Observations placeholder
van Ruysbroeck, Jan - Commentary on Matthew 9:15
Identifier
000905
Type of Spiritual Experience
Background
I have put together some more quotes here that all relate to the spiritual path as defined by the alchemists and its various stages. Here however, in contrast to observation 000904, Ruysbroeck describes what happens after the purification, the meeting with the Higher spirit and the chemical wedding - union.
Ruysbroeck describes a period of emptiness; from being the ‘centre of spiritual attention’, he feels as though he has been abandoned. The love starts to subside, the joy leaves him, his gifts appear to go. There may be more sickness, they may feel quite abandoned and worse may be abandoned by friends they thought supported them.
‘Forsaken almost human, he sank beneath our wisdom like a stone’ [Leonard Cohen].
Matthew 9:15
And Jesus said unto them, Can the children of the bridechamber mourn, as long as the bridegroom is with them? but the days will come, when the bridegroom shall be taken from them, and then shall they fast.
A description of the experience
Commentary on Matthew 9:15
‘The Lord gave and the Lord taketh away, as it pleased the Lord, so it hath been done. Blessed be the name of the Lord’.
If it be thy will and to thy glory,
Not my will according to nature o Lord,
But thy will,
And my will according to spirit be done
These men have no need of revelations neither of being caught up above the senses, for their life and dwelling place, their way and their being are in the spirit, above the senses and above sensibility. And there God shows such men what is His good, pleasure and what is needful for them or for other men...........................
This enlightened man shall faithfully and discreetly teach , instruct, and serve all men, for in him he bears a love towards all. And thereby is he a mediator between God and all men. …. The enlightened man is …
- Simple and stable and free from curious considerations
- Possesses a wisdom inpoured by God, wherein he knows and distinguishes the truth without effort
- Is loving and flows forth in love towards all in heaven and on earth
He is invited to understand and to know in his brightness and it draws and invites the power of love to enjoy without intermediary. Here reason and every created light fail… therefore would love go forward whilst understanding stays outside. Here man is possessed by love so that he must forget himself and knows and can do nothing but love… Thereby [the will] is burned up in the fire of love and enters so deeply into the touch of [his higher spirit] that it is overcome in all its cravings and turned to nought in all its works and empties itself.
The source of the experience
van Ruysbroeck, JanConcepts, symbols and science items
Symbols
Chemical weddingScience Items
Activities and commonsteps
Activities
Suppressions
Communing with natureContemplation and detachment
LOVE
Reducing desires
Reducing threats
Squash the big I am
Suppressing memory
Suppression of learning
Commonsteps
Asking for forgivenessChanting, mantra and prayer
Forgiveness
Friendship and companionship
Generosity
Humility
Patience
Safe House
Serving others [charity]
Tedious repetitive tasks
References
see description for Ruysbroeck