The headline says it all. But how can such sharing find a place in a weblog dedicated to the emerging philosophy of living—a philosophy which is to remain accessible to persons of every faith? Such a blogpost fits here if it is accompanied by an interpretation accessible to my Jewish brothers, Muslim sisters, Buddhist friends–indeed everyone in the universal family.
Part of the answer to this question I would explain by analogy with an idea that come from the philosophy of science: methodological atheism. Suppose that two researchers are investigating the biology of spiritual experience. One is a theist, the other an atheist. They agree that, for the purpose of their experiment, they are going to focus only on the biological level, and leave every other possible explanation aside. They are practicing methodological atheism.
What I do in my version of the emerging philosophy I call methodological Unitarianism. Even though I am a Trinitarian monotheist, I believe that this religious but non-theological philosophy will reach out best if I generally leave my Trinitarian convictions out of the weblog. So when I share an experience like this, I need to give an interpretation that helps others transplant it into their own gardens—the contexts of their own beliefs and deeper concepts.
Some of the meaning of this morning’s action I would share with other Christians; some of it I could not put into words; I’m sure there is some of it of which I am unaware. And some of the meaning belongs in the private and intimate sphere of the personal relationship between a follower of Jesus and Your Oneness.
Here is the interpretation I can offer as a religious philosopher. The new self is the soul, the deeper self, the true self, growing, fresh, and capable of joyously spontaneous action. The old self is centered in the mind but tainted by evil and the consequences of sin. Trying to live when I am identified with the old self holds me back, even if I am not aware at a given time that I am living on that mediocre level; even if I do not deliberately do so; even if I am trying to escape that old self but in a way that does not exercise faith.
The cross is the symbol of Jesus’ ultimate act of love for his Father and for us all, in total dedication to the will of God, submitting to the evolutionary horrors that were part of his path as a good shepherd, a spiritual leader.
To nail the old self to the cross implies letting it go, allowing its energies to be recycled into something that is worthy to endure, allowing it to die, putting it to death.
This is not an image that I grew up with, but I read it last night and it struck me; I pondered and made it my goal. This morning, shortly after doing it, I found a new quality of love for God along with luminous, rising worship in the soul. Turning toward God was like turning up the worship rheostat.
To be sure, later on in the morning, the old self made an appearance, and then another. But now it was different. Now it was easier to recognize, and once again easy and simple to leap up and joyously nail it again and again as often as might be needed in order to establish that decision as a forever-and-finally decision. I should note that the nailing was painless. The soul’s forward momentum eclipsed any sense of guilt, self-hatred, duty, reluctance, sacrifice, or conflicted motivation.
Settling into the morning work, I felt a certain familiar constriction in my belly, and in response, I used conscious breathing to relax so that all levels of my being would align with the new momentum. I remembered how Thich Nhat Hanh combined Buddhist and Christian faith in his thought and practice. I thought of Socrates, who was sentenced to drink the hemlock and of Japanese samurai who were sentenced to commit harakiri (seppuku). And then I turned–and turn now–to the image of Jesus to the right of my computer monitor.
Can we share spiritual experience in a way that effectively remains accessible and does not turn this weblog into an comparatively closed arena? What variety of comments will be required? What quality of cooperation? Is the goal too idealistic?
I pray that each of you find encouragement for your journey in this narrative and interpretation.
On another note, problems with this website have been reported by two persons; it seems as though none of us can post comments. I have notified Blake Warrington, my beloved tech support person, who is approaching the end of the semester and who I hope will not interrupt his needed focus until after exams, when the pressure relaxes and it is reasonable for him to attend to these matters. Thank you for your patience and support for Blake while he is juggling academic duties, keeping all his classes from falling to the ground. In the meantime, please do send your comments to me, and I will save them and input them once things are fixed. Last week, scheduling my post for Saturday morning did not work, though linking to it on Facebook did work; so today I’m going to publish immediately rather than try the scheduling technique. http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/c/ca/Hammering_Nails.jpg/1200px-Hammering_Nails.jpg
Dearest brother Jeff,
Your blog post today set off rockets of joy when I first read the title, and they continued as I read on. What a delight to experience that setting apart of the material shell in favor of the abode of the eternal soul you must have felt. What a joyous moment that must have been and as I read, continues to be.
In my own life, I have danced around such a notion of movement and experienced some interesting rebounds. One, a slight sense of fear about cutting loose all that I have done/built here in my material corner of heaven here at Sweeney Pond. Two, I have come to like being material (lo’ these three score and ten) – the comfort and contentment, the joy of work, the labor of bringing order to the natural, material world around me and the bounty of the mortal pleasures of good food and drink, especially when shared with loving friends.
Reflection on the relationship between that spark of spirit that indwells us all has become richer and more joyous. “Take your time” is what I get back when I question my trepidation from getting out my hammer and nails; and so I will.
Your post will be fodder for my evening meditations/contemplations/worship and serve as an entre to renew that conversation with my spirit.
Thanks, as always, for sharing the fruits of your labors. They are sweet and much appreciated.
Michael
Happy trails, brother. This is leapfrog.
Dearest brother Jeff,
Your blog post today set off rockets of joy when I first read the title, and they continued as I read on. What a delight to experience that setting apart of the material shell in favor of the abode of the eternal soul you must have felt. What a joyous moment that must have been and as I read, continues to be.
In my own life, I have danced around such a notion of movement and experienced some interesting rebounds. One, a slight sense of fear about cutting loose all that I have done/built here in my material corner of heaven here at Sweeney Pond. Two, I have come to like being material (lo’ these three score and ten) – the comfort and contentment, the joy of work, the labor of bringing order to the natural, material world around me and the bounty of the mortal pleasures of good food and drink, especially when shared with loving friends.
Reflection on the relationship between that spark of spirit that indwells us all has become richer and more joyous. “Take your time” is what I get back when I question my trepidation from getting out my hammer and nails; and so I will.
Your post will be fodder for my evening meditations/contemplations/worship and serve as an entre to renew that conversation with my spirit.
Thanks, as always, for sharing the fruits of your labors. They are sweet and much appreciated.
Michael
Happy trails, brother. This is leapfrog.
My dear friend Jeff,
I wish I had more time to respond to your thought-provoking…..and heart-provoking messages. This one is dear to my heart! It seems that all through my life I’ve been trying to be good….trying to do God’s will…..trying to please Him…..and generally feeling that my efforts have yielded fairly unspectacular fruit. When I used to read the Bible everyday I became aware that trying to be obedient to law was destined to bring frustration, disappointment, and ultimately despair. Yes, there were clues in the Holy Scriptures as to how an individual hungry for righteousness could achieve a state of sanctification but it all seemed so esoteric! (…live by the spirit….). Buddhism offered a practical, though partial solution: the practice of mindfulness and acceptance. I regularly use these techniques and principles with my clients and have found them to be quite successful, but they do require genuine effort and persistence. Mindfulness helps me to achieve a separation from my ego mind (old self?)….it enables me to see with amazing clarity the machinations of my electro-chemical mind. That separation helps me (the self) to choose a better alternative….but it is not enough!
And then….quite recently…..I discovered and finally began to understand “the religion of Jesus”. Self-forgetfulness rather than introspection. I have begun to experience the transformative power of meditating on the life and teachings of Jesus. Of course it’s early days and the old self still rears up from time to time but I’m feeling excited and hopeful. And of course, it’s all predicated on the grace of the Father….the most sublime force in the universe.
I have often wondered whether this experience is available to non-Christian individuals…..folk who have no concept of nor historical relationship with Jesus. I have tentatively concluded that it is…..especially when I read some of Rumi’s poems! But I’m not sure how this happens. Sorry Jeff if I’ve gone off the track. This is such an important and fascinating topic for me.
Warm love,
Julian
Beloved brother Julian, as one who has begun to know you some years ago and who has enjoyed occasional communication since then–and felt fruits of the spirit in you–I gift thanks greatly for this report of a very positive and significant turn in your life. I agree with you that it is not necessary to be Christian in order to know God and to express the blessings that come from that knowing. Thank you so much for sharing.
My dear friend Jeff,
I wish I had more time to respond to your thought-provoking…..and heart-provoking messages. This one is dear to my heart! It seems that all through my life I’ve been trying to be good….trying to do God’s will…..trying to please Him…..and generally feeling that my efforts have yielded fairly unspectacular fruit. When I used to read the Bible everyday I became aware that trying to be obedient to law was destined to bring frustration, disappointment, and ultimately despair. Yes, there were clues in the Holy Scriptures as to how an individual hungry for righteousness could achieve a state of sanctification but it all seemed so esoteric! (…live by the spirit….). Buddhism offered a practical, though partial solution: the practice of mindfulness and acceptance. I regularly use these techniques and principles with my clients and have found them to be quite successful, but they do require genuine effort and persistence. Mindfulness helps me to achieve a separation from my ego mind (old self?)….it enables me to see with amazing clarity the machinations of my electro-chemical mind. That separation helps me (the self) to choose a better alternative….but it is not enough!
And then….quite recently…..I discovered and finally began to understand “the religion of Jesus”. Self-forgetfulness rather than introspection. I have begun to experience the transformative power of meditating on the life and teachings of Jesus. Of course it’s early days and the old self still rears up from time to time but I’m feeling excited and hopeful. And of course, it’s all predicated on the grace of the Father….the most sublime force in the universe.
I have often wondered whether this experience is available to non-Christian individuals…..folk who have no concept of nor historical relationship with Jesus. I have tentatively concluded that it is…..especially when I read some of Rumi’s poems! But I’m not sure how this happens. Sorry Jeff if I’ve gone off the track. This is such an important and fascinating topic for me.
Warm love,
Julian
Beloved brother Julian, as one who has begun to know you some years ago and who has enjoyed occasional communication since then–and felt fruits of the spirit in you–I gift thanks greatly for this report of a very positive and significant turn in your life. I agree with you that it is not necessary to be Christian in order to know God and to express the blessings that come from that knowing. Thank you so much for sharing.
Not only the theme, but the very tone and style of the post seemed new, fresh, and inspiring to me. At times, the turn of phrase is elevated to almost poetic levels… Thank you!
You as a writer know much of artistic tone, style, and turns of phrase, having blessed others with your abundant gifts.
Not only the theme, but the very tone and style of the post seemed new, fresh, and inspiring to me. At times, the turn of phrase is elevated to almost poetic levels… Thank you!
You as a writer know much of artistic tone, style, and turns of phrase, having blessed others with your abundant gifts.
Since truth, beauty, and goodness are not limited to any religious faith, not even absent in atheists or agnostics. I think all agree that whether we are religious or not, no one wants to live in a world devoid of truth, beauty, or goodness; no one wants to champion error, evil, or ugliness. The essential difference arises as to the source of these values or the way the way they are manifested. That being the case, I suggest that when treating religious experiences, emphasis be placed only upon the recognized truth in it. Those who do not share any religious faith, I suggest emphasis be placed upon the truth, beauty, and goodness in their assertions without any emphasis being placed upon the source of these qualities.
Since the preponderance of these response seems to me to be of a Christian derivative or purely philosophical, it may be necessary for you to post the experiences of other religious faiths, and some of the assertions of the atheists and the agnostics, pointing our the recognized truth in each.
Concerning “nailing the old self to the cross” and having it constantly coming down from the cross, I see the whole process as one of growth. We can not force growth, it occurs as we embrace those growth stimulating experiences. In any case, those of us who believe that God is our spiritual Father, we can enjoy the status and all the benefits of being his children. And just like all children, we are given increased privileges (increased revelations of his nature in our souls) just as soon as we are able to assume the responsibilities that go along with those privileges.
Dr. Perry
Thank you very much Dr. Perry for these helpful comments, insightful as we have come to expect your comments to be!
I will take to heart your encouragement to do more to present religious experiences of God-knowing people who do not identify as followers of Jesus.
I wrote that blogpost the day when it occurred, and the reference to nailing the old self up repeatedly was a way to express a symbolic gesture that was part of the experience. In fact my life has changed since then. The experienced that I described I remember solely in positive terms as soul enthusiasm with a divine goal. And the old self shows up less and less. Every forward step in this spiritual path enhances the whole person.
Since truth, beauty, and goodness are not limited to any religious faith, not even absent in atheists or agnostics. I think all agree that whether we are religious or not, no one wants to live in a world devoid of truth, beauty, or goodness; no one wants to champion error, evil, or ugliness. The essential difference arises as to the source of these values or the way the way they are manifested. That being the case, I suggest that when treating religious experiences, emphasis be placed only upon the recognized truth in it. Those who do not share any religious faith, I suggest emphasis be placed upon the truth, beauty, and goodness in their assertions without any emphasis being placed upon the source of these qualities.
Since the preponderance of these response seems to me to be of a Christian derivative or purely philosophical, it may be necessary for you to post the experiences of other religious faiths, and some of the assertions of the atheists and the agnostics, pointing our the recognized truth in each.
Concerning “nailing the old self to the cross” and having it constantly coming down from the cross, I see the whole process as one of growth. We can not force growth, it occurs as we embrace those growth stimulating experiences. In any case, those of us who believe that God is our spiritual Father, we can enjoy the status and all the benefits of being his children. And just like all children, we are given increased privileges (increased revelations of his nature in our souls) just as soon as we are able to assume the responsibilities that go along with those privileges.
Dr. Perry
Thank you very much Dr. Perry for these helpful comments, insightful as we have come to expect your comments to be!
I will take to heart your encouragement to do more to present religious experiences of God-knowing people who do not identify as followers of Jesus.
I wrote that blogpost the day when it occurred, and the reference to nailing the old self up repeatedly was a way to express a symbolic gesture that was part of the experience. In fact my life has changed since then. The experienced that I described I remember solely in positive terms as soul enthusiasm with a divine goal. And the old self shows up less and less. Every forward step in this spiritual path enhances the whole person.