10/ Within the Christian tradition, supervised disciplines—framed as “purifications”—can carry people into desolation, paradox and darkness by exposing what lies latent in the heart. The Hesychast Jesus Prayer is an ancient soul-craft for walking that edge without falling off it.
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Copy of tweet here: I can’t explain it, but maybe you know what I mean: there are some people who skate the frozen surface of their lives, and there are some who are sunk all up to their chins and are swimming. We can't learn to swim and hold on at the same time. There comes a point where we must brave a dunking. As per the eek factor, always recall the transpersonal psychotherapist, John Welwood, "As one spiritual wag put it, 'Self-knowledge is always bad news, at least initially.’ To come to the pleasure you have not You must go by a way in which you enjoy not. To come to the knowledge you have not You must go by a way in which you know not. To come to the possession you have not You must go by a way in which you possess not. To come to be what you are not You must go by a way in which you are not. St. John of the Cross (1542 – 1591)
@AlanWattsQuot @RichardRohrOFM Generally speaking, Eastern cultures have always maintained 'silencing' or 'centering down' as a root spiritual practice, whereas modern Christian contemplatives have had to 'recover' the discipline. Text from 'Just This: Prompts and Practices For Contemplation' @RichardRohrOFM
