If you’re wondering why this spate of postings, I’m sitting at my computer working on Sunday’s sermon & unrelated thoughts keep burbling up. Most I consign to thought-heaven, but one or two feel a need to be passed on.
I think I mentioned in a much earlier post how recently I stumbled upon an old copy of Thomas Merton’s The Wisdom of the Desert that I had profusely annotated when I was much wiser than I currently am. Fortunately, perhaps, that annotated version has once again disappeared beneath the waves or piles of books in the house. But another copy sits on the shelf above the computer.
I opened it at random, and this is what popped:
Some elders once came to Abbot Anthony, and there was with them also Abbot Joseph. Wishing to test them, Abbot Anthony brought the conversation around to the Holy Scriptures. And he began from the youngest to ask them the meaning of this or that text. Each one replied as best he could, but Abbot Anthony said to them: You have not got it yet. After them all he asked Abbot Joseph: What about you? What do you say this text means? Abbot Joseph replied: I know not! Then Abbot Anthony said: Truly Abbot Joseph alone has found the way, for he replies that he knows not.
I really am aware of the dangers of seeking meaning for one’s own spiritual way in the utterances of someone on another way. But, my goodness, sometimes…
When asked what is Zen, the Korean Zen master Seung Sahn said, “Only don’t know.”
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