“It is one of the many indirect testimonies to the objective reality of mysticism that the stages of this road, the psychology of the spiritual ascent, as described to us by different schools of contemplatives, always present practically the same sequences of states. The ‘school for saints’ has never found it necessary to bring its curriculum up to date. The psychologist finds little difficulty, for instance, in reconciling the ‘Degree of Orison’ described by St. Teresa—Recollection, Quiet, Union, Ecstasy, Rapt, the ‘Pain of God’, and the spiritual marriage of the soul—with the four forms of contemplation enumerated by Hugh of St. Victor, or the Sufi’s ‘Seven Stages’ of the souls ascent to God, which began in adoration and end in spiritual marriage. Though each wayfarer may choose different landmarks, it is clear from their comparison that the road is one.” ~Evelyn Underhill
Several people take a walk down a road rarely traveled. Each of them describe the trip in their own terms and based on their own likes and dislikes. One traveler describes himself surrounded by fields of beautiful wildflowers filling the air with a natural perfume. Another talks about seeing many dogs on the road: friendly dogs that he patted and gave treats too (he always carried some in his pockets). A third notes the many farms where industrious farmers were working the fields and milking the cows. Hearing these three describe their trip, you might conclude they had all taken a different road, but they didn’t. They all took the same road, but each noticed different aspects of it, or at least concentrated on a conscious level of different aspects of it. Continue reading “The One Road to Spiritual Enlightenment”
