Spirituality VIII
Bishop Roger
Now we embark on a somewhat more profound part of this journey – using the mind.
Some may consider this to smack of Pelagianism, but think about it. Pelagius was an ascetic Celtic layman who held that in order to make any contact with God (who is there waiting at all times) we had to make the first move. God will not force himself on us at least in this life. Pelagius said it’s no good relying on God’s grace alone without making some attempt at preparing the ground for that grace to act on, We are free to choose whether to accept the grace of God or not.
Although the then current Pope (Zosimus) accepted his views they were not popular in the East, and with the power of ‘Saint’ Augustine’s diatribes Pelagius was eventually considered heretical (though in my view a far greater man than Augustine {inventor of Original Sin}, who actually called him ‘a saintly man’!). Be that as it may we are now going to try to provide that suitable ground for God’s grace to work in.
First, though, there are some caveats. There are dangers in this practice, as all religions and all spiritual teachers confirm. To start you must be in reasonable mental health – i.e. if you have any kind of mental illness, particularly depression, it must have been treated or be under adequate treatment. Consult your doctor if you aren’t sure.
Next you must understand that you may be given what some teachers describe as ‘sweets’ – feelings of great spiritual delight, even visions of spiritual beings (angels, Our Lady, Jesus or demonic visions). These must all be treated as passing fancies. As one Buddhist teacher said to a disciple who was overwhelmed by a vision of the Buddha ‘That’s fine, now get back to your work!’
There is a rabbinic story of four rabbis who followed the Merkabah path (a Jewish mystical teaching) and entered the orchard of God, One died on the spot; one went mad, a third went home as a heretic and only the last returned home in peace having seen God. So the path is hard and dangerous as Jesus warned.
It is possible that you may develop psychic skills – clairvoyance, telepathy, even bilocation. These things, which genuinely may happen, have a great attraction and seem wonderful, but however great the temptation (and it will be great if they occur for you) they must not be pursued, or, for the most part, even used at all. Remember that we are seeking union with God, as Jesus promised us. Nothing else must distract us from this task.
Another problem that may arise is what is known as ‘dryness’ or Accidie. This is the situation in which all your effort seems worthless, you can’t pray or see any result, and don’t even want to. Verse 2 of Ecclesiastes 1 sums this feeling up well. The only answer is to keep on with the work. Just as the sweets should be disregarded so should the sorrows. Persistence is the answer as in the parable of the widow (Luke 18;3-8).
So there are many problems to consider, and it may be that you feel the need of a helper. Of course God is always there and available to you, but he is not known for his human comfort. If you need this, seek a spiritual guide, someone who can help and support you in the great task you are undertaking. Such a person must be carefully chosen. H/She needs to be some one who is him/ herself on this path, and a person of great discernment and deep love. Do not choose a clever theologian, nor someone who speaks frequently of ‘sin’ or the devil, but someone who is sensible, kind and gentle, and who speaks in loving tones of the companionship of God/Jesus/ the Holy Spirit.
Such people are rare, but it is said that ‘When the pupil is ready the teacher will be found’. Always remember that for us Christians there is an ever present teacher in Jesus, but also remember that self-delusion is only a step away!
This may have seemed off putting but these matters have to be considered because from now on if you intend to follow this path of spirituality, or for that matter any other, it is going to be life changing as well as life enhancing. Jesus said ‘I am come that they may have life and have it abundantly (Jn 10;10 )’
Next time we will start work on the path of the mind.