Session Seven
Chapter fifty-nine
The author continues to explain that the work of contemplation is not a matter of going anywhere, it is direction-less. Contemplation transcends the categories of time, space, and place - “location and motion.” Time and space drop out as categories as the subject-object split is transcended in contemplation. The work of contemplation is not about going somewhere, it is much more about coming FROM somewhere.
Chapter sixty
Up is a metaphor, a poetic image of the journey contemplation takes us which is not a matter of traveling any distance at all geographically or physically. It is a matter of love and longing. The author writes, “Anyone who longs for heaven is already there in spirit….whenever we love we’re already there.” “Our longing is the most direct route.” In chapter 10 of the Showings Julian of Norwich wrote, “God loves it when we seek him.”
Chapter sixty-one
Physical examples and metaphors are an effort to make the mystery of God visible but spiritual truths should not be taken literally even though familiar words and images are used to describe them. The author is going to great lengths to teach us and then remind us that the gift of contemplation is beyond sensory acquisition and cannot be described or held onto. We have to use words but they always come up short when the subject is contemplation.
Chapter sixty-two
This chapter begins a stretch of chapters in which the Cloud author describes the primary powers of the soul which are mind, reason, will, and the secondary powers which are imagination and sensuality. The author then proceeds in the next several chapters to describe how these powers must be left behind by the illumination of grace, so that the soul is left alone in unmediated intimacy with God.
Yourself = your soul. Cast the eyes of your soul with a blind, naked intent on the dark cloud of unknowing - God alone.
Chapter sixty-three
Though the soul cannot be split into parts its powers accomplish different tasks. The reason and will are the major powers and they are used for spiritual concerns. The imagination and sensuality are the secondary powers and address physical matters. The mind contains and comprehends the powers. That is the work of the mind.
Chapter sixty-four
Reason helps us sort the good from the bad. Will helps us choose the good over the bad. Both are blind on their own and must be illuminated by grace.
Grace is necessary because original sin infects the soul and the processes of the powers. Original sin is a metaphor (remember: in Chapter 51 we were warned not to take spiritual things literally) for the human condition which has us continually trying to go it alone. Original sin refers to the human propensity to let the ego lead which will often have the soul choosing something “that only looks good, but is actually evil.”
Chapter sixty-five
“Before sin” that is in early life before the corruptive forces of the world creep in to afflict the soul, the imagination was pure. After sin the imagination needs the healing and illuminating power of grace to keep it from going astray.
Chapter sixty-six
When the mind which contains and directs will, reason, sensuality, and the imagination is in charge on its own it will miss the mark, therefore it and all it contains must be illuminated by grace and directed toward humility. Finally, the mind must be moved to the heart. (Teresa - 4th dwelling)
Chapter sixty-seven
“Look at the misery caused by original sin.” Original sin results in our near constant temptation to focus on and give our attention and energy to created things in place of God.
Anything material is “below you and outside your spirit.” Remember: the author doesn’t mean below and outside literally. These are spiritual truths and refer to anything that is not God.
Self reflection is key and takes you “within” yourself where “you are on the same level as your potential.” (Teresa dwellings 1 and 2)
“Best of all when your mind is focused on nothing physical or spiritual, it’s solely engaged with God’s very essence. This is the work of contemplation.”
You only reach a state of being “above” yourself (that is, not focused on physical or spiritual things. Focus on no thing.) and “under” God by grace. You can’t get there by your own effort. The previous chapters are leading to this conclusion.
In this state you are one in grace, still two and inferior in nature.
Chapter sixty-eight
During contemplative prayer and work resist being anywhere, not within, or up, down, or side to side. Be “nowhere because nowhere physically is everywhere spiritually.” When your mind has an object for focus in the physical sphere that’s where you’ll go spiritually. So, let go of all created things during contemplative work.
“Abandon the world’s “everywhere” and “something’ in exchange for this infinitely more valuable nowhere and nothing.” As we let go of the powers we move the head into the heart and the heart is “enlarged to divine proportions.” (Finley on Teresa)