Tag Archives: John of the Cross

Insights into Voidness

Posted on March 13, 2025 by Vajragoni

A continuing series of Unborn Mind discussions with Grok

Insights into Voidness

Vajragoni: The Void is the privation of all disordered dharmata that is pleasing to the carnal mind and flesh. It is the antithesis of created realms by virtue of Its prior animating function that gives structure to such defiled states. As such It is hereafter referred to as the premier Voidness—neither something nor nothing yet simultaneously that Self-Same all-encompassing Void (śūnyatā) That is empty of inherent existence and non-existence. This Voidness does not refer to some-thing “other” in the dark center of the universe, acting as some form of cosmic vacuum-cleaner sucking-in everything in its path like a gargantuan black-hole reducing everything to sheer nothingness. read more

Posted in Sessions with Grok, Spirituality | Tagged Huang Bo, John of the Cross, Nagarjuna, Void, voidness | 2 Comments

A Most Dark Contemplation

Posted on March 5, 2025 by Vajragoni

A continuing series of Unborn Mind discussions with Grok

A Most Dark Contemplation

Vajragoni: Many times Contemplation is misunderstood and rendered as a secondary spiritual tool following meditation. However, Contemplation, as utilized and experienced through the works of Mystical Giants like John of the Cross, perhaps draws the adept intimately closer to the Unborn than any other modality. There are two primary forms of Contemplation. Active Contemplation utilizes many different types of experiential tools in encountering the Transcendent: reading, imagination, music, monastic liturgical settings, walking, attunement with nature, etc. Infused Contemplation, which is highlighted in this series, directly addresses the Unborn In Itself with no other accessories at hand. read more

Posted in Sessions with Grok, Spirituality | Tagged apophatic, contemplation, Dark Contemplation, he Ascent of Mount Carmel, Infused Contemplation, John of the Cross, quietist, Right Discernment, Yathabhutam | Leave a comment

The Reunion

Posted on November 1, 2023 by Vajragoni

After the grand ceremony of initiation, Pamela found herself in one of the exquisite ante-rooms of the temple. The air was filled with a sense of serenity and anticipation, as if the very walls were whispering ancient secrets. It was in this hallowed space that she unexpectedly crossed paths with Agnes; the sight of Agnes filled Pamela’s heart with immense joy, for she had always admired her wisdom and grace. read more

Posted in The Unborn Odyssey: A Novel | Tagged Black Dragons, Great Other Tree, John of the Cross, medallion, Meister Eckhart, reunion, Teresa of Avila | Leave a comment

A Darkness full of Light

Posted on February 11, 2023 by Vajragoni

Chapter Two: A Darkness full of Light

I pray we could come to this Translucent Darkness so far above light! If only we lacked sight and knowledge so as to see, so as to know, unseeing and unknowing, that which lies beyond all vision and knowledge. For this would be really to see and to know: to praise the Transcendent One in a transcending way, namely through the denial of all beings. We would be like sculptors who set out to carve a statue. They remove every obstacle to the pure view of the hidden image, and simply by this act of clearing aside they show up the beauty which is hidden. Now it seems to me that we should praise the denials quite differently than we do the assertions. When we made assertions we began with the first things, moved down through intermediate terms until we reached the last things. But now as we climb from the last things up to the most primary we deny all things so that we may unhiddenly know that unknowing which itself is hidden from all those possessed of knowing amid all beings, so that we may see above being that darkness concealed from all the light among beings. read more

Posted in Theologia Mystica | Tagged John of the Cross, Thomas Merton, Translucent Darkness, via negativa | Leave a comment

The Purge

Posted on August 11, 2021 by Vajragoni

The initial inspiration for this series is based upon a book (The Doctrine of the Void as Propounded by St. John of the Cross and as Viewed in the Light of Thomistic Principles, 1955) by Rev. Leonard McCann (1908-1966). This was his Doctoral-Thesis based on the works of St. John of the Cross. What he provided in its pages are actual Bullet-Points incorporating the nature of the Void in relationship to the saints spirituality and works under each heading, for example, Memory and the Void, Various effects of the Void, Beginners and the Void, etc.—all in aphoristic fashion. This blog follows suit and has provided a version in light of the Unborn. Unfortunately, the book is long out of print and I only hope to do it justice in light of our subject matter. read more

Posted in Doctrine of the Void | Tagged imagination, John of the Cross, memory, mortification, Purgation | Leave a comment

Nada and Silence in John of the Cross

Posted on October 14, 2018 by Vajragoni

We have extensively covered the rich apothatic spirituality of John of the Cross in a prior series. Our focus now is on the significance of this Nadayana and its twin sister, Silence. John’s negative path is a cradle of nothingness in that no-thing can withstand the awesome splendor of the Unborn Absolute: read more

Posted in Nothingness in Nāgārjuna and John of the Cross, Spirituality | Tagged aloneness, cloud of forgetfulness, Cloud of Unknowing, John of the Cross, Nada, Silence, Silent Music, solitude | 3 Comments

Nothingness in Nāgārjuna and John of the Cross

Posted on October 3, 2018 by Vajragoni

Our offering for this autumn season is a series based on the Negative-Way as found in the notion of Nothingness. Two proponents of this Way are Nāgārjuna and John of the Cross. From the Mādhyamika thrust of Nāgārjuna it is considered as śūnyatā, and from the mystic-pen of the Discalced Carmelite John of the Cross it is coined as nada. Thus we have emptiness clearly exhibited in two diverse spiritual traditions yet containing a kernel of comparability, although singularly expounded in each. Our main resource for this series is a marvelous text written by C.D. Sebastian entitled, The Cloud of Nothingness: The Negative Way in Nāgārjuna and John of the Cross. Professor Sebastian initiates his study with two prominent quotes: read more

Posted in Nothingness in Nāgārjuna and John of the Cross, Spirituality | Tagged apophaticism, C.D. Sebastian, gnoseological apophaticism, John of the Cross, Nagarjuna, Negative-Way, Nothingness, ontic apophaticism, Raimon Panikkar, sunyata, The Cloud of Nothingness, via negativa, via positiva | 1 Comment

Karma’s Repository

Posted on January 15, 2018 by Vajragoni

The advent of Mahāyāna Buddhism that coincided with the beginning of the Christian-era gave birth to the most sublime innovations in Buddhist-thought that have not been surpassed even to this day. Colorful, dynamic and transcendent in scope, resplendent with rich metaphorical language founded in the rich soil of sūtra and śāstra laden literature, the Mahāyāna shaped a new and indefatigable-direction for the nature of the karma-effect. According to the Sarvāstivādin and Theravādin doctrine, one’s goal in unraveling the karmic-equation was to slowly and diligently eradicate it through determined demolition of its defilements, in essence, being empowered to save-oneself. In Mahāyāna doctrine the emphasis was not so much in eradicating its effects, but standing above and beyond it by not focusing so much on individual-salvation, but by the salvation of others by practicing the six perfections or pāramitās. This found its inestimable worth in the cult of the Bodhisattvas. Generally, the causes of birth for ordinary beings are past deeds (karman) and defilements (klesa). But the Bodhisattva’s birth is unique in that it is caused exclusively by his will and purpose. Thus, a Bodhisattva volunteers to be born (saṃcintyabhavopapatti—intentional birth) into a life of suffering for the precise purpose of alleviating the suffering of sentient beings. read more

Posted in Karma and Rebirth | Tagged Alaya vijnana, Awakening of Faith, Cittapada, Cittidhatu, Fa-shang, John of the Cross, Lankavatarian Book of the Dead, Mahāyāna Buddhism, paramartha, paravrtti, ritambharā, saṃcintyabhavopapatti, Seedless Contemplation, Tsung-mi, turn-about, Yogacara | Leave a comment

In Darkness and Secure

Posted on October 8, 2015 by Vajragoni

We have been covering the preparation for Infused Contemplation, the preparation of the Mindground as it were. An evacuation of the sensate faculties was in order before proper Union with the Unborn Mind could be conferred. If the mortal (and spiritual) appetites are not mortified, then the adept is still held-bound and preoccupied with habit-energy and thus not free to receive the Supernal Self-Realization and communication of the Unborn Spirit. Hence the mortification of habit-energy leaves the adept in a form of darkness and void with respect to them. The spirit is no longer fixated upon, and thus secured, from being further affected by them. The way is thus open for the first rudiments of Infused Contemplation to unfold. The active night of the senses thus ended, the way is now set for the active night of the spirit. read more

Posted in Ascending the Noble Mountain of Primordial Perfection | Tagged active night of the spirit, Ariyan Spirit, Āśraddhya, Compassion, faith, John of the Cross, Trust | Leave a comment