PSYCHOLOGICAL EXPLORATION Ramakrishna and the Clinic of Paradox Paulo H. C. Dias 1 · Gilberto Safra 1 © Springer Science+Business Media New York 2015 Abstract This study presents a clinical conception of the human being as the paradox between immanence and transcendence. Through an exposition of the clinical conceptions of Brazilian author Gilberto Safra, we search for an integral manner in which to understand mystical experience as a way to rethink the ontological conceptions inherent to clinical practice. In such perspective, we elaborate a critique of both the psychological-only approach to mystical experience as well as the spiritual-only approach. We present it through the life of Indian mystic Ramakrishna, by comparing the interpretation different authors make of his experiences and placing our own perspective. Keywords Mysticism · Religious experience · Psychoanalysis and religion · Clinical psychology · Spirituality Introduction: Immanence and Transcendence One of the great paradoxes regarding studies within the fields of religion, spirituality and mysticism refers to the complex relationship between immanence and transcendence. At one point of the spiritual journey, every practitioner faces the inevitable relationship Member of the Proposon laboratory at the same university, the author is concerned mainly with the subjects of spirituality and mysticism in its relations with clinical psychology, psychoanalysis and phenomenology. Gilberto Safra is well-recognized in the field of clinical psychology and is also interested in the subjects of religion and spirituality as paradigms of clinical practice. & Paulo H. C. Dias kitodias@gmail.com Gilberto Safra iamsafra@uol.com.br 1 Department of Clinical Psychology, Institute of Psychology, University of Sa ˜o Paulo - Cidade Universita ´ria, Av. Professor Mello Moraes, 1721, Butanta ˜, Sa ˜o Paulo, SP 05508-030, Brazil 123 J Relig Health DOI 10.1007/s10943-015-0131-5