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The disciples were absorbed in a discussion of Lao-tzu’s dictum:
Those who know do not say;
Those who say do not know.
When the master entered,
They asked him what the words meant.
Said the master, "Which of you knows the fragrance of a rose?"
All of them indicated that they knew.
Then he said, "Put it into words."
All of them were silent.
*Anthony deMello, One Minute Wisdom
"Intuition" is direct knowing. The scent of the rose, the feel of the rose, or the look of the rose is direct, or intuitive, awareness. Such is, with regard to matters specifically religious and otherwise, spiritual knowledge.
Spiritual Christians are persons living by direct knowing, or intuitive knowing, of Luminous Presence. They see through the veil of ordinary knowledge and live in supra-ordinary awareness.
Therefore, intuitive knowing is a naked awareness. The loss of the clothing of the absoluteness of religious and spiritual ideas, words, and images is painful and frightening, for the ordinary Christian has lived by such and become reliant on it.
Yet, mysticism is the beginning and end; that is, all-encompassing, for the spiritual Christian. She can use best and most wisely the symbols, rites, and language of the Christian Way, for she knows Reality before, behind, and after all else.
Mysticism, in the Christian sense, is simply the "seeing of" and "living of" the Mystery of the Triune God. The mystical Christian, while using language to lead to the Divine, knows that all the talk of faith is a step away from faith, while ironically it can serve to lead to greater faith when it leads one to see it as the shadow of Truth, not Truth itself. This Truth is God.
Free of words
I play with words
I ride them like a boat to the port
Then I fall into your embrace~Free at last!~
If I spoke Here
The walls would cry out~Shut up, Brian, and make love!~
No boat, no port~only
Your face.
Where did I go?
Someone dropped off at the door.
With my hand against the blue Sky,
does it matter anymore?
When I looked in your eyes,
a subject collided with a verb and
the whole sentence fell apart~
another grammar is taught those
lost in Here.
Whoever sees this shining darkness,
flees every other light.
Once you taste this drink,
every other wine tastes like water.
A whisper from under the bed~
I must be quiet Now.
*Brian K. Wilcox
Suggested Reflection
Can you describe a rose? Can you describe anything? Can you bear one minute free of all your religious or spiritual ideas?
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See next page for details on OneLife Ministries, Brian's book An Ache for Union, and material pertaining to sources used in the writing.
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