Guest guest Posted September 5, 2007 Report Share Posted September 5, 2007 This has been a surprising revelation in the news lately and is already included in wikipedia as an example of the longest period of the " dark night. " Hopefully, those of us facing " difficulties " are being watched, cared for, and strengthened by our Amma. Below is an interesting post from another group on this followed by the wikipedia " dark night of the soul " in Christianity. Amma Bless, Amarnath. Re: Mother Teresa => Dark Night of the Soul Also in The Practice of the Presence of God the account is given of Brother Lawrences' Dark Night. The account is from the eulogy in the beginning of the book. " His soul was plunged into such bitterness and darkness that he received no consolation from heaven or earth...Ten years of fears and troubles gave him very little release...he had become loathsome in his own eyes and could not stand himself. " " Finally one day before the altar, reflecting on the sufferings with which his soul was afflicted...,he firmly resolved to endure them, not only for the rest of his life, but during all eternity if that were God's will... " " That was exactly the frame of mind God wanted him to have so He could flood him with His grace....Lawrence caught sight of a ray of divine light; illuminating his spirit. This light dissipated all his fear and his sufferings ceased. " It parallels the doc's description of his own dark night in his PvF preface pretty closely. I've read in some tantra texts(not modern focused on sex, but ancient focused on energy body,mantra, and ceremony)that our negative karma is stored in the energy body. When we heal it through spiritual practice the negative energy is dislodged and comes up to be 'experienced' as it leaves to be replaced by love/sattwa. Another theory is that the karma is actually resisting the spiritual efforts and creates obstacles to the spiritual path to maintain the status quo. Sometimes when my own practice becomes intense I feel like I'm going crazy. So far I've used a metaphor to help maintain my practice. It's based on a real event that my Grandmother described to me about my Grandfather. My Grandfather's favorite chair was his rocking chair. A WW2 veteran, my grandfather used to sit on his front porch in his chair and relax. One day while he was out there a tornado suddenly hit. My grandmother looked outside and the tornado was trying to sweep my grandfather off the porch. With one arm he had grabbed onto one of the porch's wooden posts to keep himself from flying off. With the other he was holding onto his rocking chair. My grandmother later yelled at him for not holding himself on with both hands to which my grandfather replied, " if my chair was going so was I. " I do my best when the despair hits(the tornado) to hold onto the practice the way my grandfather held onto his chair. Peace Travis (from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dark_night_of_the_soul ) Dark Night of the Soul is a term used to describe a specific phase in a person's spiritual life, and is generally associated with a crisis of faith in the Roman Catholic tradition. It is used as a metaphor to describe the experience of loneliness and desolation that can occur during spiritual growth. The term and metaphysicality of the phrase " dark night of the soul " are taken from the writings of the Spanish poet and Roman Catholic mystic Saint John of the Cross, a Carmelite priest in the 16th century. Dark Night of the Soul is the name of both a poem, and a commentary on that poem, and are among the Carmelite priest's most famous writings. They tell of his mystic development and the stages he went through on his quest for holiness. St. Thérèse of Lisieux, the 19th-century French Carmelite underwent a similar experience, centering on doubts about the afterlife. She reportedly told her fellow nuns: " If you only knew what darkness I am plunged into. " [1] While generally the crisis is considered to be temporary in nature, on occasion it may be extended: the " dark night " of St. Paul of the Cross in the 18th century lasted 45 years; he ultimately recovered. Mother Teresa of Calcutta, according to letters released in 2007, " may be the most extensive such case on record " , lasting from 1948 till her death in 1997, with only brief interludes [2]. The " dark night " could generally be described as a letting go of our ego's hold on the psyche, making room for change that can bring about a complete transformation of a person's way of defining his/her self and their relationship to God. The interim period can be frightening, hence the perceived " darkness " . In the Christian tradition, during the " dark night " one who has developed a strong prayer life and consistent devotion to God suddenly finds traditional prayer extremely difficult and unrewarding for an extended period of time. The individual may feel as though God has suddenly abandoned them, or that their prayer life has collapsed. Rather than being a negative event, the dark night is believed by mystics and others to be a blessing in disguise where the individual extends from a state of contemplative prayer to an inability to pray. Particularly in Christianity, it is seen as a severe test of one's faith. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted September 5, 2007 Report Share Posted September 5, 2007 There was recently a TIME magazine article on this that I found really inspiring (I was going to post it, but forgot!), in light of the book that I think came out today. I would definitely recommend looking up the article and probably the book, too. Blessings, Iswari Ammachi , " amarnath " <anatol_zinc wrote: > > > This has been a surprising revelation in the news lately and is > already included in wikipedia as an example of the longest period of > the " dark night. " > > Hopefully, those of us facing " difficulties " are being watched, cared > for, and strengthened by our Amma. > > Below is an interesting post from another group on this followed by > the wikipedia " dark night of the soul " in Christianity. > > Amma Bless, > Amarnath. > > Re: Mother Teresa => Dark Night of the Soul > > Also in The Practice of the Presence of God the account is given of > Brother Lawrences' Dark Night. The account is from the eulogy in the > beginning of the book. > > " His soul was plunged into such bitterness and darkness that he > received no consolation from heaven or earth...Ten years of fears and > troubles gave him very little release...he had become loathsome in > his own eyes and could not stand himself. " > > " Finally one day before the altar, reflecting on the sufferings with > which his soul was afflicted...,he firmly resolved to endure them, > not only for the rest of his life, but during all eternity if that > were God's will... " > > " That was exactly the frame of mind God wanted him to have so He > could flood him with His grace....Lawrence caught sight of a ray of > divine light; illuminating his spirit. This light dissipated all his > fear and his sufferings ceased. " > > It parallels the doc's description of his own dark night in his PvF > preface pretty closely. > > I've read in some tantra texts(not modern focused on sex, but ancient > focused on energy body,mantra, and ceremony)that our negative karma > is stored in the energy body. When we heal it through spiritual > practice the negative energy is dislodged and comes up to > be 'experienced' as it leaves to be replaced by love/sattwa. Another > theory is that the karma is actually resisting the spiritual efforts > and creates obstacles to the spiritual path to maintain the status > quo. > > Sometimes when my own practice becomes intense I feel like I'm going > crazy. So far I've used a metaphor to help maintain my practice. > It's based on a real event that my Grandmother described to me about > my Grandfather. > > My Grandfather's favorite chair was his rocking chair. A WW2 > veteran, my grandfather used to sit on his front porch in his chair > and relax. One day while he was out there a tornado suddenly hit. > My grandmother looked outside and the tornado was trying to sweep my > grandfather off the porch. With one arm he had grabbed onto one of > the porch's wooden posts to keep himself from flying off. With the > other he was holding onto his rocking chair. My grandmother later > yelled at him for not holding himself on with both hands to which my > grandfather replied, " if my chair was going so was I. " > > I do my best when the despair hits(the tornado) to hold onto the > practice the way my grandfather held onto his chair. > > Peace > Travis > > > > (from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dark_night_of_the_soul ) > > Dark Night of the Soul is a term used to describe a specific phase in > a person's spiritual life, and is generally associated with a crisis > of faith in the Roman Catholic tradition. It is used as a metaphor to > describe the experience of loneliness and desolation that can occur > during spiritual growth. > > The term and metaphysicality of the phrase " dark night of the soul " > are taken from the writings of the Spanish poet and Roman Catholic > mystic Saint John of the Cross, a Carmelite priest in the 16th > century. Dark Night of the Soul is the name of both a poem, and a > commentary on that poem, and are among the Carmelite priest's most > famous writings. They tell of his mystic development and the stages he > went through on his quest for holiness. > > St. Thérèse of Lisieux, the 19th-century French Carmelite underwent a > similar experience, centering on doubts about the afterlife. She > reportedly told her fellow nuns: " If you only knew what darkness I am > plunged into. " [1] > > While generally the crisis is considered to be temporary in nature, on > occasion it may be extended: the " dark night " of St. Paul of the Cross > in the 18th century lasted 45 years; he ultimately recovered. Mother > Teresa of Calcutta, according to letters released in 2007, " may be the > most extensive such case on record " , lasting from 1948 till her death > in 1997, with only brief interludes [2]. > > The " dark night " could generally be described as a letting go of our > ego's hold on the psyche, making room for change that can bring about > a complete transformation of a person's way of defining his/her self > and their relationship to God. The interim period can be frightening, > hence the perceived " darkness " . In the Christian tradition, during the > " dark night " one who has developed a strong prayer life and consistent > devotion to God suddenly finds traditional prayer extremely difficult > and unrewarding for an extended period of time. The individual may > feel as though God has suddenly abandoned them, or that their prayer > life has collapsed. > > Rather than being a negative event, the dark night is believed by > mystics and others to be a blessing in disguise where the individual > extends from a state of contemplative prayer to an inability to pray. > Particularly in Christianity, it is seen as a severe test of one's faith. > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted September 5, 2007 Report Share Posted September 5, 2007 Here it is: http://www.time.com/time/world/article/0,8599,1655415-1,00.html Ammachi , " ammasiswari " <ammasiswari wrote: > > There was recently a TIME magazine article on this that I found really inspiring (I was > going to post it, but forgot!), in light of the book that I think came out today. I would > definitely recommend looking up the article and probably the book, too. > > Blessings, > Iswari > > Ammachi , " amarnath " <anatol_zinc@> wrote: > > > > > > This has been a surprising revelation in the news lately and is > > already included in wikipedia as an example of the longest period of > > the " dark night. " > > > > Hopefully, those of us facing " difficulties " are being watched, cared > > for, and strengthened by our Amma. > > > > Below is an interesting post from another group on this followed by > > the wikipedia " dark night of the soul " in Christianity. > > > > Amma Bless, > > Amarnath. > > > > Re: Mother Teresa => Dark Night of the Soul > > > > Also in The Practice of the Presence of God the account is given of > > Brother Lawrences' Dark Night. The account is from the eulogy in the > > beginning of the book. > > > > " His soul was plunged into such bitterness and darkness that he > > received no consolation from heaven or earth...Ten years of fears and > > troubles gave him very little release...he had become loathsome in > > his own eyes and could not stand himself. " > > > > " Finally one day before the altar, reflecting on the sufferings with > > which his soul was afflicted...,he firmly resolved to endure them, > > not only for the rest of his life, but during all eternity if that > > were God's will... " > > > > " That was exactly the frame of mind God wanted him to have so He > > could flood him with His grace....Lawrence caught sight of a ray of > > divine light; illuminating his spirit. This light dissipated all his > > fear and his sufferings ceased. " > > > > It parallels the doc's description of his own dark night in his PvF > > preface pretty closely. > > > > I've read in some tantra texts(not modern focused on sex, but ancient > > focused on energy body,mantra, and ceremony)that our negative karma > > is stored in the energy body. When we heal it through spiritual > > practice the negative energy is dislodged and comes up to > > be 'experienced' as it leaves to be replaced by love/sattwa. Another > > theory is that the karma is actually resisting the spiritual efforts > > and creates obstacles to the spiritual path to maintain the status > > quo. > > > > Sometimes when my own practice becomes intense I feel like I'm going > > crazy. So far I've used a metaphor to help maintain my practice. > > It's based on a real event that my Grandmother described to me about > > my Grandfather. > > > > My Grandfather's favorite chair was his rocking chair. A WW2 > > veteran, my grandfather used to sit on his front porch in his chair > > and relax. One day while he was out there a tornado suddenly hit. > > My grandmother looked outside and the tornado was trying to sweep my > > grandfather off the porch. With one arm he had grabbed onto one of > > the porch's wooden posts to keep himself from flying off. With the > > other he was holding onto his rocking chair. My grandmother later > > yelled at him for not holding himself on with both hands to which my > > grandfather replied, " if my chair was going so was I. " > > > > I do my best when the despair hits(the tornado) to hold onto the > > practice the way my grandfather held onto his chair. > > > > Peace > > Travis > > > > > > > > (from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dark_night_of_the_soul ) > > > > Dark Night of the Soul is a term used to describe a specific phase in > > a person's spiritual life, and is generally associated with a crisis > > of faith in the Roman Catholic tradition. It is used as a metaphor to > > describe the experience of loneliness and desolation that can occur > > during spiritual growth. > > > > The term and metaphysicality of the phrase " dark night of the soul " > > are taken from the writings of the Spanish poet and Roman Catholic > > mystic Saint John of the Cross, a Carmelite priest in the 16th > > century. Dark Night of the Soul is the name of both a poem, and a > > commentary on that poem, and are among the Carmelite priest's most > > famous writings. They tell of his mystic development and the stages he > > went through on his quest for holiness. > > > > St. Thérèse of Lisieux, the 19th-century French Carmelite underwent a > > similar experience, centering on doubts about the afterlife. She > > reportedly told her fellow nuns: " If you only knew what darkness I am > > plunged into. " [1] > > > > While generally the crisis is considered to be temporary in nature, on > > occasion it may be extended: the " dark night " of St. Paul of the Cross > > in the 18th century lasted 45 years; he ultimately recovered. Mother > > Teresa of Calcutta, according to letters released in 2007, " may be the > > most extensive such case on record " , lasting from 1948 till her death > > in 1997, with only brief interludes [2]. > > > > The " dark night " could generally be described as a letting go of our > > ego's hold on the psyche, making room for change that can bring about > > a complete transformation of a person's way of defining his/her self > > and their relationship to God. The interim period can be frightening, > > hence the perceived " darkness " . In the Christian tradition, during the > > " dark night " one who has developed a strong prayer life and consistent > > devotion to God suddenly finds traditional prayer extremely difficult > > and unrewarding for an extended period of time. The individual may > > feel as though God has suddenly abandoned them, or that their prayer > > life has collapsed. > > > > Rather than being a negative event, the dark night is believed by > > mystics and others to be a blessing in disguise where the individual > > extends from a state of contemplative prayer to an inability to pray. > > Particularly in Christianity, it is seen as a severe test of one's faith. > > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted September 10, 2007 Report Share Posted September 10, 2007 I wanted to mention that I think there are three different holy women named Teresa that I'm aware of, and I found the posts on this confusing. St. Therese of Liseaux (sp?) from France, Teresa of Avila, and Mother Theresa. These are not all the same women. Secondly, years ago in photos I saw Mother Theresa's physical posture, and thought she very much needed yogasana to support her heart. She had very hunched shoulders and this would not allow for a feeling of supported love in the world. Some forms of self-less love do not support the necessary self-care to sustain one to do one's work in this world. Yoga / asana practice helps with the balance... I have only cursorily reviewed the article because I'm on my way into the shower before leaving for work, but these were my thoughts and I wanted to share. Namaste, Mary Ann Ammachi , " ammasiswari " <ammasiswari wrote: > > Here it is: > > http://www.time.com/time/world/article/0,8599,1655415-1,00.html > > Ammachi , " ammasiswari " <ammasiswari@> wrote: > > > > There was recently a TIME magazine article on this that I found really inspiring (I was > > going to post it, but forgot!), in light of the book that I think came out today. I would > > definitely recommend looking up the article and probably the book, too. > > > > Blessings, > > Iswari > > > > Ammachi , " amarnath " <anatol_zinc@> wrote: > > > > > > > > > This has been a surprising revelation in the news lately and is > > > already included in wikipedia as an example of the longest period of > > > the " dark night. " > > > > > > Hopefully, those of us facing " difficulties " are being watched, cared > > > for, and strengthened by our Amma. > > > > > > Below is an interesting post from another group on this followed by > > > the wikipedia " dark night of the soul " in Christianity. > > > > > > Amma Bless, > > > Amarnath. > > > > > > Re: Mother Teresa => Dark Night of the Soul > > > > > > Also in The Practice of the Presence of God the account is given of > > > Brother Lawrences' Dark Night. The account is from the eulogy in the > > > beginning of the book. > > > > > > " His soul was plunged into such bitterness and darkness that he > > > received no consolation from heaven or earth...Ten years of fears and > > > troubles gave him very little release...he had become loathsome in > > > his own eyes and could not stand himself. " > > > > > > " Finally one day before the altar, reflecting on the sufferings with > > > which his soul was afflicted...,he firmly resolved to endure them, > > > not only for the rest of his life, but during all eternity if that > > > were God's will... " > > > > > > " That was exactly the frame of mind God wanted him to have so He > > > could flood him with His grace....Lawrence caught sight of a ray of > > > divine light; illuminating his spirit. This light dissipated all his > > > fear and his sufferings ceased. " > > > > > > It parallels the doc's description of his own dark night in his PvF > > > preface pretty closely. > > > > > > I've read in some tantra texts(not modern focused on sex, but ancient > > > focused on energy body,mantra, and ceremony)that our negative karma > > > is stored in the energy body. When we heal it through spiritual > > > practice the negative energy is dislodged and comes up to > > > be 'experienced' as it leaves to be replaced by love/sattwa. Another > > > theory is that the karma is actually resisting the spiritual efforts > > > and creates obstacles to the spiritual path to maintain the status > > > quo. > > > > > > Sometimes when my own practice becomes intense I feel like I'm going > > > crazy. So far I've used a metaphor to help maintain my practice. > > > It's based on a real event that my Grandmother described to me about > > > my Grandfather. > > > > > > My Grandfather's favorite chair was his rocking chair. A WW2 > > > veteran, my grandfather used to sit on his front porch in his chair > > > and relax. One day while he was out there a tornado suddenly hit. > > > My grandmother looked outside and the tornado was trying to sweep my > > > grandfather off the porch. With one arm he had grabbed onto one of > > > the porch's wooden posts to keep himself from flying off. With the > > > other he was holding onto his rocking chair. My grandmother later > > > yelled at him for not holding himself on with both hands to which my > > > grandfather replied, " if my chair was going so was I. " > > > > > > I do my best when the despair hits(the tornado) to hold onto the > > > practice the way my grandfather held onto his chair. > > > > > > Peace > > > Travis > > > > > > > > > > > > (from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dark_night_of_the_soul ) > > > > > > Dark Night of the Soul is a term used to describe a specific phase in > > > a person's spiritual life, and is generally associated with a crisis > > > of faith in the Roman Catholic tradition. It is used as a metaphor to > > > describe the experience of loneliness and desolation that can occur > > > during spiritual growth. > > > > > > The term and metaphysicality of the phrase " dark night of the soul " > > > are taken from the writings of the Spanish poet and Roman Catholic > > > mystic Saint John of the Cross, a Carmelite priest in the 16th > > > century. Dark Night of the Soul is the name of both a poem, and a > > > commentary on that poem, and are among the Carmelite priest's most > > > famous writings. They tell of his mystic development and the stages he > > > went through on his quest for holiness. > > > > > > St. Thérèse of Lisieux, the 19th-century French Carmelite underwent a > > > similar experience, centering on doubts about the afterlife. She > > > reportedly told her fellow nuns: " If you only knew what darkness I am > > > plunged into. " [1] > > > > > > While generally the crisis is considered to be temporary in nature, on > > > occasion it may be extended: the " dark night " of St. Paul of the Cross > > > in the 18th century lasted 45 years; he ultimately recovered. Mother > > > Teresa of Calcutta, according to letters released in 2007, " may be the > > > most extensive such case on record " , lasting from 1948 till her death > > > in 1997, with only brief interludes [2]. > > > > > > The " dark night " could generally be described as a letting go of our > > > ego's hold on the psyche, making room for change that can bring about > > > a complete transformation of a person's way of defining his/her self > > > and their relationship to God. The interim period can be frightening, > > > hence the perceived " darkness " . In the Christian tradition, during the > > > " dark night " one who has developed a strong prayer life and consistent > > > devotion to God suddenly finds traditional prayer extremely difficult > > > and unrewarding for an extended period of time. The individual may > > > feel as though God has suddenly abandoned them, or that their prayer > > > life has collapsed. > > > > > > Rather than being a negative event, the dark night is believed by > > > mystics and others to be a blessing in disguise where the individual > > > extends from a state of contemplative prayer to an inability to pray. > > > Particularly in Christianity, it is seen as a severe test of one's faith. > > > > > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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