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Wisdom Quote
The higher rank and esteem a man gives to all his knowledge, experience, and imagining (whether spiritual or not), the more he subtracts from the Supreme Good and the more he delays in his journey toward Him. And the less he esteems what he can possess relative to the Supreme Good~however estimable it may be~the more he values and prizes Him, and, consequently, the closer he comes to Him. In this way, in obscurity, a man swiftly approaches union by means of faith, which is also dark. And in this way faith gives him wondrous light. Obviously, if a person should desire to see, he would be in darkness as regards God more quickly than if he opened his eyes to the blinding light of the sun.
*St. John of the Cross. Ascent of Mount Carmel.
Spirituality is the living and inspiring expression of Truth without form. It is living for Truth is alive and not a mere statement of fact. It is inspiring for Truth does not merely inform the mind, rather, Truth animates the whole being for It arises from God and returns to God and is God as the Center of the Person. It is expression for Truth as Truth can only be reflected within the Person. It is Truth for Truth is not truths, rather, truths in themselves have no veracity. It is without form for Truth is formless, prior to form, and the pristine Source out of which form flows outward and returns, ceaselessly. If I devote myself wholly and supremely to anything, I abandon Truth and make God to be less than God, for Truth is not anything.
*Brian K. Wilcox
Wisdom Story
Nan-in, a Japanese Master during the Meiji era (1868-1912), received a university professor who came to inquire about Zen.
Nan-in served tea. He poured a cup full for the professor, and then kept on pouring.
The professor watched the overflow until he no longer could restrain himself, and he spoke, "It is overfull. No more will go in!"
"Like this cup," Nan-in replied, "you are full of your own opinions and speculations. How can I show you Zen unless you first empty your cup?"
Reflections
Do you see a common theme between the quote of St. John of the Cross and the story of Nan-in and the professor? Explain.
What do you think St. John of the Cross means by faith existing for us "in obscurity"? What is the "wondrous light" true faith gives us?
In what sense does true faith blind us to rational knowledge?
Why do you think St. John of the Cross includes spiritual knowledge, experience, and imagining as aspects that true faith will darken in our journey toward union with God?
What are some rational certainties you have had to give up as you have grown in your relationship with the Sacred?
Why do you think it is so difficult for us to give up our faith in things about God in order to grow in faith in God?
What is the difference between faith as being in God and faith being in thoughts about God?
What is meant that Truth is without form?
*The quote from St. John of the Cross is from The Collected Works of St. John of the Cross. Trans. K. Kavanaugh and O. Rodriguez.
Brian will respond to requests pertaining to seeking a Spiritual Mentor. He offers retreats, workshops, and classes in such subjects as Contemplative Prayer (he trains in Visualized Praying, Centering Prayer, Christian Meditation, The Jesus Prayer, ...), Contemplative Living, A Spiritual Understanding of the Lord's Prayer, and Spiritual Use of the Scripture. See any major on-line bookseller for his book An Ache for Union.
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