THE UNIVERSE AS SYMBOLS AND SIGNS AN ESSAY ON MYSTICISM IN THE EASTERN CHURCH by St Nicholas of Žiča Chapter 1 - Introduction 1. As children learn the alphabet, they perceive letters merely as forms or “idols” in that they represent only a material reality. Chattering along, a child concentrates all his or her thoughts and attention only upon the letters themselves. When the child has finished “reading” a word, letter by letter, you may ask what he or she has read, and the child does not know what to reply, for only the form, size and color of the written letters had made an impression upon the mind; and that is all that the child momentarily knows about letters. Indeed, the child perceives letters as only a physical reality just as idols are to an idol worshipper. Hence, the beginning reader and the practiced idol worshipper both look upon their idols with veneration and fear. 2. Similar to children are many grown-ups; even many who call themselves philosophers and scientists. With great pains and labor they scarcely go beyond their childlike repetition of the letters that comprise nature. Very seldom, if ever, do they reach and comprehend the actual meaning and significance of those letters, written in nature in the form of things that comprise the visible universe, or in the scenes of happenings and events. A person well trained in reading, however, reads words without even thinking of the letters of which words themselves are composed, and consciously reads them quickly according to their meaning. A school teacher labors long and hard until students are able to read words “according to their meaning.” Worshippers of nature are but worshippers of the letters that comprise that nature. Though they have grown up, they are but immature children. When asked what the things in nature or happenings and events mean, they look at you wonderingly, like puzzled children, when asked about the meaning of that they had just read. Part of series Nikolai100. Full text: Print: tinyurl/PrintUaSaS
Posted on: Sun, 11 Jan 2015 03:31:00 +0000
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