Anyone who pokes through my blog knows I’m very, very fond of the Desert Fathers, (here’s another more sectarian, but frankly better brief take.) those Christian monks and really, nuns as well, who fled to the Egyptian desert in the fourth and fifth centuries of our common era, seeking deepest wisdom.
What remains for us are fragments of conversation and briefest homilies.
For someone of my spiritual tastebuds among the intriguing things about them is how often they sound like Zen teachings.
My introduction was from the Trappist monk Thomas Merton’s selection and translation, Wisdom of the Desert. It is he who probably first noticed the similarities at least of style between these ancient Christians and medieval Chinese Zen practitioners. Over the years I’ve found I return to this little book over and over again…
I’m not sure, but I suspect the standard scholarly versions are the work of the Anglican nun Benedicta Ward, including The Sayings of the Desert Fathers, Harlots of the Desert and much else. My goodness she is fascinating!
But, for today, something from the artist and theologian Yushi Nomura in his Desert Wisdom.
Abba Lot went to see Abba Joseph and said – Abba, as much as I am able I practice a small rule, a little fasting, some prayer and meditation, and remain quiet, and as much as possible I keep my thoughts clean – What else should I do? Then the old man stood up and stretched out his hands toward heaven, and his fingers became like ten torches of flame. And he said: If you wish, you can become all flame.
At no extra charge here is my briefest midrash on that text.
There are several ways one can take this little story. One way can be literalist and with that literalism either find comfort in hearing confirming miracles or dismiss it as more hogwash from the wishful thinkers.
Neither of these literalist encounters mean much to me.
Rather, I think we’re being told a story in the most important sense of story.
With a bit of a wink, we’re being encouraged to do something.
The set up is simple enough. A serious student of the way describes his (could just as easily be her) path. It’s clean. Live by a simple rule, nothing extravagant, just what it takes to hold the heart and mind to one’s purpose. Live with prayer and meditation and, it seems, a constant fall back to silence.
Is there really anything more?
From a Zen perspective no and yes.
No. Just this.
Yes. Bring it all together. Then, let go of that. Practice, return to the pillow, return to the world with giving hands.
And let go of all results.
Then, perhaps, just maybe, possibly,
you’ll find the flames…
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