PRACTISING THE ART OF LOVE

BRING LOVE TO EVERYTHING, AND DRAW LOVE FROM EVERYTHING

from the sixteenth treatise of The Third Spiritual Alphabet.

The way of recollection  is ultimately THE PATH OF LOVE  that transforms everything  .

The  inner art is to learn to bring loving attention  to every experience  - and THEN to draw out the hidden possibilities of love .

ENCLOSING THE HEART WHEN IN TUMULT OF MIND

'CLOSE THE GATE OF YOUR HEART' and 

'LET PRUDENCE BE YOUR DOORKEEPER'

from the seventh treatise of The Third Spiritual Alphabet

Deepening spiritual recollection inevitably releases deeply buried thoughts that disrupt and overwhelm the soul.

In practising recollection hostile, involuntary thoughts lose their power so the soul can rest in the 'gated' enclosure of the heart .

BEING SCHOOLED IN THE ART OF RECOLLECTION

'TRAIN YOUR SOUL ' and 'FREQUENT THE DESERT OF RECOLLECTION'

from the sixth treatise of Third Spiritual Alphabet

The interior of heart is a ‘desert’ place – a place of withdrawal of attention from exterior things to the Life hidden from ordinary awareness .  

Engaging in  the work of contemplation the soul is trained and prepared for spiritual union.

RECOGNISING AND PROTECTING WHAT GIVES LIFE

'GUARD THE HEART VIGILANTLY, FOR ALL LIFE FLOWS FROM IT'

from the fourth treatise of The Third Spiritual Alphabet.

 As the intensity of spiritual life grows  careful discernment is needed.

THE PEACE and fullness of spiritual recollection needs to be  protected from everything that fragments , dissipates  and restricts it. 

BECOMING STILL AND QUIET TO KNOW DIRECTLY

'BECOME BLIND AND DEAF AND DUMB AND ALWAYS MEEK'

from the third treatise of The Spiritual Alphabet.

In SILENT PRAYER  the ‘eye’ of reason is covered, the  mouth stopped  , and ear is turned away from  impulses and  demands of the mind .

In stillness the portals of the heart  open deeper thresholds of awareness.

A THANKFUL RECEPTIVE HEART

LET ALL YOUR WORKS ABOUND IN FERVENT THANKS

from the second treatise of the Third Spiritual Alphabet.

GRATITUDE is the key to spiritual healing and growth. 

Thankfulness keeps returning our  attention to the source and flow of life and trains the soul to live out of plenitude of grace.