The metaphor which comes to mind of the inner journey of which Palmer speaks and his thoughts expressed in these first few pages is one of a building ~ its foundations and materials. While by no means a discourse in stream of consciousness, Palmer's insights explore, just as Durka did, many fundamental, if not elusive concepts, in just a few pages.
These will be the building blocks of our more sensitive, perceptive, and successful teaching.
Also, Palmer's inner landscape seems like the foundation and interior of the home that is our Self; each component, each material ~ the intellect, emotion & spirit ~ holding, binding us together and creating the whole, our integrity, and making possible a beautiful edifice. Our students readily see and perceive this edifice, which, if faulty within, has obvious cracks.
Metaphor aside, I feel that the issue of the role of trust looms very largely in Palmer's discussion and has also surfaced, repeatedly, in our class. I hope that Palmer continues to examine this in depth and provide specific pointers on how to create, nurture and sustain trusting relationships in our teaching.
Carla, your description of the building makes me think of Teresa of Avila and her chosen metaphor for the interior journey to God: a castle with many rooms. For her, the path to mystical union with God (first purgative, illuminative, then unitive)involves cultivation: self discovery and prayer practice.
ReplyDeleteAll too often we look at others as if they should be complete - but if we use a mirror we see how incomplete we ourselves are! The spiritual life is the task, the building, of a lifetime. I often wonder what kind of building my own will be at my end of days here on earth. I rather hope it has the feel of the one in your image - warm, big enough to live in and invite others into but not to big to be showy.
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