Fruit of the Contemplative Life
Fruit of the contemplative life: => Contemplative Blogs => : stugandolf August 06, 2014, 08:42:09 PM
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This comment might be misplaced - possible redirection is likely necessary. More than 40 years ago there were no sources available for meditation much less the Jhanas. I taught myself meditation. Running into the Jhanas was inevitable - running into states I did not want to leave caused some fear etc. All you do is follow the breath, meditation object. I practiced yoga relaxation for some years before teaching myself meditation. Together you run into the Jhanas quickly - almost immediately. However there was no one to ask about what was going on with me! Fortunately running into GWV and especially Jeffrey about 11 years ago was wonderful. Within a year my ears were filled with the sound charisms all the time and are with me always. I am very visual and for a month the natural world glowed all the time - I would wake up in the morning to see they were still there. So now almost everything is charismatic. Consider yourself fortunate to be able to ask questions about meditation and the Jhanas. Stu
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I was telling my friend Father Roger a few months ago how I remain unaware of ANY book in English that explains the charisms. If I had not met a group of people who had experience of them, I would never have understood them. Furthermore, I did not have a particular interest in charisms (just liberation): it's now I recognize they are a symptom of being on the correct path.
Hypothetically, even if in isolation you had all the books of St. John of the Cross (which are as exquisite a spiritual instruction you could have in print), that would not suffice. You need a forum or an ability to dialogue with others. Only that makes clear the rigorousness that is necessary on the spiritual path.
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I deeply appreciate that you mystics, who have walked the path to its very end, or very close to its final end, offer your guidance to those of us struggling on this long journey, this greatest of all adventures. We would be lost without you.
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I have deep gratitude and reverence for the GWV. If I've ever shown otherwise--which I doubt--then I was being a plain idiot.
Stu, I think I know this glowing you speak of, and I find myself very interested in tapping into it. I recently had an experience where the ordinary waking world briefly glowed or radiated pure bright light, and it was so beautiful. If I could live like that...
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Thank-you, Stu, Michel, Alexander and Jhanon for expressing your gratitude for this work. I am grateful to have some, like you and the other members of this forum to dialog on the true attainment of the spiritual quest.