The following is from the Chapter True Simplicity from Transformation of Christ from Von Hildabrand, all regular text is highlighted quotes from the book, any italic are commentsSimplicity in the sense of an inward unity of life.
This part of "True Simplicity" goes over how lack of unity in terms of keeping things simple, if we seem to be focused on other things outside our relationship with God and others, then we can split ourselves and not have inward unity. Also can't have too much involvement outside our faith, plus wealth can be distraction. Simplicity is an alignment of looking toward to God in everything we do like how the cosmos line up. Simplicity doesn't mean lack of means or a primitive mind, or even stupidicy. Also simplicity is not possible by looking to find ways to avoid complexity. In addition being childlike doesn't necessary guarantee's simplicity because its not by forceful innocence which is looking to avoid accountability or responsibility in handling things. Simply put, simplicity is not easy to attain and requires special graces from God
Simplicity contrasts with disunity
Contrasts, in the first place, with the disunity in the sould of those whose lives are filled, now by one thing, now by another, who lose themselves in the motley variegation of life, who do not seek for an intergration of their actions and conduct by one dominate principle. Mutually contradictory currents. A person of this kind is said to be split; his life lacks inward unity.
Simplicity contrasts with psychological convolutedness Secondly, true simplicity is opposed to complexity taken in a specific sense. It points to the object, they are always compelled to choose bypaths and detours.
Simplicity does not mistake complexity for profundity
For people blind to the trait of simplicity associated with the metaphysical wealth and height of being; they overlooked the metaphysical law that the higher is the simpler it is , in a sense.
Simplicity avoids the cult of the abstruse
The false type of consciousness, particularly its second form: over development of the cognitive attitude - self-contained process. This type takes pleasure in his emotional detours and blind-alleys which provide him with a sense of being deep and interesting. The mind that wallows in complexity is unable to grasp the logos of what is a straightforward way.
Simplicity of Primitively vs simplicity of inner unity
We turn to the subject of true Christian simplicity, the antithesis to all forms of disunity and complexity. In the spiritual person, the principle of mutual interpenetration is far more predominant even than in the living organisms as such.
The character of simplicity (in the sense of condensation of being)grows along the ascending hierarchy of the cosmos until it culminates in the one Eternal Word of God. The absolute simplicity of God precludes the distinction, not only between form and matter but between existence and essence, between actus and potential. Yet, God is the infinite plenitude of being.
Inner spiritual poverty is not true spiritual simplicity
Two opposite kinds of simplicity in general - the simplicity of primitive and crudity. In describing people of primitive minds as simple, we refer to their inner poverty and their incapacity to respond to the depth and the qualitative manifoldness of the cosmos - impoverished in meaning and devoid of spirituality; in fact, a small section of that sphere, his household economy, may swallow up his life. He is absorbed by concerns of economic usefulness. His conception of the world is simple in the sense of lacking content and differentiation. It is uncomplicated; but freedom from complication is obtained at the cost of renunciation of metaphysical depth and abundance.
Stupidity is not spiritual simplicity
We may call a person simple because he is so poorly equipped intellectually as to be incapable of understanding things. His mind is only able to grasp quite simple situations or relations, that is to say, such as enclose a very modest content of meaning. His mind is marred by a similar incapacity with regard to values. The organic primitivity again has nothing to do with true simplicity.
Reductive simplicity of platitude is not spiritual simplicity
Those who interpret the entire cosmos after the pattern of the lowest sphere. From attuning themselves to the element of reality that confronts them or attempting to plumb its depth, they drag down everything into the sphere in which they feel themselves at home.
Their complacent pride impels them to treat all things in a cavalier fashion. This type of person is not awkward or clumsy but completely uninitiated. A great many popular philosophies are marked with this shallow simplicity. Their own lives run smoothly without friction, conflicts or complications because they contrive to master all its aspects by dint of a few schematic notions.
Affected child likeness is not true simplicity
Falsely
childlike manner, a kind of deliberate
innocence. Such
a person fails to take account of the distance he must travel in
order to rise from a lower mode of being to a higher one; He
resides concealed. Misinterpreting the evangelical words, "Unless
ye become as children," he enjoys his pose of being childlike
and construes his petty and simplifying conception of the
metaphysical situation of man. Whenever
he should carry his cross he somehow evades it, mistaking Christ's
transfiguration of all suffering for an elimination of all suffering
It
is not a simple thing to attain true simplicity
The
deliberate pose of simplicity (which is present in the last-named
case) springs from the illusory belief that simplicity can be
promptly attained from
below upwards,
whereas, in fact it results from the establishment of communion with
Him who, by virtue of His incommensurable highness, condenses all
in
one per eminentiam.
No comments:
Post a Comment