Religious Experience”. According to Master Sheng Yen's point of view, “Mystical Experience” is mostly caused by the induction of external forces, while “Religious Experience” is the result of self-cultivation. Thirdly, I clarified the integration and hierarchical interpretation of various experiences by Master Sheng Yen. There are two models of practice available in Master Shengyen's Ch’an teaching, that is Three Self and Four Mind””. Mysterious Experience refers to the experience appear in the stage of small-Self (scattered-Mind concentrated-Mind). Religious Experience refers to the experience appear in the stage of “big-Self” (unified-Mind), included experiences such as “the unity of God and I”, “being with God”, “the unity of man and Heaven”, “the unity of all beings” and “nothingness” etc. mentioned by world religions. The highest level of Ch’an, “no-Self” or “no-Mind”, is not an experience, but pure wisdom.
