Discussion about this post

User's avatar
Bruce H. Matson's avatar

I couldn't help but think of C.S. Lewis if we're talking about gazing past the shining surfaces of the world:

“You can’t go on 'seeing through”' things forever. The whole point of seeing through something is to see something through it. To “see through” all things is the same as not to see.”

― C.S. Lewis, The Abolition of Man

Thanks as always. This is a great exercise.

Expand full comment
Andrew Beebe's avatar

It seems like, and I could be totally wrong here, I've never studied and know pretty much nothing about Eastern religions, but it seems like the biggest distinction between East and West isn't as much about the unmoved mover, that which is beyond, being something (West) or nothing (East). What strikes me, reading this anyway, is the distinction between a nothing nirvana with a mysterious force-like deity and a personal God; a nameless force beyond comprehension vs. a knowable Someone being the most real reality. They agree in the understanding of uniting with something beyond, they differ in what it is we unite with. In the East it seems that when you go beyond your senses and unite with what's really real you get a negative force. In the West you get a Person who we believe is not only the source of being but is actually Love itself.

Expand full comment
5 more comments...

No posts