I thoroughly enjoyed your chat with Susan Murphy. It was wonderful to hear her talk about the meaning and importance of Country to Indigenous Australians. So much wisdom to learn from.
I must also thank you for the Sun House recommendation. It took a while for my copy to arrive in Australia; but it’s been hard to put down since- this book makes me feel alive.
Thanks Ben, Susan Murphy's book is amazing too. Grateful to learn about the vastness of Country.
And glad Sun House landed in Australia, it is a mighty book, lots of razor edge moments. Will be curious to hear what you think as you continue to read it!
I don't think it is a koan. I think the point is that thinking (which manifests as words) is incompatible with pure/heart prayer. This form of prayer requires that the prayer cannot be conscious of being a 'self' that is praying. Silence is incompatible with words, thoughts and even the thought that "I am not thinking" because they all reveal a continuing awareness of a separation between the self and Being.
Thanks Paul - as you say, all efforts to force silence to speak words are destined to fail - just as all doing inevitably falls short in communicating being. But your words beautifully reflect the space and time when, in the silence and stillness, “a great silence emerges from the center. We feel ourselves engulfed in the eternal silence of God” (John Main). That is Reality- not the reality we think but the Reality of what is and it is why thinking (and knowing we are thinking) is incompatible with pure prayer. “Silence is the language of God” (Rumi?)
Thank you Paul.
I thoroughly enjoyed your chat with Susan Murphy. It was wonderful to hear her talk about the meaning and importance of Country to Indigenous Australians. So much wisdom to learn from.
I must also thank you for the Sun House recommendation. It took a while for my copy to arrive in Australia; but it’s been hard to put down since- this book makes me feel alive.
Thanks Ben, Susan Murphy's book is amazing too. Grateful to learn about the vastness of Country.
And glad Sun House landed in Australia, it is a mighty book, lots of razor edge moments. Will be curious to hear what you think as you continue to read it!
A similar quote from Evagrius “The monk who knows that he is praying is not truly praying; the monk who does not know he is praying is truly praying”
Love it. The desert wisdom chops it up like Zen koans.
I don't think it is a koan. I think the point is that thinking (which manifests as words) is incompatible with pure/heart prayer. This form of prayer requires that the prayer cannot be conscious of being a 'self' that is praying. Silence is incompatible with words, thoughts and even the thought that "I am not thinking" because they all reveal a continuing awareness of a separation between the self and Being.
Like Rumi, I have given up on my brain and my mind is in shreds and this is a good thing!
Like This
Those who don't feel this Love
pulling them like a river,
those who don't drink dawn
like a cup of spring water
or take in sunset like supper,
those who don't want to change,
let them sleep.
This Love is beyond the study of theology,
that old trickery and hypocrisy.
I you want to improve your mind that way,
sleep on.
I've given up on my brain.
I've torn the cloth to shreds
and thrown it away.
If you're not completely naked,
wrap your beautiful robe of words
around you,
and sleep.
- By Rumi, Ode 314 from Like This, Coleman Barks
Thankyou
Thanks Paul - as you say, all efforts to force silence to speak words are destined to fail - just as all doing inevitably falls short in communicating being. But your words beautifully reflect the space and time when, in the silence and stillness, “a great silence emerges from the center. We feel ourselves engulfed in the eternal silence of God” (John Main). That is Reality- not the reality we think but the Reality of what is and it is why thinking (and knowing we are thinking) is incompatible with pure prayer. “Silence is the language of God” (Rumi?)
Thanks Rodney! well said, the ever present emerging silence of God.