"Till your spirit filleth the whole world, and the stars are your jewels; till you are as familiar with the ways of God in all Ages as with your walk and table: till you are intimately acquainted with that shady nothing out of which the world was made: till you love men so as to desire their happiness, with a thirst equal to the zeal of your own: till you delight in God for being good to all: you never enjoy the world."
— Thomas Traherne
— Thomas Traherne
Eloquent quote. However I would change it to state, 'Till you realize your spirit filleth the whole world, and the stars are your jewels; till you realize your walk and table are intrinisically sacred as the God in All Ages; till you are intimately acquainted with that shady nothing out of which the world was made: till you love men and women and all creatures so as to desire their happiness, with a thirst equal to the zeal of your own: till you delight in the essential goodness in all for being good to all as that is that of God in all: you never truly enjoy the world.' But that's just my experience leaking out.
ReplyDeleteYour version reads good to me Amala. Unlike many 17th century mystics Traherne does seem, very much, of his age. As far as a starting point for some deep thinking goes, however, he does still seem able to reach out of history and put his finger on the button for me :-)
ReplyDeleteThanks for continually being a link to the wide world.
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