The Cloud Of Unknowing

In 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.