Quaker Contemplation

What we have heard from The Lord, let us interpret in The Light of The Lord,
-- and The Light of The Lord is LOVE.


We know that within us there dwells The Light which prompts and directs us in the ways of God. But we should also reflect that within this Light there is another, greater Light. For one may enter into silence, and there be instructed in the ways of righteousness, but one may also enter into the silence of silence, so to speak, in order to receive a yet deeper instruction. In the deepest silence of the heart there is only one course we are prompted to, and that is Love. Love, it may be said, is the Light within the Light.


From the beginning of the world, there has been a Light set in the hearts of all people. But many have remained ignorant of this Light, even as it dwells within themselves. The mission of Jesus, the Way Shower, was and is to indicate to all peoples the means by which this Inward Light may be realized. So, in directing us towards our own Inner Light, Christ was not literally giving us salvation, but revealing to us the salvation which has always existed within ourselves. For this reason, we give thanks to Christ for showing us the way to our own salvation, as a prisoner might thank someone for indicating to him or her that the key to unlock the cell door has been concealed within his or her cell all along. It follows, also, that the indications of Christ are not necessary for all people, since there are many who find the key without assistance, and many who are assisted by other guides. Yet we who feel called to honor the Christian tradition do not hesitate to accord a distinct position of honor to the Christ, for having performed this service for so many, and at a time when discovering one's own Inner Light was a profoundly difficult task, seeing that it was systematically hidden from them by the efforts of diverse corrupt influences in the world.


For those of us who identify as Christians, there is a two-fold office held by the Lord, Jesus Christ. First, He is the one who leads us inward, to discover the Light within. Second, He is that Inner Light. And, if we wish to add a third, we may say that Christ is the Light within the Light; the Love which dwells in the heart of every heart.


Let it further be understood that there is no sharp distinction between the Light of Christ within and the Light of Christ which leads us to reflect upon that Inner Light. For Jesus is always seeking to direct our paths, either inward, to a deeper realization of Himself, or outward, to a performance of His duties in the world. The faint Light which draws us inward, where we may seek communion with the deeper Light, is not separate, but is a ray extending from, and leading back to, that Inner Sun. And all of this is Christ.


Excessive concern with theological explanations, images, beliefs, and subtleties is rightfully to be avoided. And yet, in a time when so much confusion abounds as to who or what Christ is, and how this Inner Light corresponds to the religious life and consciousness of humankind, it becomes increasingly clear that some attention to theological matters must be the business of every Christian who would endeavor to have practical dealings with the world. As every true peacemaker knows, it is sometimes necessary to enter into disputes, if only for the sake of clarifying and putting an end to them.


What we have come to understand, as Quakers and Friends of The Lord, is that the Light of Christ dwells within every one of us as Seed, and that, through the observant practice of silent contemplation, we begin to water this Seed, so that it's roots may spread out into our hearts, into our bodies, limbs, hands and fingers. Furthermore, that by frequent repetition of this process, we will begin to witness, more and more evidently, the stems and branches of The Holy Tree, growing outward, strong and green, into the visible world of our actions. Every time we enter into the silence, we effectively water the roots of our spiritual conduct in the world. For this reason, the practice of silent contemplation, or meditation, is recognized among us as the very cornerstone of our faith; since, when we speak of "faith", we do not mean to imply the holding of certain arbitrary beliefs and statutes concerning the hidden operations of God, but, rather, the faithful practice of discipleship as it directly informs our conduct in the world.


The faithful practice of silent contemplation lies at the very roots of the Christian experience, and it is, just as surely, the fruit and flower thereof. What the earliest history of Christian ministry reveals, the ultimate future of Christianity will make abundantly clear.


The saints and great ministers of God have all been contemplatives. Whatever practical, outward works they may have accomplished, the very source and substance of their efforts has always been this: a patient and silent waiting upon the presence, grace, and power of the Lord. He speaks to those who listen. But whosoever cannot sit still, cannot stand firm. And whosoever is not content to rest in the very place where he is, cannot hope to make the journey of a thousand miles.


There are many who have a proper understanding of the Lord's Will, but they do not speak it. Even less are they inclined to do it. They keep silent, for fear of being unpopular, and keep idle, for fear of being inconvenienced. It is only in the silence of our hearts, while basking in the Light of Christ, that we acquire the strength to speak and to do His will.