Open Theism Discussion Board

Ok...I think that THIS is the reality being referred to whenever mystics like Meister Eckhart say...

The man who abides in the will of God wills nothing else than what God is, and what He wills. If he were ill he would not wish to be well. If he really abides in God's will, all pain is to him a joy, all complication, simple: yea, even the pains of hell would be a joy to him. He is free and gone out from himself, and from all that he receives, he must be free. If my eye is to discern colour, it must itself be free from all colour. The eye with which I see God is the same with which God sees me. My eye and God's eye is one eye, and one sight, and one knowledge, and one love. (Hence, my online name biggrin

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It is the ONE Holy Spirit, through whom the thoughts and perceptions of God may be known, who is the "eye" through which reality is seen. We self-reference and self-transcend by the Spirit's power that we continually "open" ourselves to. It's how we KNOW that we are Children of God (the Spirit testifies with our spirit, allowing us to say "Abba, Father".

Yeah, mystics say these things in funny, challenging ways. But I do think some things are discernable. Again, I'm NOT saying that communication couldn't be better for some of the reasons you describe, A. I'm just saying that not everything the mystics say is just illogical or "sloppy" in it's thinking. Rather, it's idiosycratic in it's expression.

2) I really think THESE are two very good descriptions of what I mean when I think the mystics mean by "detachment"

Virtue: Detachment [Nonattachment]*
Although Ichazo's original name for the Virtue at point Five is Detachment, we prefer the term Nonattachment to distinguish it from the emotional detachment caused by schizoid withdrawal—the rejection of one's feelings and need for nurturing. Non-Attachment contains no hint of rejection; in fact, it requires a radical acceptance of reality. It is the quality described by the familiar spiritual injunction to "be in the world but not of it." When we are present and abiding in our true natures, we do not cling to anything, inner or outer. Particularly, we no longer need to cling to the endless activity of the mind as a source of identity and orientation to the world. We feel at one with the unfolding universe and as if we contain it within us at the same time. Everything touches and transforms us, yet there is nothing that we need to attach our identity to; our existence is not based on anything, not our thoughts, not our feelings, not our body, not our perceptions. Everything arises and disappears in a state of profound stillness and peace.

This state of non-attachment also gives us a profound compassion for all living things because we see their transient nature. When there is no need to attach ourselves to any view, it is easy to be compassionate and forgivng ("Tout comprendre, c'est tout pardonner"—"To understand all is to forgive all" )

Lord Jesus, have mercy.

Love for God is ecstatic, making us go out from ourselves: it does not allow the lover to belong any more to himself, but he only belongs to the Beloved
St. Dionysius the Areopagite

and SURELY this one...

Anyone who tries to describe the ineffable Light in language is truly a liar--not because he hates the truth, but because of the inadequacy of his description.
St. Gregory of Nyssa.

Sheesh. No WONDER it's such a frustration to do and so muddled when it's done. That's probably why "silence is golden."
Yeah.... reading

Lord Jesus, have mercy.

Pilgrims from Paradise

Detachment