Find God by allowing him to find you.
That means inviting him to come, making your self available, letting your Self go, allowing God to experience you as you are, and Him/Her has you are capable. Bill Fulbright
Archive for the ‘Christian Mysticism’ Category
Finding God
Tuesday, June 16th, 2009 “..being within the cloud and seeing God there” (Ex 20:21)
Sunday, May 31st, 2009When Moses saw the burning bush, it was seen in the light. But when he ascended Mt. Sinai, it is quite the opposite of the first theophany (Ex 314)
Gregory of Nyssa – from The Life of Moses, Book 2:
“Then the Diety was seen in the light, now is it seen in the cloud. We should not, however suppose that this is out of harmony with the sequence of ideas so far considered. The sacred text teaches us that religious knowledge is a light quite distinct from the one we first encounted. In fact, what is thought the opposite of piety is indeed darkness while the turning away from darkness takes place by sharing the light. However, the further the mind advances and the greater and more perfect its attention to, and knowledge of, the realm of reality becomes, the nearer, in fact, that it draws close to contemplation, so much the more is it aware of the unavailability of the divine nature to human knowledge.
The mind leaves behind all that appears, not only what the senses grasp, but also whatever the intelligence seems to behold and ever seeks to move further inward, until it penetrates by reason of the activity of the intelligence to what is unseen and incomprehensible and therre sees God. For it is precisely in this that true knowledge of what is sought consists, and precisely in the that seeing consists, that is in NOT seeing, because we seek wha lies be yond all knowledge, shrouded by incomprehensibility in all directions, as it were by some cloud. Hence the mystical John, the same who penetrated into the shining clould, says that “No one has ever seen God” (Jn: 1:18). But by this denial he insists that the knowledge of the divine nature is unavailable not only to men, but also to all rational creatures.
It is only when Moses has increased in knowledge that he confesses that he beholds God in the cloud, that is, that he knows that the divine is by nature something above all knowledge and comprehension. For Scripture says, “Moses entered the darkness where God was” (Ex 20:21). Who is God? “He who,” as David says, “made the darkness his hiding place” (Ps18:12). For David also had been initiated into the secret mysteries in that very same shrine.
Once arrived there he is once again taught by reason what he had already learnt through the cloud. The reason for this is, I think, that our conviction on this matter might be more firmly grounded once it had been assured buy the divine voice….”
Feast of the Ascension – Thursday 5/21/09
Thursday, May 21st, 2009This is an awesome day to remember, because it acknowledges Jesus’ ascension into heaven.
After having been crucified, buried, descended to Hell, and risen to the Right Hand of God, he came back to show himself to his disciples and others close to him.
Then, after 40 days, he took his body with him as he ascended body, spirit and soul into the heavens. That is simply amazing. It is not something that happens to the guy next to you. In fact, the reality of it is very hard to grasp.
While I will not go into the entire history of ascensions, they have happened. Within the Jewish tradition there are several known ascensions: Enoch, Elijah, Ezra, Baruch and Moses. There are many resources, both Christian and Jewish that confirm all these ascensions. One is Dictionary of Jesus and the Gospels. More can be found on Google or the new search engine WolframAlpha.
The reasons for the ascensions can be attributed to a given attained spiritual state, or simply by the Grace of God. In any event, all should be studied in order to begin understanding this powerful type of event.
More to come on this topic….
The paradox of being still and on the move
Monday, June 1st, 2009In Buddhism, Hinduism the goal is nirvana, satori, samadhi with the culmination of all one’s efforts being the attainment of these states of enlightenment. Since we can define these states, and acquire them, are they the final stage in our growth or are they another notch on the spiritual belt?
God is infinite. How can we settle for a particular state of enlightenment, when it is clear his face will be hidden from us eternally? Not that this is a bad thing.
If we have nothing to strive for, then what do we become? Do we become complacent with our state? Desire for more spiritual closeness to God is also unceasing. And will continue to be unceasing as it is part of our human nature to have such a desire. This desire is focused on satiety of our spiritual striving.
God is ever expanding, ever inaccessible, always infinite, and ungraspable. This sounds like we will never see God in a final state. Very likely yes, that is the truth. But so is the Really Real, which is God. We will always have room to grow - in knowledge, intimacy, receiving inspiration, expressing His light.
In the quest for becoming spiritual millionaires, this is the ultimate acquisition: one that will always appreciate in value! Our growth along the way becomes secondary to the desire to know and to have. This secondary growth accrues to our nature and the fruits of it are our knowledge, compassion, understanding, and hopefully actions that can improve our lives and the world around us.
So how do we satisfy this desire? How do we ever attain full communion with God and with His infinite being? First by understanding our limitations as humans and our inability to conceive of His infinite inaccessibility……. Now here comes the paradox!!
Because of his infinite inaccessibility, he draws us forward in our quest for satiety of our spiritual desire. If we choose to accept the challenge, we will grow and become closer, have a deeper and more intimate experience, drop off the dross of our unnecessary behaviors and attachments and become what we are intended to be – a becoming being – eternally expanding through God’s love for us.
Is this enough to give us hope? Absolutely. In God’s infinite love for us he has made every effort to provide points of refernce and examples through Jesus, the Holy Spirit, the Virgin Mary, her appearances, the Ascensions of Moses, Elijah, etc., the ultimate redemption of the new Adam: Jesus and his infinite love for us described through a finite act…. If you think about it God has left many breadcrumbs for us to follow.
There are many paths one can follow to be growing closer to God. We are each on our own path – so there is only where we are for the moment and our understanding of that as it is. It is only through our desire for satiety do we have new illuminations, revelations, spurts of growth, and change our minds, hearts and choices for action.
“I will put you on a rock” (Ex 33:22) This is a great if not the greatest paradox of all: that the same thing is both standing still and on the move. So through God’s leadership we can understand that our desire to ascend is facilitated through the act of being still.
For me, I have found much to be inspired with, and much to resolve my dissonance by learning to be still and to accept the ascension of my own knowledge through the act of being still. This is the paradox. Let me say that again: that by being still you will be on the move. Ascent and action through stillness.
I am grateful for the grace of leadership from God, Jesus and the Holy Spirit to allow me to stumble through my own discoveries to uncover the greatest Reality of all.
Tags: ascension, ascent, being still, enlightenment, Exodus, God, infinite, infinity, Moses, nirvana, paradox, samadhi, satiety, satori, spiritual growth
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