Day 1: Ash Wednesday has led me to this chapter from the The Imitation of Christ, by Thomas à Kempis. It reminds me of the section in A Course in Miracles where we are advised to, “resign now as your own teacher.” (T-12.V.8:3-4)

As this is my first day in the symbolic “wilderness” and I do not have any expectations of what will be asked, this resonated:

“My Son, lose thyself and thou shalt find Me. Stand still without all choosing and all thought of self, and thou shalt ever be a gainer. For more grace shall be added to thee, as soon as thou resignest thyself, and so long as thou dost not turn back to take thyself again.” —The Imitation of Christ, by Thomas à Kempis

Then as the snow fell thick across the Carson Range and buried the driveway I noticed I did have a belief that this 40-day Jesus in the desert type retreat should be hot and dry. By evening my temperature had risen slowly all day to 102F and I could barely swallow my mouth was so parched. It was like my body was passionately hot and heating the universe through the top of my head!

I also noticed the word “imitation” in the title of Thomas à Kempis’ book was still bothering me. I felt it suggested something counterfeit, the assumption of behavior observed in other individuals. I am now willing to humbly revise this as I watched it play out so hilariously for me today.

Yes, we must loose all imitation of “selves.” All the self-concepts of person’s good or bad, saints or sinners in favor of pure Presence. The mask that was revealed today was that “a man” was tempted in a desert instead of the mind being tempted into having the delusion of a separate will and a separate value. That was “the last temptation”, not the choices between characters as the Bible seems to suggest: powerful, rich, ruling or poor, rabbi, carpenter but the temptation to be individuated and “other” instead of seeing all the characters (even Jesus) as part of a holistic play.

That is what we fail to appreciate about the story of the Gospels, the whole “passion play” was for the awakening mind! It was a demonstration of not being a participant, but a “passer-by.” Yielding to what was unfolding for the character, completely non judgmental, without picking apart right or wrong, Sadducee or Pharisee, Jew or Gentile, Pontius Pilate or Herod, Judas or Jesus, “rich man, poor man, beggar man, thief.”

Tinker, Tailor,
Soldier, Sailor,
Rich Man, Poor Man,
Beggar Man, Thief.
—English nursery rhyme, 1695

So then in realizing the true invitation in The Imitation of Christ we can yield to “experiencing” this Christ Presence which as the Gospel of Thomas tells us “will teach you of Itself.”

There is no becoming, it is the relinquishment of the false: false reliance and false identity that reveals the face of Christ.

I can happily profess my faith yet I have no identification as “a teacher.” Often I join in prayer with mighty companions and what seemed to be a sticking point in “the mind” is relieved. But it is impersonal like getting an oil change to facilitate “the adventures of forgiveness” smoothly running. There is nothing to “fix.” No thought of individual gears or pistons being stuck or needing a mechanic to “perform better.” Merely a softening in the lubrication of Love, Clarity! It is all One Undifferentiated Experience in Awareness, or out of awareness.

This resignation will not lead to depression. It is merely the result of an honest appraisal of what you have taught yourself, and of the learning outcomes that have resulted. Under the proper learning conditions, which you can neither provide nor understand, you will become an excellent learner and an excellent teacher. But it is not so yet, and will not be so until the whole learning situation as you have set it up is reversed. —ACIM (T-12.V.8:4-7)

And here is our chapter from the 1400’s, a medieval modern devotion for contemplation in a quiet moment.

The Imitation of Christ, is a Christian devotional book first composed in Medieval Latin as De Imitatione Christi. The devotional text is divided into four books of detailed spiritual instructions. Thomas à Kempis was a member of the Modern Devotion, a spiritual movement during the late medieval period calling for apostolic renewal through the rediscovery of genuine pious practices such as humility, obedience, and simplicity of life. (c. 1418–1427) 

 

CHAPTER XXXVII
Of pure and entire resignation of self, for the obtaining liberty of heart

“My Son, lose thyself and thou shalt find Me. Stand still without all choosing and all thought of self, and thou shalt ever be a gainer. For more grace shall be added to thee, as soon as thou resignest thyself, and so long as thou dost not turn back to take thyself again.”

O Lord, how often shall I resign myself, and in what things shall I lose myself?

“Always; every hour: in that which is little, and in that which is great. I make no exception, but will that thou be found naked in all things. Otherwise how canst thou be Mine and I thine, unless thou be inwardly and outwardly free from every will of thine own? The sooner thou dost this, the better shall it be with thee; and the more fully and sincerely, the more thou shalt please Me, and the more abundantly shalt thou be rewarded.

“Some resign themselves, but with certain reservations, for they do not fully trust in God, therefore they think that they have some provision to make for themselves. Some again at first offer everything; but afterwards being pressed by temptation they return to their own devices, and thus make no progress in virtue. They will not attain to the true liberty of a pure heart, nor to the grace of My sweet companionship, unless they first entirely resign themselves and daily offer themselves up as a sacrifice; without this the union which bringeth forth fruit standeth not nor will stand.

“Many a time I have said unto thee, and now say again, Give thyself up, resign thyself, and thou shalt have great inward peace. Give all for all; demand nothing, ask nothing in return; stand simply and with no hesitation in Me, and thou shalt possess Me. Thou shalt have liberty of heart, and the darkness shall not overwhelm thee. For this strive thou, pray for it, long after it, that thou mayest be delivered from all possession of thyself, and nakedly follow Jesus who was made naked for thee; mayest die unto thyself and live eternally to Me. Then shall all vain fancies disappear, all evil disturbings, and superfluous cares. Then also shall immoderate fear depart from thee, and inordinate love shall die.”

 

The Imitation of Christ, is a Christian devotional book first composed in Medieval Latin as De Imitatione Christi. The devotional text is divided into four books of detailed spiritual instructions. Thomas à Kempis was a member of the Modern Devotion, a spiritual movement during the late medieval period calling for apostolic renewal through the rediscovery of genuine pious practices such as humility, obedience, and simplicity of life. (c. 1418–1427) 

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Christian Mysticism, This Mystic Life, Sarah St. Claire, Prayer, Presence, Contemplation, The Imitation of Christ, Thomas à Kempis, Christian Mystic, Modern Devotion, Ash Wednesday, Lent, 40 Days, 40 Days and 40 nights, Mystical sobriety, modern mystic, apostolic, devotion, ACIM, A Course in Miracles, Jesus, The last temptation, desert, choice, awakening, enlightenment,

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