Saints and bodhisattvas may achieve what Christians call…
““Saints and bodhisattvas may achieve what Christians call mystical union or Buddhists call satori--a perpetual awareness of the force at the heart of the heart of things. For these enlightened few, the world is always lit. For the rest of us, such clarity comes only fitfully, in sudden glimpses or slow revelations. Quakers refer to these insights as openings. When I first heard the term from a Friend who was counseling me about my resistance to the Vietnam War, I though of how on an overcast day, sunlight pours through a break in the clouds. After the clouds drift on, eclipsing the sun, the sun keeps shining behind the veil, and the memory of its light shines on in the mind.””
About This Quote
This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.
Enlightened insight is a constant inner illumination; most experience it only in fleeting moments.
In simple terms: Spiritual insight can be brief or lasting.
Key Takeaway
Cultivate practices that sustain inner clarity.
Themes
spirituality
mindfulness
war
peace
Mood
reflective
hopeful
Type
spiritual
inspirational
When to use this quote
- meditation
- conflict resolution
- personal growth
Key Concepts
mysticism
awakening
inner light
Questions to Reflect On
- What practices help sustain inner light?
- How can fleeting clarity become lasting?
A Different Perspective
Such insight may be rare and hard to maintain.