Saturday, April 08, 2006

Unlearning

Enlightenment is not so much knowing as unknowing; it is not so much learning as unlearning. It is a second and chosen naivete, without forgetting all the contradictions and complexity in between. It is more surrendering than concluding, more trusting than fixing and all gratuitous grace, for which you can only give thanks. You cannot get yourself enlightened by any known program, ritual or moral practice. This drives the religionists crazy, but as Jesus said, the Spirit blows wherever it pleases. All you can do is stay on the journey, listen to its lessons, both agony and ecstasy, and ask for that most rare and crucial of gifts: true openness, which Jesus called trust or faith.
Example
All we can really do is to keep our ego out of the way and ask that we will recognize the secret doorway that God opens out of complex consciousness. That door is usually some form of suffering.

-Richard Rohr

3 Comments:

Blogger killedasouthernbelle said...

What might be your Richard Rohr recommendations....?

ps.. saw Sandy Cherry at a baby shower on Sun. she says you remember some sisters that she ran around with. i dont know if you are thinking of the Marty sisters or if it is my sister natasha and i..

8:41 AM

 
Blogger Steve said...

Hey Nat! I THOUGHT it was you. Yes - you Sandy, and Natasha. Playing Uno outside at the Blue Sky Court. Seems like AGES ago.

The one book I have is "From Wild Man to Wise Man." I know he's written many good ones, this is just my first.

Glad to hear you're well - time flies, eh?

3:51 PM

 
Blogger killedasouthernbelle said...

Thanks! We (harv- husband and I) are well. back from a 4 year stint in Portland OR.
i still have some incriminating pictures from a "70's" party at Lori Martys. ha.

10:49 AM

 

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