The soul is not empty, so long as the desire for sensible things remains. But the absence of this desire for things produces emptiness and liberty of soul, even when there is an abundance of possessions.
Comments
Deanna J
Tue, 03/09/2010 - 4:11pm
I am not "getting" this. Can someone explain this further?
I think it is speaking of being empty inside, regardless of the number of things that we may possess. I think it is about what our possessions mean to us...that if we don't desire things, even sensible things,our souls will be free.
looks like there may be some bits missing to the quotation... Deanna, highlight that whole three lines and paste it into a fresh google search window--looks like there are some mystics and sacred writings out there which reflect on the quotation which you might enjoy exploring. (I just tried it to see how it would "hit" but have not yet taken the time and energy to explore a little...the sacred-texts website is one of my favorites, by the way.)
part of the core is perhaps the paradox that to be filled with desire for "possessions" is to have an empty (depraved?) soul. But when we come to God with our "empty" soul desiring to be filled, that is a step toward freedom... key words for meditation then become "empty," "desire," "abundance," "possessions"... ? (at least for me...)
this is my initial response after a long and trying day...i hope it helps...
Does the word "sensible" here mean things of "the world?" Things that can be sensed physically; seen, heard, tasted, smelled, or touched, as opposed to desire of the soul emptied to make room for Spirit?
I believe the key word here is "DESIRE" - all the "sensible things" that can compete for our Hearts to take precedence over THE First Commandment:
"LOVE THE LORD YOUR GOD WITH YOUR WHOLE HEART,
YOUR WHOLE SOUL AND YOUR WHOLE MIND.YOU SHALL NOT HAVE ANY OTHER gods BEFORE ME!
It is like strolling through a 'candy store' (or any other store for that matter). All of the delightful and delectable goodies invite/lure us to "DESIRE" them; they can even be "good" things.
When this enticement becomes our "DESIRE" to possess them, whatever it may be, this "clutters" the Soul - "the Soul is NOT empty" -something OTHER RIVALS GOD!
The paradox here that St. John of The Cross describes as an "emptiness or liberty of Soul even when there is an abundance of possessions" is like owning the 'candy store' wherein you can choose to partake of anything at any time and yet have NO "DESIRE" TO because it would NO longer satisfy - a been there, done all that illusionary Freedom.
This "EMPTINESS" can then become the "LIBERTY OF SOUL" for the KING OF KINGS to take HIS THRONE!
I am not "getting" this. Can someone explain this further?
I think it is speaking of being empty inside, regardless of the number of things that we may possess. I think it is about what our possessions mean to us...that if we don't desire things, even sensible things,our souls will be free.
looks like there may be some bits missing to the quotation... Deanna, highlight that whole three lines and paste it into a fresh google search window--looks like there are some mystics and sacred writings out there which reflect on the quotation which you might enjoy exploring. (I just tried it to see how it would "hit" but have not yet taken the time and energy to explore a little...the sacred-texts website is one of my favorites, by the way.)
part of the core is perhaps the paradox that to be filled with desire for "possessions" is to have an empty (depraved?) soul. But when we come to God with our "empty" soul desiring to be filled, that is a step toward freedom... key words for meditation then become "empty," "desire," "abundance," "possessions"... ? (at least for me...)
this is my initial response after a long and trying day...i hope it helps...
Thank you all for getting back to me. Your words help a lot.
Deanna
Thank you Kimba for taking the time to reply after your long and trying day.
Deanna
Does the word "sensible" here mean things of "the world?" Things that can be sensed physically; seen, heard, tasted, smelled, or touched, as opposed to desire of the soul emptied to make room for Spirit?
I believe the key word here is "DESIRE" - all the "sensible things" that can compete for our Hearts to take precedence over THE First Commandment:
"LOVE THE LORD YOUR GOD WITH YOUR WHOLE HEART,
YOUR WHOLE SOUL AND YOUR WHOLE MIND.YOU SHALL NOT HAVE ANY OTHER gods BEFORE ME!
It is like strolling through a 'candy store' (or any other store for that matter). All of the delightful and delectable goodies invite/lure us to "DESIRE" them; they can even be "good" things.
When this enticement becomes our "DESIRE" to possess them, whatever it may be, this "clutters" the Soul - "the Soul is NOT empty" -something OTHER RIVALS GOD!
The paradox here that St. John of The Cross describes as an "emptiness or liberty of Soul even when there is an abundance of possessions" is like owning the 'candy store' wherein you can choose to partake of anything at any time and yet have NO "DESIRE" TO because it would NO longer satisfy - a been there, done all that illusionary Freedom.
This "EMPTINESS" can then become the "LIBERTY OF SOUL" for the KING OF KINGS to take HIS THRONE!
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