This passage reminded me so much of Hui-Hai’s passage about mediation. Both really describe how to go about clearing your mind for your sole purpose – whether it be for enlightenment or for the love of God. They really discuss how hard it is to do at first – pray or meditate – and how you have to simply work through it until you reach the other side of things. And, when you do get there, how it will open your mind in ways unimaginable.
The third paragraph starts off, “Do not stop, therefore, but keep laboring in it till you feel delight. For when you first begin it, you find just a darkness and, as it were, a cloud of unknowing …” and that is exactly what it is like to begin the process of seeing through oneself. The passage goes on to say, “so you must put a cloud of forgetting beneath you …” and that sounds quite odd. However, if you think about it (no pun intended) you have to clear your mind of everything – forget everything – in order to make way for a higher power.
The concept doing everything for God and living life for God never made much sense to me, I have to admit. It all seems very manipulative and jealousy-driven and I always thought that if God were truly in you and guiding you, you should be able to look within yourself to find the truth, not have to worship and appease the very God who is supposedly within you. I believe in a God, but it is more of a universal power I suppose rather than the traditional view of the Christian God. And to be honest, I don’t really know exactly what I believe in, so I realize I really have no ground to say anything. However, after reading the Buddhist passages and Hindu passages – which I seem to be able to internalize a little more – I realized both eastern religion and western religion are saying the same thing in essence: clearing your mind for whatever higher power you believe in and not dwelling on materialism is what makes you more enlightened/closer to God. Once I saw it in that light it was easier for me to see past the inhibitions I had and see what the true message of the passage was. That is why this class rocks!
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"The Cloud of the Unknowing" was really interesting to me. When I read it, I mostly thought it was referring to striving to have your full focus on God. It seemed to say that clearing our mind was important for the purpose of then having every thought be for God. The angels would rejoice in this kind of prayer and dedication and would be there to help us in ways we do not even realize. You make a really good point about how this "clearing of the mind" could be also for the purpose of enlightenment and finding truth within ourselves. It is kind of funny to think about "laboring for something until you find delight in it." In a way it makes me think of making someone do something they do not want to do until they end up loving it. But I think true "enlightenment" or "prayer and dedication to God" all take work. It is interesting how laboring goes along with it.
ReplyDeleteEmily Morris
I had a harder time with this reading than the other readings this week. Your comments helped me understand it better. I'm glad you shared. I also think it's great how you were sort of thinking out loud as you processed your thoughts on religion and the things we've been learning in this class (Which yes, I agree, it rocks!). I think it's awesome you are asking questions, humbly thinking about it all, and sharing your thoughts. Thank you.
ReplyDelete"I don’t really know exactly what I believe in, so I realize I really have no ground to say anything." Not true. Does anyone have the right to say what is correct and what isn't? Just because you may not be very knowledgeable when it comes to religion it doesn't at all mean you are less worthy to express yourself. In the words of Christina Aguilera, "Keep on signing your song." But on a more serious note. I love what you said about God being inside of you, I agree!
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