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Jan van Ruysbroeck

1293-1381

Being one of the Contemplatives series

Jan van Ruysbroeck 1293-1381

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The main Source of the contemplations is from Ruysbroecks Seven Steps of the Ladder of Spiritual Love, the references for this is Ladder of Spiritual Love. Henricus Pomerius who though not a contemporary of Ruysbroeck, was born just a
year after Ruysbroecks demise, so was in a position to get evidences of his life, especially as he worked in the monastery at Groenendale where Ruysbroek had been a prior. Ruysbroeck was born in a village of that same name; his parental name has not survived history. This village was then described as being between forest and plain and today, being a mere six miles from Brussels is practically a suburb. In 1317, when he was 24, Ruysbroeck was ordained, set up house with two of his friends, giving all their goods to the poor. This was in direct contrast with the behaviour of the church and its priests who were very avaricious in company with a very materialistic society seeking wealth and power consisting of mainly politicians and the merchant community. It was a near equivalent to the materialistic society we have today. Ruysbroeck knew that wealth acquired in one generation would last for at least the second or third generation, and this in turn historically had led to lechery and gluttony and selfcenteredness. So he gave the world images of humility, self-imposed poverty, chastity and selfless work for the ordinary people as a part of his work for the Divine. But he makes it clear that his primary purpose in life was to seek union with the Greater Reality and his work is in tune with and beyond others before him such as Eckhart and Thomas Kempis. During this century there was a blossoming of freedom of thought in Spiritual matters, which in turn led to doctrinal independence from the church. This was both liberating and dangerous, as the church had no scruples about burning deviants alive. Consequently many kept their connection with the church with its various doctrines as being a judicious act. Ruysbroeck was one of these, whether because of wariness or that he continued to believe in the phantasy doctrines is not clear, but he did have an advanced knowledge of and taught the mystical teaching of an advanced nature even though clothed in the trappings of orthodoxy. Hence the usual job of sorting the wheat from the chaff becomes necessary. The following essay which dredges some of the deeper observations of Ruysbroeck which however is not as advanced in the deeper union with the Divine which is expressed in his Spiritual Espousals, a work which is for those who are ready for the journey to enter ever deeper depths in the voluntary abyss. This is hinted at in the essay The Is and Is not in the Abyss. To get a feel for the depth of Ruysbroecks experiences, I might quote from Underhill p.51. as follows: This condition of consciousness in which barriers are obliterated, the Absolute flows in on us, and we, rushing out to its embrace find and feel the Infinite above all reason and above all knowledge, is the true mystical state.1 This mystical state cannot be understood by any logic that is designed for the material world, and it is this that keeps egoistical practitioners of worldly wisdom shut off from this specialised journey. As even Christians know, if not practice the art of meekness, Ruysbroeck, following up Jesus words about the meek s inheritance says to be meek, that is the second stream of virtues that springs from the ground of humility. Arrogance pride in ones spiritual knowledge (or pride in anything for that matter) is a sure bar to any entry in the mystical land beyond the five senses, the Divine seems to erect a mental barrier. He goes onto say that When our

See Ruysbroek De Septem Gradibus Amoris as quoted.

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spirit is lifted up and united in the Spirit of God, we are laden with a burden which is light; for His Love does not labour.2 We are also counselled into reviewing our own behaviour too. Be pitiful, kind and well disposed to all who seek your help. Hate none, envy none, despise none, nor vex any with harsh words; but forgive all. Show no contempt, be neither stubborn nor sour, but let your bearing be seemly, and your countenance cheerful. Be ready to hear and learn, misjudge nobody, nor judge rashly; enter not in dispute with any, thus showing yourself wiser than he .... keep silent whatever men may do.3 If all of this seems arduous, remember the great privilege we have by being one of the very few who are granted this journey and the subsequent union with the Divine, It is as Ruysbroeck puts it The supreme summit of the Inner Life. 4 It is because this attainment to transcendental levels can be a permanent condition, stretching far beyond this temporal life; over in a flash as it is. If this state is recognised, really understood, and not regarded cavalierly as something like a hobby, which can be attended to when we have time then we will have a desire which the mystics describe as an ever consuming fire. Ruysbroeck also makes use of this allegory when he says We should desire, with an inner devotion Gods Grace and Help, both for His honour and the need we have to serve Him. This desire will burn in our souls with Love and longing to fulfil the very dear Will of God with all our powers.5 Ruysbroeck is not addressing beginners here, but those who may be on the threshold of that further journey hinted at in other essays, and are beginning to refine their attitude towards the Divine and the attendant privileges. We might say with the words of the poet: O Grace abounding that made me fit To fix my eyes on the Eternal Light Until my vision was consumed with it! I saw within its depth how it conceives All things in a single volume, bound by Love, Of which the universe is but scattered leaves.6 Once it is understood, deeply within, that we have, in the previous time of our seeking, been led to this Invitation of Great Privilege that is of cosmic proportions and this by this Grace abounding, then we are acceptable to prepare ourselves for this further allembracing step. This will be only a preparation for it, as the step eventually goes deeper into the abyss than we have ever done before, and we need to prepare ourselves for this, even if we have felt that we have already gone as far as possible in this life. No! The journey still stretches towards Infinity, which is the difference between the Mystical way and that of any formal religion, which is largely repetition, singing and chanting. This enterprise into God is where the inward soul is embraced and wholly grasped between unfathomable Love and infinite joy. 7 This then is life in its highest possible level, and is part of the contemplative life that leads to union.

2 3

Ladder p. 25 Ladder p.25/6 4 Underhill (quote) De Ornatu Spiritalium Nuptiarum. 1. ii. cap 73 5 Ladder p.33 6 Dante Vision of God Paradiso. canto.33 7 Ladder p.39

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Because the embrace of the Divine Fire cleanses the soul and mind, it is often described as being a wounding process, as undesirable habits of thinking and acting have to be burned away.8 This has otherwise been described, particularly by Eckhart as a new birth, 9this being done by the Spirit of God being born in one. If we take these matters as being a statement of fact rather than pious religiosity, we might feel the need to stir ourselves and start really taking things seriously, otherwise we do not really believe in the real existence of this Mighty Cosmic Power, and in our heart we are still elsewhere. As Augustine observed What a man loves, a man is and at some stage we need to become more committed and less blown about by the slightest breeze. This essay might be regarded as a transitory one, a bridge between a partial embarkation into the sublime essence of the Source and a more fully committed one, where we could enter a deeper, Oh ever deeper connection with the Divine, a sort of burning of our materialistic boats, while in Divine Love, knowledge and experience we plunge without reservation into the sea of the Infinite One. Further consideration of what lies beyond this examination of Ruysbroecks Ladder is too deep to write and comment, as it is a further journey of the soul into unplumbed depths entirely in unison with the Spirit working within one, when the applicant is ready to abandon all in his souls journey, with the practical side of our life ticking over in order to meet our responsibilities, leaving our real inner selves untrammelled by worldly concerns while we enter the void in Love. After this then, it is a matter of sublime gentle action rather than writing and reading. The journey stretches on into the mists of unknowing and is without end; infinite. So this essay is not intended for beginners, or for those who are still firmly enticed by this world of the five senses. The complete concentration of most people in gaining or preserving things which are merely temporary (sometimes very short-lived as this world is an unreliable place) and indifferent to the aims of that life which lies beyond this short life and stretches into the mists of eternity. This is why over-emphasis has been made by earlier writers about abandoning what you have and to possess nothing. Being of the Christian religion they did not consider it possible that they might return to this Earth (or somewhere else like it) time and time again, as this was after all a teaching of the East wasnt it? If you are well endowed in this life, you might return in another life as rich, very poverty stricken, or different in your intelligence and place in life. This is to give you a range of experiences to see to what extent you progress on your spiritual journey under varying roles in life.. Being rich can present as many difficulties in your spiritual journey as arrogance and selfinterest can be a big spiritual handicap. It is unimportant to us in our minds whether we have them or not; they can come and go without one being gutted. So Ruysbroeck writes: Who is poor of his own will lives free and without care for earthly goods that are not needful. While one would not advocate extreme poverty for anyone, it is a fact that the more you have, the more problems you can acquire; in the thirties, we had very little, but were happy and never had such things as an income tax form to bother with, even the present day

8 9

John of the Cross The Living Flame of Love. Eckharts Sermons and Treaties trans. by Walshe.

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government who squeeze blood out of a stone would have been hard put to get anything out of us! We had no investments to worry about, stock exchange crashes did not affect us, we owned no property to be worried about if the roof blew off, we had no car to be concerned about capital depreciation or expensive repairs, the price of petrol was as remote from us as the moon, no telephone bills, no washing machines to go wrong; the rates were low and incorporated in the rent, whilst not being as free as a wild man of the hills, we were unencumbered by problems which are current today. Perhaps the biggest bonus of all is that there were no Emails to break down! The politicians were just as much rogues then as now, but they had not developed the art of spin doctoring as they have today. Perhaps if we had a more simple life in these times we might be just a teeny-weeny bit happier than we now are. But people are nothing if they are not grasping, the having nothing more than the limited possessions of the material world is not for them!. It is what we have, not what we are that counts with them. So Ruysbroeck says But rash and foolish is the covetous, for he gives heaven for Earth, which Earth he knows he must shortly lose indeed this fact of a limited length of a normal life, and, as they say You cant take anything of it with you is known but a voluntary amnesia takes over and we dont want to think about it. Death, that merciful release from a world like ours is never welcomed. To talk about it is being morbid. After death, such people will run the risk of being lost souls who know nothing of the spiritual life, and stay in that which they know, this world, and roam about with nothing to do except cause trouble. The covetous man prefers the husk to the kernel, the shell to the yolk. He cleaves to gold and loves Earthly goods ....although he has much, he is never satisfied.... he wants everything he sees that are others; he guards what he has until he dies, then indeed he loses all How true this is! How most in this world confine their ambitions and actions to acquiring things, and how whatever they have they are satisfied for but a little while before the I want bug starts its biting again! Things of high cultural value relentlessly are pushed aside for the junk music and shouting singers that become icons for the people. Things of the mind are trashed, and no interest in the life beyond this one is entertained. Religion becomes either a useless parade of repetitive fairy stories keeping strictly to a church calendar; or as has always been the case throughout history, a movement for anger and destruction. Look around you! Follow the advice of Ruysbroeck Keep yourself pure /nor suffer anyone to lead you astray neither by words or deeds; nor by gifts or enticements, nor by the practices of outward show of holiness; for though they seem to be spiritual, yet they come back to the flesh, and cannot be trusted. Not only the churches give this outward show, often by genuinely fine music, singing and architecture, which though artistic in itself cannot lead you to an understanding of the Divine Source, nor start on the road to that incredible union with It. Most of us can be seduced by apparent goodness in an individual and conclude thereby that such a one is destined to become one of those seeds of the sower that took root and grew. 10 Although good qualities in the material life are a part of the Spiritual life, such folk are not necessarily on the journey to Divine union. Humanists can be very caring unselfish people, but have no desire to seek a Higher Power. In other words every horse is an animal, but not
10

Matt. 13.3-8

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every animal is a horse! Humanity can be notoriously adept at having a surface goodness. As Jesus described the clergy of his day, they can be beautiful outwardly like tombstones, but within the vault there is rotting flesh. It is best to give the water of life freely, and expect nothing until it manifests itself through that persons actions and not merely what they say. Leave any spiritual awakening to the Divine, because That must be willing to receive anyone, and not merely a decision by the person themselves. It will become apparent in many ways. As I have written many times, love that is of the Spiritual kind is an essential element in our approach to God. Without it whatever good works or Spiritual attainment we may attempt to make, it is as nothing.11 Ruysbroeck puts it this way: When our spirit is lifted up and united to the Spirit of God, we are laden with His burden which is light; for His Love does not labour, the more we love, the lighter becomes our burden; for when we carry Love it carries us above all heavens to Him whom we love It is a fact that when in the Loving relationship we may have with the Divine, we do seem to lifted above worldly cares, and this is true even if we are a the receiving end of some dislike or attack ourselves. When in communion with the Divine, we are above the Cloud of Forgetting, below which the machinations of this world still roar away beneath us. We feel insulated against this tearing rushing life with all the evils that occur there, it is as if we are floating above it all, see all and yet are in a cocoon. This is true even when we descend below the Cloud of Forgetting to attend to Earthly chores, we seem immune to any pain that is thrown at us, this takes place even if we are suffering pain at the time; it does not seem to matter, and this is true too of any problems or looming disasters or the more major difficulties that lie ahead. So no time is spent on worrying about neither present difficulties nor those that lie ahead in the future. This is because in giving oneself entirely to the Divine, we can rest in peace knowing that, if we do his work as a priority we need think of nothing else, the Great Provider will see us through difficulties in one way or another. We have given up our own will. Ruysbroeck also must have experienced this way of life, as he said: When a humble man is inwardly touched by the Spirit of God, snatched up and transported into Him, he forthwith renounces his own will...for the beloved will of God The journey we are undertaking is a real state of Spirituality, so much deeper than any religion can ever be, we are dealing with experiences with the Divine in our sights. The entrance of the Spirit of God into us makes us the sons and daughters of God12 as Ruysbroeck also stated And the Spirit of God gives testimony to our spirit that we are the sons of God. We see ourselves lifted up in the Highest, yet lowly in ourselves. This is no occasion therefore to give ourselves airs and graces, as we are still lowly in ourselves and our deficiencies and human imperfections are covered by the Spirit of God within us. So there is no possibility of our thinking as did the clergy of Jesus day that we are not as other men are 13 because in ourselves without the presence of the Holy Spirit we sink to our original levels pronto! Indeed Ruysbroeck was clear about those who preen themselves:
11 12

1`.Corinthians all of chap. 13. The churches Holy book in Romans 8.14 states this and so it is no blasphemy. 13 Luke 18.12.

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Beware of those who think themselves to be something when in truth they are nothing. They are like bagpipes saints blown up with the wind ... so these hypocrites who have persuaded themselves that they are saints ... cannot bear nor will abide to be rebuked or taught. When one has tasted this merging with God, so that the Spirit makes itself felt, then we know that all these things mentioned in the various essays are actual, and the writings are not figments of the imagination. Consequently any disasters through which our journey lies count as nothing compared with this spiritual intimacy with the Divine. The Sufi Jalal alDin al-Rumi said The cruelty of events, the bitterness of every kind of misfortune are easier to bear than the than being distant from God. Cruelty and bitterness will pass, but distance from God may last for an eternity14 Also in this same work he wrote I cannot bear the thought that God might depart from me and leave me alone. Any pain can be inflicted upon me and any suffering so long as He stays close to me.15 Having moved to this kind of, closeness I can testify that one feels the same way today, because we live in God and His Spirit is in us too: it is some evidence that the immersion into the Spirit of the Great Source is an actual experience. Such a one becomes very dear to God, the Hindu scriptures make this plain: Of these, the man of wisdom, ever integrated, who loves and worships the One alone excels; To such a man I am exceedingly dear, and he is dear to me. All such are noble and exalted, but the man wisdom is my very Self, so must I hold his self to be integrated; he puts his trust in Me 16. So the Hindus had this experience. Ruysbroeck, speaking of this integration shows that the Spirit of God is very active in us, and causes us to share in work that can border on the miraculous . He says We are united to Him by the medium of His gifts and our good works. He lives in us and we in Him through mutual Love. This living unity with God is in our essence, and we have no power in ourselves to understand, attain or grasp it. It baffles all our powers, asking us to become one with God, without medium which indeed we have no power to grant. He calls us to rest and be one with him above all virtues. So even though this event is in our essence that is we are naturally endowed with the desire to seek a higher power than men, nonetheless we have no power to achieve this for ourselves. We need the infusion by the Divine itself and this is achieved by this rest. All results are a gift of God and not our own cleverness.17 This journey is only that of seeking union with God, and we must offer to God everything that we do; and this rises above any virtuous life we may lead, or those other necessary things that we do to love ones neighbour as oneself. All of this offering to the Source must be without any hidden agenda, seeking something for ourselves, be it health, wealth or even a heavenly crown, we must prepare ourselves for a truly contemplative life, as this is essential. Our material life too must be done well. We need to remove any other being or

14 15 15 16

The Masnavi VI. 1756-7

ibid. V 4216-17 Bhavagad gita circa 1000 BCE 17 See Tao te Ching, Lao Tzu (5th. cent BCE) . 6 and 16.

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thing that will obscure our singleness of focus on the Divine. All of this of necessity takes time. If anyone would experience this, he must offer to God all his virtues and good works without any thought of reward. He should prepare himself for the contemplative life; his outward life must be well disposed and ordered before the eyes of men. His life must be full of grace and Love. His mind must be free and empty and delivered from all images. His heart should be free and raised above the heavens. Take note here that we needs offer to God all our virtues and works in order to engage in the contemplative life. As it has been said many times, there is no secret agenda of getting something for this, perhaps an easier life here on this planet, or even thoughts of what the churches would call heaven and having a favoured seat there! Note also that our outward life needs to be of as much excellence as is possible. You may wonder why this is so important as we would be doing things well for people of this material world; the reason is that they will judge your spirituality this way, and be put off ever thinking that it might be for them. They would never understand that you are not of this world, and to them this is the only thing that exists. Also we need to remind ourselves that we have been put on a material planet, hence we need to engage in activities to service physical needs for ourselves and our dependants. We need to aim at excellence in our dealings with family, friends and the population as a whole that surround us. But because of the obvious importance of this material work we can allow it to override our Spiritual needs. As Ruysbroeck says above His mind must be free and raised above the heavens. Pierre Teilhard de Chardin, that troublesome priest of the Catholic Church (1881-1955) reminds us; You are on a testing ground where God will judge whether you are capable of being translated into His presence. It matters very little what becomes of your fruits of this Earth or what they are worth; the whole question is whether you have used them in order to learn to obey God and how to Love. This reminds us of the parable of the talents, where various employees used the talents that the master gave them, some to increase and one who made no improvement at all. Read the last sentence on the above quote from Teilhard de Chardin again. Then ask how you are using (or not using) whatever talents you may have been given in this life, whether of skills, finances or anything else at all, as everything we have has come from our Master.18 So we need to realise that the spiritual aims we might have are more important than the material, because that can vanish like melted snow; Teilhard again: You should not therefore set store by the coarse outer-covering of your human actions: this can be burnt like straw or smashed like china. Think rather, that into each of your vessels you can pour, like sap or precious liquor, the spirit of obedience and of union with God19. Quite clearly, things of a temporal world have limitations, and is easily lost one way or another. Ruysbroeck too tells us that images which do not only have the narrow interpretation of statues, but anything that is tangible as opposed to the nebulous spiritual is to be avoided, thus be free of the responsibility of them, or the distracting effect that can happen, bringing to us rather disastrous effects at times. The inner life must be full of grace and charity, unfeigned, with right intention and rich in all virtues. His memory, freed from cares (of this world) and solitude should be free and empty, open, and raised above all the

18 19

Matt.39.14-15 Ruysbroek The sixth step.

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heavens 20 This latter point is a reminder for those whose centre point are spirits of dead humans, and other spirits on a low level of Spiritual intelligence. We may well think that the excellence that Ruysbroeck wrote about above is hardly met with by people in this material life, but these attributes are no measure of our indigenous perfection. We, left to ourselves would fail and fail again. But if we look to the Spirit of the Divine to enter us, then we are clothed in that beauteous dress of spiritual attitudes and behaviour that is the mark of the presence within us. It is the Divine Source that is being exhibited and can metaphorically shine through us even if we cannot! We are mortal, far from perfection, it is God in us and we in the Divine. God enters my uttermost being. Now indeed,21 God Himself nourishes me wholly, and He who created me re-creates me. This is how imperfect and weak us can be so used. As we are on a real journey to the Divine Being, we need to keep or Spiritual selves (that is our real selves) in a state of purity even if our body/brain sometimes lets us down; and why? It is because this soul purity is the contact of the Spirit of the Divine, sometimes described as where God can dwell, it therefore is of utmost importance to our future lives that this is kept in tip top condition, it will be the only thing that survives death. This purity is the dwelling place of God within us, nor can any act upon it but God alone. It is Eternal, and is in neither time nor place; neither before or after; but is ever present ready, and manifest to pure minds. In it we are all one; we live in God and God in us. ..... it is a pure and serene air lucent with Divine light.22 Ruysbroeck goes on to state that for us to be awash in the Spirit of God we simply must need to have this purity of Spirit.23 To this end one thing is necessary. If we want to go on to a further section of this Journey to the Divine, no half measures can get you anywhere; you will come to a severe and jolting stop. Any idea that we can manipulate our Spiritual existence to appease the various pressures to compromise (which temptations so to do are inevitable in this temporary journey through this physical world) is folly. We are approaching the presence of God by and increase in the power of the Divine Spirit, and no one whoever they may be will be permitted to enter this state of being with its Divine intimacy unless nothing is permitted to take this away from our inner state, cleansed and honed into shape for this immense leap into the void. All things narrow down to the contemplation of the Divine in a very special state, even while we have Earthly commitments and continue to Love and cherish our families, and continue to love our neighbours as ourselves. This inner person then comes by means of the hidden revelations of God, to choose and to become elevated to a super-essential contemplation in Divine Light, and is according to the mode of God.24 As we know the fuel for our tank is Divine Love, and without this our efforts to choose this elevation is bound to fail, it will be as nothing.25 It must be a love detached from all desires for self. What does He mean when He so earnestly enjoins us to love? He means that the love with which we love must be so pure, so bare, so detached that it is not inclined towards myself, nor from my friend, nor anywhere else apart from Itself.26
20 21

ibid. Marsilio Ficino (1433-1499) Meditations on the Soulcap.29 22 Ruysbroeck Seventh Step. 23 ibid 24 Ruysbroeck Spiritual Espousals c.4 25 See 1.Cor 13.1. 26 Eckhart Sermons & Treatises 12.

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This being a real and very refined part of our journey, it becomes quite natural to really put the Divine first in our deliberations, far beyond the mere demands of mankind, usually selforientated, it must be the alpha and omega, because by now our understanding of the nature of the Divine is very intense: Our Heavenly Father is the beginning and end of all that is. In Him we begin every good thing with mind bared in imageless contemplation of every truth in Divine Light with an illumed understanding...this is a contemplative life of great power Just consider these words; everything that we have or experience in the Earth is a gift from God, it is given to all without conditions. Our contemplation of him is imageless, so we can have no visualisation of this Power so beloved by the new-agers. We go naked to God27 so we have not even a pocket to put anything in that we might wish to retain, as it might be an obstacle to reaching the inner courts of the Divine. It will be fee of any dreams, wishes, or demands. We voluntarily go into the void to be in the blackness so that there is nothing to detract us from reaching the Divine in the way that will be possible. It is at this point where that part of the journey described as the sixth part ends, and the seventh lies ahead. We have to clean ourselves up, to make the soul as sweet as a bride preparing herself for the marriage bed. Nothing that soils must pass the ablution area, whether a corrupt soul, a degenerate mind, nor one polluted with the ways of this world. One must approach the Divine empty. When do we start this further journey? The Divine will put it in your very depths of your soul to undertake this enterprise into the Divine One, this will be felt in your own spirit. Although writings can inspire you, there are none that will escort you into this unknown abyss where you will come into a fuller fruition of the Spirit of the Super-Essence, a close integration that will make all other contacts you may have experienced be as nothing. This is why rules tighten, and they become so not by the writ of any man, but by the action of the Spirit which would form a barrier that nothing can penetrate until one enters this superabandonment. Yet in spite of this, ones duties to family and mankind in general, your neighbour continues as before, but the traveller into these sacred realms is never touched by the ideas, actions and emptiness of this world. This section of the Infinite Journey is not accomplished by our own efforts, nor by the supposed cleverness of others: The marvels of God Are not brought forth from ones self; Rather it is more like a chord, A sound that is played. The tone does not come Out of the chord itself, But rather Through the touch of the musician.28 Hildegard regarded herself as the musician, but we know and she knew that this tune is played to our soul by the Great Musician, but the miracle is like Hildegard we too can be in this orchestra as musical agents of the Divine. We are privileged to be an honorary member of the orchestra, thus be at One with the Conductor. No my friends, any so-called
27 28

Ruysbroeck op.cit. Hildegard of Bingen (1098-1179) : from Uhleins Meditations with Hildegard of Bingen.(1983)

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sacrifices we may think we make are as dust compared with this super-entry into the Realm of the Divine: The soul is kissed by God In its innermost regions With interior yearning, Grace and Blessing Are bestowed. It is a yearning to take on Gods gentle yoke; It is a yearning to give ones self to Gods way.29 The above words of Hildegard need careful contemplation as they touch the requirements laid on us and the overwhelming deep desire within that in partnership with the Spirit of Gods drawing, enable us to willingly enter into this probe into the deeper Mystery of the Divine. How different the parched earth of this world! What are the roots that clutch, what branched grow Out of this stony rubbish? Son of man, You cannot say or guess, for you know only A heap of broken images, where the sun beats, And the dead tree gives no shelter, But there is shadow under this red rock; Come in under the shadow of this red rock, And I shall show you something different From either your shadow at morning Striding behind you, Or your shadow at evening Rising to meet you.30 This world and its philosophies, unreliability, empty chatter, spin-doctoring and outright lying is this stony rubbish, and we need to be shown something different. A full realisation of the nature of this world and those who live below the Cloud of Unknowing is so necessary before we can feel an overwhelming urge to seek this something different so we can go to the Source empty of all these contaminations. Lots wife who fleeing with him, according to the legend, gave backward glances at the city she had left, indicating a nostalgia for the Cities of the Plain that were the acme of evil, and was turned into a pillar of salt.31 So in this shelter of the shadow from the parched emptiness, we are shown something: ...above all conception and knowledge, which can be realised either in time (as now) or in Eternity, we find ourselves in a certain Infinite or abyssal unknowing: when transcending every name which has been given to God, or to any created thing we expire into the Eternal namelessness, wherein we are lost; and beyond any practice of virtue we contemplate and find within us Eternal repose in which no man can work, above all blessed

ibid. T.S.Elliot (1909-1962) The Waste Land. 31 This is found in Genesis cap.19. The pillar of salt legend was an explanation of the salt formations in the neighbourhood of the Dead Sea.
30

29

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spirits 32a blessedness without measure in which we are all one , the same one which is that blessedness itself in its essence , and we contemplate that all blessed spirits are drowned melted and lost in the super-substantial essence in pathless unknown darkness.33 This move into the further depths is not done in much flurry. God is the simple essence at rest; and if we possessed that rest with God ... we should have risen to His loftiness and beyond all steps of this ladder. We have become with Him in an essence of repose and eternal blessedness. God is in eternal operation but with respect to his essence is Eternal rest.34 Many mystics are of the same opinion expressed in their own ways: All our action must be peaceful, gentle and strong...fuss and feverishness, anxiety, intensity, intolerance, instability, pessimism and wobble; these, even on the highest levels are signs of the selfmade and self-acting soul.35 Thinkers of long ago preached inaction in order to be active Act without doing; work without effort...The master never reaches for the great, thus she achieves greatness.36 Indeed this capability is a part of the stripping down that we needs do in order to come naked to God - we are as nothing, even masters arent: Now be assured that no one can be enlightened unless he be first cleansed or purified and stripped.37 then follows the union with the Divine. We cannot be stripped while we carry the old world of men with us. This stripping shows that by our actions (not mere words) we are willing to seek union with the Divine without encumbrances. We do not run in the Olympics with a heavy diving suit on! So we must be made perfect in love (Ruysbroeck calls this charity); it is for such to abandon themselves 38 Paul writes I beseech you therefore, by the mercies of God that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable sacrifice.39 This makes it clear that to progress in this step in the dark, one cannot play games. If you think that this is too great a sacrifice, then you are not acceptable for this further journey, and will not be until you see with the eye of Spiritual understanding that such a step can only bring blessings to you. Paul also reminds us of this as being as nothing compared with the infusion of the Spirit of God in even greater measure than that which we have hitherto experienced: The Spirit bears witness with our spirit that we are the children of God; if children then we are heirs of God. I reckon that the sufferings of the present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us.40 Of course we can only stride joyfully into this chasm of darkness if we have that inner vision which is granted by the Spirit of God of which we recognise as the origin, and by which we understand these matters. It is a union with that same Light by which they see, and which they see. 41 Thus when in the darkness of the void, we see nothing, and are open to the understanding of the Source free from any encumbrances. We are guided by this, and we see (or understand) this too. We need to constantly remind ourselves that Love is necessary for this Spiritual event to take place, Furthermore between action and rest live Love and fruition. Love would ever be at work since it is an everlasting inter-action with God, but fruition must ever be at rest ,
32 33

Remember even spirits are merely created beings. Ruysbroeck The Seventh Step. 34 ibid. 35 Underhill The Spiritual Life 36 Lao Tzu (circa 551-479BC.).Tao te Ching 37 Anon (15th. cent) Theologica Germanica (Winkworth trans, ) 38 Ruysbroeck op. cit. 39 Pauls letter to the Romans (Rom 12 1-9 ) 1611 version. 40 ibid. 8. 16-23 41 Ruysbroeck Adornment of the Spiritual Marriage quoted by Underhill.

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above all ones will or desire ... a love pure and without images.42 Thus we are primarily a source of Love, and any actions are in the hands of the Divine, and not ourselves. We are at rest and anything we may do as sons and daughters of God is placed before us. There is none of the hurry and scurry spoken of above by Underhill. If we do these things in harmony with the guidance of the Spirit of God, we then It clasps His beloved in the restful union with his Spirit...and says I belong to you and you to Me43 Such is the milieu of this stage of union with the Divine. The immensity of the above may not dawn on many of my readers, or one may feel that we are not strong enough for such a venture. But God is not dependent on our strength, whether of muscle power or mental genius: For it is written I will destroy the wisdom of the wise, and will bring to nothing the understanding of the prudent. Where is the wise? Where is the Scribe? Where is the disputer of this world? Has not God made foolish the wisdom of this world?44 This is brought home more forcibly in another translation: I will destroy the wisdom of the wise, and set aside the understanding of the scholars. So then, where does that leave the wise or the skilful debaters of this world? God has shown that the wisdom of this world is foolishness.45 So this entry into the darkness of the chasm is something to enter willingly with great joy. We will never regret it: So great is the mutual joy and delight between God and his beloved spirits/souls that they are rapt out of themselves, melt and flow to become one Spirit with God in fruition, being drawn eternally into the abyssal blessedness of His essence.46 The route to this is via the contemplation on matters Spiritual, where we learn to abandon self, the world and everything other than the Major Intelligence. So such applicants must await the call of God, and in the meantime we need to get ourselves in condition for this leap forward. It is for such to deny themselves, abandon themselves, and shun everything that could be possessed, everything created that could be a source of care and hindrance in that inner life, wherein they serve Him. Thereby they are raised up towards God with Loving affection coming from the depth of the living soul, with the heart lifted up beyond the heavens, raised up to that Intelligence empty of images. We are emptied and God dwells in us in the fullness47 of His Grace, and we in Him in a state of fruition and above all our actions...He cries within us, yet without words Love the Love that ever Loves you This cry is an inward touching of our spirit ... with His Love.48 This Love is also Infinite as everything to do with the Divine is. For this abandonment to take place, one has to have the Divine draw one, this is no exercise for the vanity of men who think that the Power behind the universe is just waiting like a servant to rush to our whims; it is a dual thing. What is it then to wish to be drawn if not to be united in an intimate way to the object that captivates our hearts? If the fire and the iron had the use of reason, and if the latter said to the other draw me would it not prove that it desires to be identified with the fire in such a way that the fire penetrates and seems to become one with it? I feel that the more the fire of Love burns within my heart, the more I shall say Draw me.49

42 43

ibid. The Seventh Step.(A) ibid. 44 Paul: First Letter to those in Corinth, Greece 1. 18. 45 Good News Bible. 1975 transl. of the Greek N.T.. 46 Ruysbroeck op.cit. 47 Ruyesbroeck op cit. (C) 48 ibid (C) 49 Therese of Lisieux (1873-1897) Story of a Soul Draw Me.

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This symbol of fire is often used in mystical writings. Ruysbroeck of course has done so, and here too They are raised up with burning love50 The Love we have for the Divine Provider can reach proportions that the symbol of a consuming flame is the best way to describe it all else, like the dross is burned away. John of the Cross used the fire symbol too; he makes it clear that not only does fire imply total surrender to the Divine, but is a cleansing agent too: Before this Divine fire of love is introduced into the substance of the soul, and is united with it by means of purity and a purgation that is perfect and complete destroying and consuming in the soul the imperfections of its habits (of this world). This is the operations of the Holy Spirit (or power) of God wherein he prepares the soul for Divine Union, and the transformation of its substance in God through Love. The same fire of Love that that it had assailed it in order to purge it; cleansing and stripping it of all its ugliness (and worldly pollution) and prepared it so that could enter it and transform it into Itself. All of these experiences are to help us to ascend Ruysbroecks Ladder of Love the Spirit of God lives in us with his gifts: He teaches, counsels, and commands us to Love...in us live contemplation, and above all of these fruition, knowledge, love, an ability to approach God. Then the Spirit drives us out, by his breath to works of love and virtue, and then conversely draws us back into Himself for quietness and fruition. To remain united to God is the life of which I wish to tell you.51 This journey comes to the point where the Divine Source is very active in us, continually purging and renewing our spirit so that it becomes a dwelling place for the most High causing his servants to become as one - all of us are gathered up in one burning and inextinguishable fire with the Father: He transforms them, perfects them in the unity of His Spirit; therein we are a single fire of Love. We are rapt from ourselves in the unity of our essence into a bottomless abyss of simple being in God. It becomes an eternal essence and there is perfected in its essential Loving. There is God in His essence without operation, endless rest, darkness without mode of being nameless existence, a super-essence of all creatures and an abyssal beatitude of God. This is a special section of this Divine Journey where a closer union becomes a reality. No essays can be written about this, as the statement there are no words certainly apply from now on. For this one has to withdraw into a no-self and feel the drawing of the Spirit to enable you to plunge into the void.

There you will find fruition that is the reason for this journey, .

50 51

Ruysbroeck op cit. (C) ibid

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Taoist Song I will cast out wisdom and reject learning My thoughts shall wander in the Great Void; Always repenting of wrongs done Will never bring my heart to rest. I cast my hook in a single stream But my joy is as though I possessed a Kingdom. I loose my hair and go singing To the four frontiers men join in my refrain. This is the purport of my song: My thoughts shall wander in the Great Void. Chi Kang ( Trans. Arthur Waley)

When Love has carried us above and beyond all things, above the light into the Divine Dark, where we are wrought and transformed by the Eternal.... and as the air is penetrated by the sun thus we receive in idleness the Spirit of the Incomprehensible Light enfolding us and penetrating us. This Light is nothing but a gazing in the Infinite. We behold that which we are, and we are that which we behold; because our thought, life and being are uplifted in simplicity , and made one with the Truth which is God. Samuel cap.11. Ruysbroeck