In yesterday’s DM, each the essay and the video, we addressed a few of the ways in which spirituality heals loneliness. Amongst them are the artwork of friendship, connecting to the greater-than-human world, and ritual, which, when genuine, all the time connects psyche to cosmos.
We underscored how meditation teaches us the distinction between aloneness/solitude and loneliness. Father Bede Griffith, an genuine mystic and monk of our time, wrote powerfully about meditation. I reproduce right here a few of his teachings from my e book, Christian Mystics, and supply a modest commentary alongside the way in which.
How can I get to know myself? Not by considering, for considering solely displays my aware being, however by meditating. Meditation goes past the aware thoughts into the unconscious. In meditation, I can grow to be conscious of the bottom of my being in matter, in life, in human consciousness.*
The phrase “floor” is such a wealthy one for it invitations us down, out of our heads and into our decrease chakras and to the depths and soil and darkness and unconscious as Bede tells us. A lot is occurring in our depths, darkness, silence and floor–however in a mysterious and unknown means.
I can expertise my solidarity with the universe, with the remotest star in outer area, and with the minutest particle within the atom. How fantastic that for Father Bede, a contemplative and activist monk, we share a “solidarity with the universe” and a connection to the “remotest star” and the smallest a part of an atom. They assist carry us past self-occupation to make “solidarity” with the entire, with creation itself, with the milieu of existence that makes our life potential and has accomplished so for 13.8 billion years. The “We” is a lot greater than the “I” we’re often self-occupied with, and the “self” is invited to grow to be a “Self” that connects to the entire.
When physicist David Bohm says, “I’m a post-modern physicist who begins with the entire,” he’s inviting all of us in these post-modern instances to start with the entire. One other phrase for “complete” is “creation,” all that’s, what Eckhart calls “isness” and calls “God.” At the moment’s science and new creation story of cosmogenesis and each day information of the cosmos from the Webb Telescope, and so on. renders it simpler for us to start with the complete.
Possibly this is the reason so many right this moment are saying, “I’m religious however not non secular.” As a result of spirituality is a far greater phrase than faith, spirituality invitations all to hook up with the ALL and to the bottom and depth, together with the unknown, apophatic, divinity–to what’s unseen in addition to what’s seen. Spirituality talks of the “Godhead” and never simply “God.” Sadly, the latter is so readily coopted by energy journeys of individuals and empires desperate to make use of it to their very own egocentric pursuits.
I can expertise my solidarity with each dwelling factor, with the earth, with these flowers and coconut bushes, with the birds and squirrels, with each human being. Once more, “solidarity.” An essential side that denotes energy derived from neighborhood and allies, buddies, and others with whom we share our frequent journey and journey. Group braveness is concerned within the time period “solidarity.” Braveness within the face of evil and highly effective forces in search of to render us alone, lonely, and susceptible.
I can get past all these outer types of issues in time and area and uncover the Floor from which all of them spring.
I can know the Father, the Origin, the Supply, past being and non-being, the One ‘with no second.’
Clearly, meditation enriches our sense of belonging in some ways.
To be continued.
* Bede Griffiths, Return to the Middle: The Discovery of India, pp. 35f.
To see extra books by Bede Griffiths and different mystics, see Matthew Fox’s Creation Spirituality bookstore HERE.
Banner Picture: “Calling on the Spirit of Mom Earth.” Picture by Darla Hues on Flickr.
Queries for Contemplation
Do you discover that Bede Griffiths’ teachings on meditation stretch your sense of belonging and pierce your sense of loneliness?
Associated Readings by Matthew Fox
Christian Mystics: 365 Readings & Meditations, p. 261
“Creation” and “Meditation and Mindfulness” in Fox, One River, Many Wells: Knowledge Springing from World Faiths, pp.26-49 and 189-217.
Authentic Blessing: A Primer in Creation Spirituality
Meditations with Meister Eckhart: A Centering Ebook
The Tao of Thomas Aquinas: Fierce Knowledge for Exhausting Occasions
Sheer Pleasure: Conversations with Thomas Aquinas on Creation Spirituality
Matthew Fox: Important Writings on Creation Spirituality
