Cris's Reviews > The Cloud of Unknowing

Written by an anonymous author, presumably a 14th century monk, the Cloud of Unknowing is a unique manual for christian contemplation, which has been called by some the origin of centering prayer. The name of the book is a reference to the author's premise that God is hidden from man's complete intellectual understanding behind a cloud (see old testament reference) and must therefore be approached through the power of love. Knowing through unknowing. The book is full of seeming contradictions that require patience until they are resolved, including the admonition that the book is only for those in religious life. Wonderful to behold in this book is the medieval mind in which science and theology are not divorced. (There is a wonderful meditation on the eschatological significance of the atom worth the price of the book.) In the competing traditions of spiritual writing that emphasize the mystical role of either the mind or the soul, this book falls squarely on that subset which de-emphasizes the intellect and the will. Unlike other spiritual exercises which put a premium on praising the creator, this book demands an immediate and complete apopathic approach. It seems radical to say: Don't even bother to praise God for his creation -- this will only distract you from he himself. It also seems radical to distance oneself from the cloud of witnesses as he suggests. But that is the rub. That after you climb up on a ladder you must throw it over to reach the top. From this simplicity some readers might believe that the mystical union requires no preparation or intellectual foundation, as have many who have taken this book for an excuse for esoteric nonsense. Note however that although the author talks about simple steps though, he is already a monk. Like T of Avila, when we talk about beinners, we are talking about very advanced beginners. Frankly, I'm not sure wether it is altogether right to not meditate on God's goodness and the format suggested for contemplation, while seemingly orthodox makes me a bit nervous.....