From: Sam Norton (elizaphanian@kohath.wanadoo.co.uk)
Date: Sun Aug 21 2005 - 12:58:40 BST
Hi Erin - cloud of unknowing!!! 'course I've heard of it (tho' I can't claim
to have given it a thorough reading, only extracts. I prefer Mother Julian).
The author was an English priest and spiritual director. He's a perfect
example, however, of that which I have been banging on about for these past
few years.
You have to strip yourself of all your various attachments and
understandings, enter the 'cloud of unknowing', where the only thing which
moves you forward is the intention to love, and ultimately you are 'one'
with God - something which is, exactly, received and not attained. This
without knowledge or any 'sensible feeling' (ie experience); essentially it
is about becoming open to grace.
He says "Don't study these words, for you will never achieve your object so,
or come to contemplation; it is never attained by study, but only by grace"
(CU 39)
There's quite a lot of material relevant to him, but he's fairly easy to
read, and widely available. Happy to pursue this off-list if you like.
Sam
>
> It reminds me of a quote of Tom Robbins.....the ultimate answers can't be
> given, they can only be receivied It also reminds me of this phrase that
> really caught my interest but I haven't followed up on it yet.....Don
> Delillo (writer of Underworld, White Noise, etc.) uses this phrase in his
> book "cloud of unknowing" He doesn't really go in depth of what he is
> referring to but when I looked up the phrase I found that there is a 15th
> century book on mysticism with that title. (author anonymous) Have you
> ever heard or read it?
>
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