I must be moving on quickly - probably no blog for the next few days with things to do, but I had to mention this: as I pull towards the end of Merton's "Contemplation," I once again had that feeling - impossible! To reach God is impossible! For even the feeling of God is not God - It is simply undefinable, beyond our ordinary reach. It is only possible, from Merton's Catholic view, through faith - blind faith.
Apart from that, however, it strikes one immediately: the God of the Catholics is the same as the Buddhists, is the same as the Hindus - dig deeply enough, and IT stands there, the same. Like a scientific experiment done over and over to verify,the nature of full Reality has been found to be the same - close enough to proof of its existence and of its nature. And it is the easiest thing in the world to realize - and for that, it is impossible, for how can we give up all reference?
It reminds me of the mockery given to Zen - the sound of one hand clapping - by the 'only rational.' Of course it is foolishness - but also not. Not this, not that, as the Hindus say. And yet, as Merton put it, it is within the human range; it is our ultimate destiny. Like looking through a glass darkly, it comes into view as a mirage, as a possibility, dim, far - and yet, others have been there.
Merton knows - and he tells us what it means for our daily existence, for that is what religion exists for. More on that later, FK
Apart from that, however, it strikes one immediately: the God of the Catholics is the same as the Buddhists, is the same as the Hindus - dig deeply enough, and IT stands there, the same. Like a scientific experiment done over and over to verify,the nature of full Reality has been found to be the same - close enough to proof of its existence and of its nature. And it is the easiest thing in the world to realize - and for that, it is impossible, for how can we give up all reference?
It reminds me of the mockery given to Zen - the sound of one hand clapping - by the 'only rational.' Of course it is foolishness - but also not. Not this, not that, as the Hindus say. And yet, as Merton put it, it is within the human range; it is our ultimate destiny. Like looking through a glass darkly, it comes into view as a mirage, as a possibility, dim, far - and yet, others have been there.
Merton knows - and he tells us what it means for our daily existence, for that is what religion exists for. More on that later, FK
RSS Feed