I know two elderly monks at the local monastery near where I live, both of whom have reputations as "real mystics." Indeed, I would agree with this assessment — they both strike me as genuine contemplatives, true living mystics. But they are very different from one another in some key ways. <a href=/unknowing/the-characteristics-of-a-mystic/>Read More »</a>

So instead of the heart of contemplation being thought or cogitation, in a spiritual sense, contemplation is wordless prayer. It's not about thought — in fact, contemplation takes us to a place beyond thought. <a href=/unknowing/contemplation/>Read More »</a>

The "idea" that I'm referring to is the notion that Christian spirituality can be understood as involving three stages. To give this notion a bit of gravitas, Origen appealed to the Hebrew Scriptures. <a href=/unknowing/three-dimensions/>Read More »</a>