Meditation for Thursday 22 May 2025
For those who have been regular meditators there comes a time when a change occurs which many say is indescribable. It’s as though the spiritual centre of gravity has shifted so that there is a greater understanding between the inner and outer life. The inner life becomes Reality and the outer life which might have previously dominated one’s day-to-day activity becomes a pale reflection of that inner joy.
This is a time when there is a greater understanding of the limitations of some patterns of thinking as the inner life transcends and things are seen for the very first time as they really are.
Once the outer life dominated, towards appearances, now turned inward, towards the heart of things, towards Reality. Some call this mysticism which speaks with a voice and a language of its own.
The truths of the inner life are often expressed in symbol, poetry, and art rather than in textbooks. E.g. John of the Cross, the 16th century Spanish Carmelite known for his insightful, mystical poetry and Rumi the 13thcentury Sufi mystic poet.
Some meditation traditions refer to this awakening as the ‘inner eye’ and once opened it can never again be closed. An anonymous poet wrote about reaching this experience…
“The future lies unmoulded in my hands.
A path winds out before.
There is no backward way.
Behind me stands a closed door.”
We shouldn’t become disheartened if there has not have been any seismic shift in our lives however most meditators, even for those setting out on this path as beginners there will be a gradual consciousness of the overwhelming importance of the inner life.
Meditation
____________________________
For details of the latest programs on offer at the Carmelite Centre go to www.thecarmelitecentremelbourne.org