History is full of fascinating stories about mystics - from St. Francis to the Sufi poet Rumi. But mysticism is not just an ancient phenomenon. In this hour of To the Best of Our Knowledge, some modern day mystics - people who say the've had direct encounters with the Divine.

SEGMENT 1

You may think mysticism went out with the Middle Ages, but in fact, it's booming! Celebrated modern mystic Andrew Harvey tells Steve Paulson about the mystical experience. Harvey is the author of two spiritual memoirs - "A Journey in Ladakh" and "Hidden Journey," and the editor of a new anthology - "The Essential Mystics." Also, writer Gita Mehta talks about mutual fantasy engaged in by natives of India and idealistic Westerners who went East in search of enlightenment. Mehta is the author of "Karma Cola" and "A River Sutra."

SEGMENT 2:

Michael Roach is a Buddhist monk in New York whose Asian Classics Input Project is attempting to transfer to CD-ROM many sacred texts that are in danger of disappearing. He tells Jim Fleming that the project fits within the Buddhist tradition and explains why it's necessary.

SEGMENT 3:

UCLA philosopher Calvin Noremore tells Steve Paulson that St. Francis of Assissi is remarkable not only for his piety, but also for his political philosophy. Noremore contends that Francis' rejection of private property led to our modern notions of human rights.

• week of 04/06/97 - hour 3
• week of 06/21/98 - hour 3