Love's way

Wisdom teachers – East and West – have always been cautious when responding to philosophical questions. Fascinating as those questions may be, the primary concern of the teacher is healing and wisdom.

As many of you know, on retreats we have opportunities for people to join small group discussion sessions during the day, and we have a whole group discussion period at the end of the day. It’s very common for someone to ask a philosophical, speculative question. And when you gently decline to answer it in the way they might want or expect you to (while kindly explaining why), they may get frustrated. But at some point during the retreat, something usually shifts, relaxes, opens.

In the Buddhist parable of the poisoned arrow, a man insists on knowing who shot the arrow, what it’s made of, and other details, before allowing the arrow to be removed.

The Buddha uses this little story this to show how intellectual inquiries can become distractions, delaying the actual work that needs to be done, delaying the process of healing, of awakening. The best teachers I have known gently turn us from abstract speculation toward the roots of our spiritual blindness and suffering. Typically, their responses are deeply practical, grounded in the ordinary realities of life, so that the one asking can feel and know the truth directly, as a heart truth, rather than receiving more information.

There is a world of difference between second-hand information and first-hand knowing. In this ancient Christian tale, the compassionate wisdom of the great desert father Abba Poemen initially confuses his visitor.

A monk once went on pilgrimage from Abba Poemen’s monastery in Egypt, and visited a hermit in a neighbouring country, known for his warm love and warm hospitality. During his time with the hermit, the monk spoke of Abba Poemen’s strength of character, and the hermit longed to meet him.

Sometime later, the hermit made the journey to Egypt, and found the monk, who was delighted to see him again. The hermit said to the monk, ‘If you love me, take me to Poemen.’ So, the monk took the hermit to Abba Poemen, introducing the hermit with the words, ‘a great and very loving man, especially honoured in his country, has come here wanting to see you.’ So Poemen received the hermit kindly. They exchanged greetings and sat down together.

The hermit began to talk to Abba Poeman about Holy Scripture, and things spiritual and heavenly. But Poemen turned his face away and said nothing. When the hermit saw this, he was upset and left. He said to the monk, ‘My journey was in vain. I saw the Abba, but he would not speak to me.’

The monk went to Poemen, and said, ‘Abba, this great man came here to talk with you, a man of much honour in his own land. Why didn’t you speak with him?’ Poemen replied, ‘He’s from above, and speaks of heavenly things. I’m from below and speak of earthly things. If he’d spoken with me about the soul’s passions, I would have answered. But of the things of the spirit, I know nothing about them.’

When the monk relayed this to the hermit, the hermit understood Peomen’s teaching in the depths of his heart. He returned to Abba Poemen and said, ‘What shall I do, Abba? My passions rule me.’ Poemen looked at him with joy and said, ‘Now you are welcome. Ask anything, and I will speak with understanding.’

The hermit was greatly strengthened by their conversation, and said, ‘Truly, this is love’s way.’ He thanked God that he had been able to see such a holy one and returned home renewed.

In the desert tradition, the first stage of spiritual training is known as Praktikos – meaning ‘practice’ or ‘the practical life’. The teacher helps the disciple to train their attention, to observe and unmask the many false identities we construct, to understand the various energies (‘passions’) of our being, to cultivate greater inner harmony, integration, and stability. Why? So they can begin to see clearly. So they can live peacefully, without harming themselves and those around them. ‘Truly, this is love’s way,’ said the hermit.

Faced with someone seeking to rush to enlightenment, to obtain a so-called ‘Highest Understanding,’ the desert father or mother might answer with silence, or simply invite you to spend time with them absorbing how they live, or give the famous guidance, ‘Go and sit in your cell and your cell with teach you everything.’ Go sit in the cell of your heart and your heart (the deepest truth of who you are, which is God) will teach you everything.

When the mind is hungry for information, for answers at the time of meditation, remember Abba Poemen’s wisdom teaching: do the basic work.

Learn to observe and work with your mind, your energies, your passions. This is where transformation, enlightenment begins. Trust that God is taking care of everything at a depth you cannot see. To paraphrase Psalm 46, learn to be still, and you will know.

For the desert tradition, for the way of meditation these ancient contemplatives passed down to us, ‘this is love’s way.’

Love’s way