The Path is the Goal

“I make this point on purpose to refute the ignorant presumption of certain people who insist that man is the principal worker in everything, even in contemplation…But I want you to understand that in everything touching contemplation, the contrary is true. God alone is the chief worker here…In every other good work we act in partnership with God…God consents to [our activities] and assists us through secondary means: the light of Scripture, reliable counsel, and the dictates of common sense, which include the demands of one’s state, age, and circumstances of life…But in all that touches contemplation, even the loftiest human wisdom must be rejected…This, then, is the way I understand the Gospel’s words: ‘Without me you can do nothing’…Alas! I have used many words and said very little. But I wanted you to understand when to use your faculties and when not to…And since it is written, let it stand, though it is not particularly relevant to our subject.”
—Privy Counsel, Ch. 17

This chapter amounts to a lengthy aside reinforcing the mysterious message discussed in yesterday’s post: that in contemplation, we don’t actually do anything. This is difficult, and there is a risk that we take on a kind of anthropomorphic view of God, who is responsible for everything that happens, and for us to slip into a kind of dumb quietism. This is not what the author means, and is in fact a kind of heresy.

The author goes on at length emphasizing the free will of humans, and that we are co-creators with God of our everyday reality. We are “partners” with God, and we can test every decision by scripture, the advice of others we trust, and common sense, as well as taking into consideration all the many variables of our life circumstances. This kind of discursive reason is necessary for effectively functioning in the world, including the decision to take on a spiritual practice or meditation, and all the various techniques and teachings that are associated with it.

However, this is as far as our activity can go. The author advises that after that, you just sit still and let whatever happens next unfold. This is the difficult part, because we wonder why we are pursuing such a practice if we cannot influence the outcome. I think what the author is getting at here is our fundamental problem spiritually, psychologically and emotionally: our need for control, and our desire to shape an external situation (or in this case an internal situation) that will make us happy. But in fact, the root teaching is that no such situation will lead to true happiness. In the end, it is the letting go that brings liberation.

And letting go is the practice itself. As the Zen master Dogen said, “Zazen [meditation practice] is itself enlightenment!”