Mystical Languages of Unsaying

163 Pages·1994·4.78 MB·English

by  Michael A. Sells

MYSTICAL LANGUAGES OF
UNSAYING
. . .
MichaeAl. S ells
. . .
Ces oncte ulqxu in 'o nte nt ernreeh ontnee h onnounre
crainptoeu crh osqeu ea dviengnTeel.l egse nsd,i Atm our,
sonste gurests, is onlte urs portes eotsu inv eel retse s,
TheU niversoifCt hyi cagPor esCsh,i cag6o0 637
TheU niversoifCt hyi cagPor esLst,d .L,o ndon peuntu lg rever.
© 199b4y T heU niversoifCt hyi cago
Allr ighrtess ervPeudb.l ish1e9d9 4
"Theyh aven o shamen,o honorn,o feafro rw hati st o
Printiendt heU niteSdt atoefsA merica
comeT.h eya res ecursea,y s Love. Thaerioerp ednoN.oo r s
03 02 01 00 99 98 97 96 2 3 4 5
onec anh arm them."
ISBN: 0-226-74786-7 (cloth)
02-26-747(8p7a-p5e r)
ThMei rrtohSrei moSpfol uel s
LibraorfyC ongreCsast aloging-in-PuDbaltiac ation
MarguerPiotree te
(dJ.u n1e, 1 310P,l acdeeI aG reveP,a ris)
SellMsi,c haAenlt hony.
Mystical lanogfuu nasgaeysi InM gi chaAel.S ells.
p. ern.
Includes bibliographical references.
L Mysticism-Hi-sMtiodrdylAe ges6,0 0-1500.2 .R hetoric­
Religiaosupse ctIs..T itle.
8728.54159 94
291.4'22-dc20 93-23488
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Thep apeurs edi nt hipsu blicamteieotnts h e
minimurme quiremeonftt hseA mericNaant ional Standard
foIrn formatSicoine ncePse-rmanencoefP apefro r
PriendtL ibraMrayt erialAsN,S I2 39.48-1984.
CONTENTS
. . .
ACKNOWLEDGMENiTxS
NOTET OT HER EADERX
Introductaiyoinn1/g U ns
1 Awakeniwnitgh Aowuatk enAepro:pa hsiinsP loti1n4us
2 TheN othingonfGe osdis nJ ohtnh Sec oEtr iuge3n4a
3 Ib'nA raPboil'iss MhierdrI odre:n Sthiitafynt d
Meaning E6v3e nt
4 Ibn 'AGraarbdiae'mnso ntgh Fel amTehseH: e art
RecepotfEi vvee Froyr m9 0
5 ApophaosfDi ess iarnedt hBeu rnionfMg a rgueProirteet1 e1 6
6 MeisEtcekrh aBritra:tn hdS elf-B1i4r6t h
7 PoreatnedE ckhaTrhteA: p ophaosfGi esn de1r8 0
EPILOGU2E0 6
NOTES2 19
SELECTBEIDB LIOGRAP3H0Y5
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
• • •
Wigtrha titude
To JAarniaeentlMd,aa y,a
Tog ofordi ferntodhmse UniversSittaynU fnooifr­ dC hicago, the
verDseiptayr otRfme elniCtglsia osansn,id c sC,o mLpiatreartai­ve
tuarneHd,a verfoersdcp ieCmaoylcl lolyle lgaeenas,dgt uuedse nts,
paasntcd u rirtneh nHeta ,v eDrefpoarrdt menftr oomf Religion,
Caiarnfodr, Mo emd eFnoiuTntmaea ,h oaunJiden ireTnb,ua n .i sia
To twhhhooas rveee aa ndd coomnem aernvlteieredsor if o ns
thwiosrJ ke:n AnlimfiqesEurtl ,Bl aebnyi A,nn snBkal Daauv,i d
Carpenter, DCaavDriaidwn sD ooCDnnou, mc plAaonnwti,oc nky,
DugdEarlGieec,iaM s aerGrko, u Rledg,a n HEemiHisole­ rman,
merAirnyK,eo hs mRainc,h ard LMuamcaBnJe,ot hhDn,a nielle
McCudKdeevMnic,nC ulAlnonMuecg GhuA,in Mrnae t,t er, James
MorSraissk,i- aJ aMWnuisrleklnOe,tm tEielenin,z P aebnelJtauhnd dy,
SaltJzomShaenny ,bS oulsSdah,na RpuiTtrnoohn, Je arc,q Vueealli,n e
ChrWiisla kniMdni sc,Zh waeetlt ler.
ToF reSdcrhilScaJ. ,at. ntfedrr i,e nGdosn zUfanrgioavm e rsity.
With grsapteitctBoiue adrlean naPdraM dtc Ginn.
Tot hHea rvTahredo lRoegviHicietaswool,rRf ye lnisag,niS dot u­
diIaas mlifcopare rmtiposu sbisloeincs othcfi h oanpst aenrds
1,3 ,
4,t toh Weh iatniMndeg l Floounn dfaotris otunhpsept itoorhr et ,
InterSnoactfiioeortn yaN le opltahMteuo hnyiIicbd ndS itnu dies,
'ArSaobc,iti heEetr yiuSgoecnaianet dthE yec, k Shoacrfitoe rt y
theeffiortr sotu pspo trhstet utdhyl eiostfe e ratures.
Tot hHea veCrofloclroedmg meuf noiirhtt usym anity and
integrity.
Fotrhp ee oopBflo es nia.
NOTE TO THE READER
• • • IntroducUtnisoany:i ng
Thbiosio askd drteaosni s netde rdaiusdciiIepptnrl ceiesn.ea nrtys Weirtethc eat sheaafl tyh ad arnecdaos urolandt ionally
an argument coomfny csetlriancniagonluufg an gsteahsye ­ nature seoeuktt he et earbnyoadsflis v bienifenr gwo,hm i icth
inagn,od ff esresvr eena doikfen tyge six tntr sa onns.l ati cafrnoe,r w tesh atyhG aotid n,s aohsfei aG sro cdo,u ld
Ther eadairbneag susep dao nna oltfyh steie isxtn th oser iginal noftu losfiral tlti hflseyf .y TphreGaroyetd fh woaert e
lang.uh aaIgiv enesc ltuhodere idlg ainngavulea rgsoetif ho en s mabyef roeGfeo . d1
teixtnth esen dnotes.
Ih ave ncothtoo saaenidn nd dT ehcxer. i vtoiccaaiblEnu n l­ary
"
gliiossu ht litinhn Ieen dt roadnudc trieovnfiu,le ilwtyneh de more Wed on ofti tnhdew soerf drsMo emi Esctkehrfa armtso'eusrs m on
Epil.To hcgeru ieticailtn h vveao rcliaaobnuugs(lu Gaarrgeyee sk , onp oviemnro tesydt i taintodrn asn solEfac tksihw oarnristt 'ings.
LatAirnaF,br iec,an; nc Mdhi dHdilgeh Giceshr amspaptnee)cr i fic; Thmeo deerdnio tfEo crkr htGa'esr mwaonr ks sienlteecrtpiov­ely
three acdatenur tr aonp artcihcauaplntfadeir trn h kdee t ye rimns laitnevde crotmemidan st toe ixtonthr edt edori stibnegtuwiesehn
itadleifciiscnn,o e ndwt ieetxxhtt ,ed nidsecdui tsnhs neio otonenss God "aGnodgdo "mti :at l ldeamz 'goits('tG oidn,sa oshf eia sr
er
issoutfer sa nasnlddae tfiiioonnni. t "G"o)dT.hi en teropafog lraatdpiihosintc bi entcwtgoeiateo nnnd
'g-oti'tn h iinss taanindnsc eev eral otheserrs­ throughout the
mon-has bbeyte hnme a ajcoocrEfeic ptkttyhm'e asodr d terrann s­
latOonrtesr .a nhsalesax ttoetrnh dseee dl eicnttievreop fo lation
invecrotmemtdato sh f ei pnraaly eursp- r"taLGoye o ttd h waet
mabyef r oe'feG d o'T.ht"er anesxlpalttahoEiarcnt khe wadar msta k­
intghc eo mmosncphloadlciaess ttbiienctc wteiaeohsnn ei i sGn o d
him(sGeoaldnfG)d o adhs ei is cn r ea(t"uG"ro)ed.s2
Suicnht erpaontldhwa eit dieosnapscr ceeatpdhth eaaynrv ceee­
ceiavrieend d iocfap teair vvmeao sdideviresn w- iettahhkse ei o nfd
mystliacnagcluo amgpebo yEs cekdhW airtthe.od uitta onhrdei ra­l
meneaulttiectrahaaletc tiwuooanrol,dEf sc khparrattyGo'eo srtd o
bef roeGfeo adr ien conwsiimtsohtd eaennrptdno strncoodne­rn
struoctfth mieoo nnost threaidsittimiceo dni meaidvnn.ad l the
UNSAYIANNGDT HED ILEMMAT RANSCENDENCE
OF
Eckthp'arsr atyGoeo trdbo ef roeGfeo idn vuitstro ee sc otnhsei der
convetnhlteoi goainntcdshp, ,ea raodfo dxtiehsset miondoceft ive
2 •I NTRODUCTION UNSAYIN•G 3
discoiuetrm sbeo diTehsam.to doef d iscobuergsiewn istt hh aep o­ witkaht aph(aasfifsi rmatisopne,a ksiatnyhgiE)-nv.wge i,ra yco tfu n­
ria-tuhner esoldvialbelmem at-roafn scenTdheent crea.n scen­ sayidnegm anodrps r esuppaop sreesv ious Aspaoypihnags.i s can
3 6
denmtu sbte b eyonnda meisn,e ffaIbnlo er.d teorc latihma tth e reaacp ho ionfti ntenssuictthhy a ntos ingplreo posciotnicoenr ning
transceinbsde eynotnn adm ehso,w evIem ru,s gti vieat n ame",t he thter anscecnadsnet naton ndi tosw nA.n ys ayi(negv aen ne gative
"X
trandsecnetnA.n"y statoefim neenftf abiilsi tbye,ny aomneds ," sayidnegm)a sn dcao rrepcrtoipnogs iatnui nosna,y Biunttgh .ac to r­
genertahtaeep so rtihaat ths eu bjoeftc htse t atemmuesnbtten amed rectpirnogp oswihtiicuohnn s atyhspe r evious pirosp ioitsnsi etlifo n
X)
(asi no rdfeorur st oa ffirtm haiitts benyaomneds . a" asyintgh"a t bmeu" sutn saiintd u"r Init.s tihtnee nsbieotnw een
Atl eatshtr ee retsotp hopenr siemsad riyl emomfta r anscendence thtew op ropositthiatothn desi osucrsbeec ommeesa ninlgT.fh uat
arceo nceiTvhaebf lierr.se ts ponssiel e.inT4sch ees ecorneds poinss e tensiismoo nm entaIrmtyu .sb te c ontinruea-lelaybr yne evden re w
tod insgtuiibseht weweany isn w hicthh ter ansceinsbd eeynotn d linguaicstotsfui ncs aying.
nameasn d wianwy hsi cihit sn otI.nt hmee diecvoanlt etxhmteo, s t Frotmh ipse rspecatldiliv sec,o ounrt shete r anscecnodnetnati ns
commoanp peiastlo dai stinbcettiwoetnew nok inodfs nambien­g; botsha yianngud n sayAipnogp.h aisasri esl atteirvAme p. u realpyo ­
tweeGno ds--ahe-is-iann-dGh oidm-saesl-fh e-is-fioner-x c­reatures, phatliacn guwaoguelb dea na bstarnamdce tc hantiucranlbi ancgok n
amploert, h ien communidceaiabtsly i eisi t ni tsaenldtf h,de e iatsy eacrhe feraesn ciiest p.oO snet dhoet hhearn ds,om e whofah ta s
iitis n o umri ndS.u cdhi stinucntdieotrnhlsiey n terpoilnatEtoci ko­n beecna lalpeodp hiaassp iosp htahteiocar sy opptooas peodp hdaitsi­c
harspt r'ayoefar g rapdhiisct inbcettiwoeGneo nda nd' GodT'h.e courAspeo.p hatthiecoa rffyi rtmhsue l timianteeff aboiftl hitetr ya n­
5
thirreds pobnesgeiw nistt hh ree futsosa oll tvhede i lempmoas ebdy scendbeunatts ; opptooas peodp hatic idatiff sicroimunsre ffsaeb,i lity
thaet temtport e fteort hter anscetnhdreonuatg d hi stinbcet­ion without btaucruknp iotnnhg ne a miunsge idni tosw na ffirmaotfi on
tweetnw ok indsn aomfeT .h ed ilemimsa accaesap g teendu ianpeo ­ ineffabTihlisistt uyw.di ylr le setrhvteee ramp ophfaosri st hose writ­
ritah,ai tsa ,s unresboulttvh aiabscl cee;p tiannscteoe,fla eda dtion g ingisnw hicuhn nameabiisnl oiottn yla yss ertbeudpt e rforImne d.
silelnecaed,as n etwmo o doef d iscourse. thowsrei titnhgeesff ,o rta fftiort mr anscelnedaetndoacs c e o ntinu­
Thidsi scohuasrb seee n cnaelglaettdih veeoy l.Io itg sne gatiinv e insge roifer se tracatp iroonpso,s ituinosanbtalalenl ddy y namdiics ­
thsee ntshea itdt e nitehsat tht er anscecnadbnee nn atm eodrg iven courisnwe h icnhos ingsltea teencmta rne sotni tosw na st ruoer
attribTuhtefe osr.m daeln itahlat th ter anscecnadnbe enn ta med falosree v,e n as meIansn uicndhgi fsuclo.aur risgeo,ra oduhse rence
musitns omsee nbseev aloitdh,e riwniesffea bwioluilntdoyb t e come tot hien itlioaglii cmapla sosfie n effabeixleirattf yso rtcheat tr ans­
ani ss.Iu nesofar ash oiwte viteshrf e,ov ramlisadtl,a teomfei nnte f­ fornmosr mlaolg iacnadsl e mansttircu ecs.t ur
"X
fabitluirtbnyas c ukp on itself, ands auyn idsbo eeyso nidt self. To Performianttievniess i tay funtchtfeir oenq uoeafnn cdsy e rious­
names,i"ft rueen,t atihlastc aintnt ohte bne c allbeytd h nea me neswsi twhh icthhl ea ngutaugrebn asc ukp oint osw np ropositions.
X"
"X.I"nt urtnh,se t ate"miectna tn ntohteb nec allebde comseuss ­ Att hleo we ndo f tshceaw loeu lbdea na sesrtioofin n effatbyf,io lli­
pecsti,n tche"e i ta/sa' p ronoun, subasn taimteub,tu ettsh e for lowebdya fcuhlalp otret rr eatthiasfter eeelmyp loys names and
transceinbsde eynotan ldnl a meAss.I a ttetmops tt attheae p oroifa predicaotfti hotenr sa nsceannddte hnetan,tt heen dr emintdhse
transcenId eanmc ec,ia nua lg ihntg uriesrgteisEcsa .c sht atement I readtehrat th ter sacnendiesbn ety oanldnl a measn dp redications.
make-posoir"t nievgea t-irveev"e alsa sii nnt eseeodlfc f o rrection. Att hhei gehn do ft hsec aolfpe e rformianttievnaesr ipeta ys sages,
Thec orrecsttiantgem muesnttth eint sbeecl ofr reacdt eidin,ni ftum. sucahst hodsies cuhsesreiedn,w hicthh mey stidciaslc otuurrsnes
Thea uthesnubtjiecoc fdt si coursec osnltiipnbsua aclkl yb eeyaocnhd bacrke lentulpeosinst losyw np roposiatnidgo ennse rdaitsetsi nc­
effotrotn amieot r e vetnod eniyt nsa meabiTlhiert eyg.ri eshs asr ­ tipvae radtohxaeitsn clwuidteht ihne mseall vaernsgu em boefrr adi­
nessaenddb ecomtehsge u idisnegm anftoircct eh,de y namiosfa, catlr aonrsmtfaiopnasr,t iciuntl haaerlr ye oaft empoarnadsl p atial
newk inodfl agnua.g e relationships.
Apophiasts hiceso mmon Gdreeseikg nfaotri oltnah nigseu .Aa pgo­ Thep osittiaokhnee nr iest hatthp ea radoaxpeosr,ai nasdc, o inci­
phasis ca"nn egmaetabniu oitnst ,e "t ymolsouggyg easm tesa ning dencoefos p poswiittehasip no phdaitsicco aurrneso emt e realpyp ar­
thamto rper ecicshealrya cttehrdeii ozsuecrsis neq u estaipoponh :a sis encto ntradiRcetaciloo nntsr.a doiccctuiro nlwsah negnu eanggea ges
(un-saoyrsi pnega kingT-haetw earyam)p .o phiacsso imsm onplayi red thien effatbrlaen scebnudtteh netcs,oe n tradaircneto iitol nlsol g.i ca
4 ° INTRODUCTION UNSAYIN•G 5
Fotrh aep ophwartiitcte hrle,o gircualolefn on-contradiction func­tioonfo net,r anscepnrdienncotif rp elael ity.t haRfnao tchuesri ng
tiofnosor b ejct enWthietnti hesesu .eb cjotfd iscoiuasrn soen -eocbtj upotnh tee xt"ubaolrrowoifon ngtesr "a diftrioaomnn o thiestre ,e ms
andn o-thiiitn sng o,it r rattihoasntua clah l ogbiesc u pers.eO dfe d morper ofittosa ebtelh ee tsrea diatsci oomnpse twiintgha ip na rtially
couraspeo,p hiasnso its otnhldeyi scotuhracstae n ndoitr encatmley shariendt ellaencdst yumablo wloircld de,f ining tihnce omns­elves
itssu ebjcPto.e tdrrya,m a-alamnofyso tro mfa rt-rbiesiktnsrg i vi­ versawtiitoohnn e anaontdh earg oaniean nsott her.
alizwehde ni tmse aniinsdg e finaenddp araphrdaisusercds ively. An overvoifeW we stearpno phawsoiusl d bweigtiPhnl otinus
Anyonweh oh asa ttempttoee xdp ldaiisnc vuerlstyhi eh umoorf (d2.7 C0. E.T)h.o ugehl emeonfat pso phaesxiisse taerdl iiewtra ,s1 2
aj koek nowhso w thhuem odri sappwehaerns remforvoeimdt s Plotiwnhuows o vteh eeslee meanntds ohwinso rigpihniallo sophi­
performAapnocpeh.at teixct s shuafvfeei rne pdaa rticaucluatrel y caaln dm ystiicnasli gihnttaso d iscooufrs sues taaipnoepdh atic
mannferro tmh uer gteop araphtrhamese ea niinnng o n-apophatic intenAsfittceyer.n tuorfi eNse oplwartiotni(inscgo smm eo raep o­
languoartg oef iilntl h oep erne ferensta-yt owt hhatete xrte ally phattihcao nt hearm sy)s,t erwiroiutoseft r h sei xctehn tCu.rEwy.h o
meanttos ayb,ud ti dn't. wrotuen detrh nea moef D ionystihuceso ,m panoifSo ani Pnatu l,
placaepdo phdaitsicco cuernsterw ailtlhtyih nCe h risttriaadni Itti on.
wasD ionyswihuows r otmeo sstp ecifoiftc hatelw liyen l emeonft s
HISTORICAANLDG EOGRAPHICpAALR AMETERS
kataph(assaiysai nngd) apop(huanssaiysii n"n mgy)s ttihceaoll ogy"
Apophcaasbnie ds e fienietdh heirs toroirfc oarlmlayAl hliys.t orical (at erDmi onysciouisn ewdi)tt,hh ea pophaetliecm ebneti ntgh e
approwaocuhl ldi m"iatp ophatsoti hso"ws rei twehrose mpyleod "highoermr o"r aec curate.
thtee rimnt heoiwrnw rit,ia nngdts ow ritweirtsahc leadrelmyo n­ Oneo ft hnei nth-cLeantttiurnra yn sloafDt ioornsy sJiouhSsnc, o ­
strahbilset ocroincnaelc ttosi uocnwh r itiIntg sw.ot urlatdch ede e ­ tuEsr iug(eonsrai mplyt hJSeoc honwt e)n otn u ndetrhi en fluence
velopmoefanp ta rtitcrualdai,rwt iitaohtn tenttoti hoiend entification ofD ionystiou sw hriiotswe n m asterwPoerrki,op nhTy.hs oeugthh e
ofv erifpiaatbtleoerfi n nsf lu.eT?nh cefe ormaaplp rowaocuhl d apply LatCihnr istian cotnrtaadeiiantrsile oifnef roa rtat pso phaJsoihsn, 13
thtee r"ma pophatsoai nsyt" e xtth aftii ttf so rmdaelf in.iA tpioo­n thSec 'osPt eriph(yOsnNe aotnu re) osuattsa t nhdfesi rst Lmaatjionr
phasciosu tlhde enm braacl ea rnguem beorfE astteerxnst usc,ah s worokfa pophdaitsicco Aunrosteh.me erd ieCvharli stteihxaetna vily
thTea oisTta Toe C hinwgh,i cbhe giwnist thh set ate"mTehnteta o influebnyDc ieodn ywsaisut sha en onymoauustlhyo Crleodou fUd n ­
thacta nb es pokiesnn ott heto a.8"I t c oulidn cltuhdMeea hay­ knowwihnigcw ho uld whiadvceei rculianEt uiroonp veearnn aacrusl.
anBau ddhViismta lSautkriwarh tiica hs setrhta"sta cloln straurcet s Byt hnei nctehn tCu.rEyJ. ,e wiasnhd Istlraamdiicwt eirodene sv el­
emptya,n"d tphleany ftuulrltnyhs as tt atebmaecnuktp oint sweiltfh opitnhge oiwrns ophistviacraiteoetfadi p eosp hdaitsicco .u rse
thea sserttihoa"ntts hc eo nsttrhuacattlc lo nstraurceetm sp tiys The1 05-yepaerr ifordo tmh em id-twetlotf htebh e ginnoifn g
emptya,n"d" thceo nsttrhuatcthtc e o nsttrhuaactltc l o nstraurcet s thfeo urteceenntthcu royn stitthufetl eosw eorfia npgo phmaytsi­c
emptiyse mptiyse mpt"y9I. tc ouallds ion clmuodrere e cewnrti t­ ticiAslmm.o ssitm ultsalnyte,ho eau pophamtaisct erpoifte hcee s
ingtsh aetn gaegxep litchideti llye momfsa a yitnhgue n saablye0T. o1 IslaJmeiwci,s h, and Chriasptpieaanwr heidtc,rwh ao duilitdni ­ons
broadtehnien qutioir yn claulddlei scourressepso ntdoai f nogr mal cludaem,o nogt hetrhsew, r itionfIg bsn< Ara(bd.i1 240R)u,m i
definoifta ipoonp hwaosuilsbd e maa sseinvte erpYreiatsp eo.p hasis (d. 1A2b7r3a)h,Aa bmu la(fdi.a 1 c2a9.M1 o)s,e dseL eo(nd 1.3 05),
asa d istmiondceot f d iscoiusnr osetea sitrleya itnte edr mosft he thtew elafnttdhh- irteentBhe-gcueimnnytesu trciyuc lsm inwaittihn g
developomfae s nitn gtlrea diotrti hotenr acoifn gt extuasl. i nfluence Hadewi(jflc1.h42 0a)n dM argueProirtee(t de1. 3 10a)n,dM eister
Apophaaspipse iarnts r aditainodmn asyb, e t hree soulfdt e velop­ Eckharcta. 1 3(d2.7 ).14
mentwsi thpianr tisccuhloaoorflt sh ougbhutit,dt o enso tty pically Apophalsiivosen da fterp etrhiiiontsd h peo st-eKxaiblbiaolcfa h
forimn tsoc hloso1. 1 IsaLaucr iiant, h e Spmaynsitsihic nJs a,c ob Boaenhdwm ied,e ly
Thibso oekx amifnievmsey stiwcrailtf errossm e parraetlei gious througthhoIeus tl atmriacod ni.tY1ie5itn t e vaegra hienl adsc entar al
traditbiuotn sws,hh oa trhece u lthuerrailt oaftg heWe e sdte fined plaicnem ystilcaanlg uTahgeeq .u estoifao pno phaisnoi usro wn
ast hlee gaocfty h een counotfSe erm iptriocp htertaidci wtiitohn s cultwuorrablled c ompeasr ticiunltarriligynuv iienowgft hbeu rgeon­
theG raoe-cRomcaunl tuwrolar.dlT hester adisthiaornbesod t ah inogfc ontemploarnagruyoa fgt ehusen saly.ea61b
highdleyv eloPpteodl esmyamibco cloiscm olaongdayc entarsasle r- Performaaptoipvhera essiusfl rtoasmp artiicnutluairit nittoohn e
6 • INTRODUCTION UNSAYIN•G 7
dilemomfta r anscenadnedan p caer tirceuslpaortn ois teA. p erfor­ tenitrt e ceiavreuesl ,t imaftueslieynd t poa rado(xtehvsee ssiestl h e
matiavpeo phwartiitce ra,s P sluocthiI nbu'nsA ,r aMbois,ed seL eon, conteanstt h)ae p ophausnirsa vietilsns i ptrieamlia sbeot uhtse o urce
orM eisEtcekrh amratyf, o unatd r adibtuiltoa nt,e r meomftb hearts ofe manation.
traditioinns ymsatye,m aotrir zeignugl artihzte hionugg ohftt h eir Thaitn iptrieamlii ssteh atths eo urocfee m anatiisno oants upreme
foundwerri,it nae m orfeo rmlaelsp,se rformaitnitvemenolsdyeoe f beinngo,atb eionrge ntiatta ylI lnt. h weo rdosfE riugieitnsn a o,t h­
discouArpsoep.h adtiiscc oiusnr oswtei thloiunttk ocs e rtsacihno ols ingo,rn o-thiAngga.ia1nd 8,i stinccatbnie do rna wbne tweaesns ert­
oft hougbhutst,c hotorla diatrineoe nist ahn eerc esnsoaarrs yu ffi­ intgh atth seu bjoefcd ti scoiusrn soeat n e ntiatnydp, u shitnhge
ciecnatu fseot rh eem ergeonftc heme y stilcaanlg uoafug nes aying discurcsoinvsee quoefnt cheaasts serttoti hoeenx treImnte h.ve e ry
(aasm odoef d iscoruartshteeh raa nne xposiotfdi oocnt raisin ites ) acotf a ssertthineno gt hing(nneos-st hinogftn hesesu sb)jo efdc its ­
depicitnte hdis st u.d y course, acpaonpnhhoaetslb ipus pt o siiatts a " thionrg" "b einag ,"
Int hfeo llosweivnecgnh aptIeo rffse" rr eadionfcg lsa"s saipcoa­l beiinmtgu stth eunn sawyh,i ploes ityiemntog r een titthiametus s t
phattiecxf trso fmi vwer iteThresw .r itihnagvisen c ommobno tah beu nsaiintd u rTnh.er esuilsat no pen-ednydneadm tihcas tt rains
sayianngda nu nsayoiftn hgpe r emiosfte r anscenwdietnhtcihene agaiintsostw nr eifisca antdoi notnologliaensg-uaoa fdg ies ontol­
,
Westemronn otheisticT htersraeed aidtiidnoognn sso .ta ttemap t ogy.Ir1o9n ictahlfelo yro,mfm ystiucnailof no unidna pophadtiis­c
comprehepnosritvorefat i hte olosgyisctaelTm hse.sy e lecteinv­ely courhsaebs e etnr aditinoanmae"ldsl uyb stuannitoidnae,ls" p tihtee
gagteh meo sitn tenaspeolpyh aastpiecoc fet asc whr itweorr'kTs.h e factth aitti st haep ophautniicot nh aotc cumross etm phatiicna lly
readimniggshb tec all"eidn terseTchtepi roinmsam.ro"yd o ef a naly­ nihrialtoht ehrai nns ubstoarnb ceei ng.
sisl iitse arnadsr yyn chrTohnegi oca.il ts o e stabtlhiiesm hp lliocgiitc Thutsh hei erarlcehviecolafbsl e intgh aatr peo siatreuedn said
andc onventoifao pnosp haassai m so deo fd iscouWristeht.ih ne frowmi thAitnt .h hee aorftt hautn sayiisna rg a didciaall ectic of
framewooftr hka sty nchraonnailcy tshirese ,a diwniglasll ltohwe transcenadnedin mcmea nenTcheaw.th icihsu t te"rbleyy oinrsde "­
apophwartiitci tnoeg csha on dr espotnood n aen otihneav r a rioeft y vealoerrd e veiatlssae sml ofs itn tima"tweiltyhw iint"h:ti hn"e j ust
histortihceaoll,o agnidcc aull,t ucroanlt edxitrse crtellaytt oet dh e acth,o"w evheurm bl(eE ckhwairtth)ti,hn be a saiccto sfp erception
rhetoarnidlc iatle qruaersyt aitto hncese ntoeftr h aen alysis.17 (Ib'nA rawbiit)h,ti hnae c otfi nterprteotroiarfnh ug l fitlhlmei iznt­g
vo(tM osdeesL eono)rw, i thtihnae c otf l ov(eM arguPeorriettee ).
Whent hter anscernedaelniittz seaesslt fh iem manetnhtse,u bject
MYSTICIASNMD U NSAYING
oft haec itsn eitdhievri nnoehr u mann,e itsheelnrfo ort heCro.n ­
ClassWiecsatlea rnp ophasis shkaeryfe esa ttu(hr1ret)esh me:ee ta­ ventiloongailac nadsl e mantic strudcitsutrienbsce-tttiwhoeene n
phoorfo verfloorw" ienmga natwihoinci"hso ftiencn r eatteinvsei on refleaxnidnv oen reflaecxtiivtoehn ed, i stinbcettiwoenpe enr fect
witthh lea nguoafig net entdieomniaulcr,rg eiact (i2do)in s;- ontologi­ andi mpertfeencstteh u,en ivoacnatle ceodfae p nrto nounb-raor­e
cadli scuresffiotvroeta voriedi ftyhitenr ga nsceansad ne" netn tity" kend own.
or" beionrg" "t hin(g3a")d ; i stindcitailveoecft t riacn scenadnedn ce Thimso menitnw hicthhb eo undabreitewsed einv iannedh uman
immaneinncw eh icthh uet tetrrlayn sceinsrd eevneta alste hdue t ­ sealnfd o themre,la tw aiysc ommonclayl lmeyds tiucnailoM ny.s ti�
terilmym anent. cisimso ftaesns ociwaitttehhd ee x tranoarrIdyni.a pophmaytsitci cal
Apophawtriictu esraesn umbeofrm etaphoof"r fsl owoiuntog"r textthse,ir sie n deaes de nosfet heex traorbdiutntha eerx yt,r aordi­
"flowoivnegra "s :p rionvge rflaonwidpn ogu rifnogrw taht erra;y s nartyh,te r anscetnhdueen nitm,a ginraebvleieat,ls sae stl hfce o m­
emanatfirnotgmh seu nh;e aetm anatfirnofgmi rIenn. o napophatic monF.o Erc khaarntya,c o tfj usthiocwee,v heurm bilmtea ya ppear,
useosft heem anatmieotna phaod re,f iannedds tabhliee rairsc hy isn othoitnhgte hra tnh oen eb irotfth h seo onf G odt haatl wahyass
constructtehdse,o ufrorcfeoe mm a nattihorno dugehs cenldeivnegl s oc�urraendd a lwaiysos c currIintn hgZe.o hatrhce,a rryoiunotgf a
ofd istatnotc hefe i nfaulr,t hleesvtIe lna. p ophadtiiscc outrhsee , mzztvahho,w evheurm blmea yai ptp eiasnro ,t hlientsghs a tnh hee al­
overfdleovwo livnetasso e roifel so giacnadsl e mandtiilce mmTahse. inogf t hweo rltdh,he e aloifnt gh ree latibonesthwietpeh nwe o rld
dualismsw huipctohhnl e a nguoaf"g fel owoiuntig"sb asesdu,ca hs andt hdee itayn,dt hhee aloifnt ghd ee iittys eIlnI£ b.'n2A 0r atbhie,
thdei stinbcettiwoetneh nve e sstehla t recfeliovawen sdt htceho en - relinquiosfth hmreee nitf iedo fo" nGeo'ds" tboae clcieetpfhtp e e r-
8 • INTRODUCTION UNSAYING• 9
petucahlalnigymi aongrfgee ailnsio ttyoh tihnteghtr ah nee t ernal limnistI.ant t eiroomafs spmaettiataptolhh oleri ,nr eeafre rential
slef-manoitffh teers atnasticieneoa nnncd ehemw no tm ent. Eckhartm otaipoonp ahdaadsc sii sr culbaar(c eikpts ptuhrr.eoT )nhiceno mg­
imso esxtp ilcnio ceuirntitt nhngeoi toonmf y staissco imsemt hing binaytiieaols nde sm isoptimirocat lei vodener e ipnettrhop e r e­
extraaonrrdde imnoavreyd frreoaImlan di eitvsyet.ri yndcatyi ve verre­fegrreon(utognirrda o lu ndoltfeh dseis snceosusr)s e.
siootfnh d ei alotefrc atniscc aenindmd meanncheeesn tcateth,ea st Hoawr weet aop prcoraictahdi icsacltolhcuyalr tast iesom p se ak
thmeo nsotb tlhmeeo, es xtt irnaaooarfrley dlv e(ntbthiseor tfth he frtohmpe o iwnhtes rueb ajneodcb tjs eecaltnf,d aortoehn eer?,
divsioinntne h s eo uitlsh) e, c moomsm(toaa nnco yjtf su tiincasero, f Simppulty, o nhdeao tveboesea m ysttuoin cd ertshttera annds re­
aisit js u .s t) ferleanntgioaumflay gsetu sinacyaMilan nagyp?h o apwtriicst uegr­s
Ak ecyo mpoomnfye snttii ancp iospwmhr aitititsich ln eog sc ation gestt hrteeh acadaten urnn odstet rawnhidab ste isnaugin dl sehses
o"fm tyesrMyy.s"ti ensre yia ts heoetfar b stdroucstterbo ie n es becoimItnes.os st u acd hi sctohulerinsm teiio ttf esud n cwtiitohni n
takoenfn a itash e cnprorerift ozt rehi en i.tM iyasttieaesrd r eyf er­ thpea rtciocmumlu(anBrie tgDyuo imnienS,iu cofatfinh )a,e u thor,
entoipaelno nnettshodse e potafhp sa rttircaudlaiantirdin otno, to tshhoastrehise na gml ei tuarngmdie cdailtp artaicottnoia cle s,
convewrisotaththt ieroran d Tihtreie oftneiosrap.ele n ninfsel sese t­ thocsuielv tatthsiean smgte a octfeo sn sciousnebses­? This question
inAgsP. l otsiaanissudo s,ao sn tohnioenn hkeasi s ot n,he al so st compeasr tiaccuugltiaevtr ehmlneoy d teernnd tevoni cmeyyw s ti­
iItit.gs l impsietnhd ie no tinecolretfyssh tt ee ixtnth t,ee nbsei­on ciistnme ropmfse rseoxnpaelr ience.
twetehsnea yainntdgh u en saYyeiatnse g l.u siiitvsi ei,t is an s Thsitsum daykn eops r esiutpicpooonnssc emrynsitenixgcp aelr i­
prinaccicpetlsaoesl Tilhbd.ele ec iswiroittnae kt ehdsei scourse enocnte h peao rtfth w er iottreh rree aTdhegero i.ats lio d etnhtei fy
to
out iomfm etcdhoiena ottifret ao sul t ahnoodrp einttsor eaders disitvsieen mcatenvtewinicttt hhliean n guuangsea wyhoiIafn t g ,
beyaonnpyda rtgircoouusrlpc a hro ol. wiblecl a ltlhi"enm ge aenvie"nn gtcT .loya rwiihfmsae ta nt by
Att hpiosi tnhqteu, e sptoisioetnssw ehlaiftts:h " iistt h"ia st "meaenvieningmtt a ,y" hceolnpitw trit attoshh wte e ll-dkinso­wn
glimiptnsh ieend t eortfsh tteei Ixcittens ?so e tv aen"n i t"a since tincbtetiwomenee ann( iasnseg na snrede fearneednv ce(ena)ts
proniomupnlp ireesvn iaaoma uiesst a sn tec(eTcdhoeemn mte.n ta­ predni.)1cM2 aetaineoivneignn td itchmaaottme esn tt hmweeh aenn­
toorna poplhaantgfinuicdah sgi ems sterlufwg igttlhhsie an dmgie ­ inhgab se comeo friu dseentdth iewco ipafatrl che t d iIcmnae ttiao­n.
lemmtahhsaa tu tnhoter igtxiestn.Ta)hlr e e fbuyas paolp hatic phystiecreamslss ,iei snd ceenw tieitxchia sl,bt usetun iccdhee ntity
writtdoeei rfntseh s eu bojdfei cstci onsue riastm ehy esirtc ianftoiro n inso otn alsys eiirtpst e ermdfe,oTd rh.re e adbienlwgoiaswlt lptt e m
the orifen saubtliuotls l ieat nygd ueaagTrehlr eye .a doiffnegrse d tiod etnhtseie fmya ntiotcfh pilesor cfaotarinmtodahmn nea c nen,e r
hewriedl elnm sottrhaiatittoes n ulpyoa fn o undocafot nivoenn ­ iwnh itchihed enotmfie tainaeinesndv g er netf,ea rnpedrn ecdei ca­
tiolnoaaglnis dce matnhttaihatcep s o ptheaaxttti c,ctr himeto i­cal tieosns,ae nnedcx ei satrfeeun scTeehmd,ee. a neivneigtns ht se e ­
menctap,ne rfortmh aa(snrs aaert rehtfe)er or peensntsni-eably manatniacl tootg heuexe p eroifmey nsctuein ciIaodtlno .ne ost
fustihvneag r ainotuesc oetfdh peern otnsoo rtu hpnee, r afnedc t descorrrie tbfmoeey rs tuincibaouelntff eacs tesm aunntitiohcna t
impetrefneoscbrety ts r,sa fnortmhsiepn agat ntidea mlp sotrraulc ­ re-corirem aittteahmstey e sstu inciTaohlnsa .et m arnet-iccr eation
tuorlfea sn gauttah lgeee ov afer lt iclaen,pd r perpoonsoiutni,o n. cabnre e aaasdm eaneivneigvnn at r cioonutNse odx otuisbts.tsi g­
Wer ettuotr hnde i leomftm raa nsec.Pe lnodtseipnnocoukfse nifiwcibalednli c feff eotrrhpe ern atc mtyiscotaifpi n acgr ttircau­lar
thter ansacse n"dbeenyt(ope enkedio-nnbat eeopsie,nk ogeui"sn iaa s). dittihofanonr r e awdhedoron s o ptr aocrct oincafep e asrst icular
Pseuidoon-ypDsliatuchtseee d "r hmy p(eboren"yad b,o ivfner )o nt tradTihtmeiv osntw.ir cidatiles rcsbu eslcsolewaad mi omm eonft
oaflp lr edoitfch adete eiOstfc y o.u arssn eaa,m t ehn,ea m(ebse ­ "real-ia�z oamteiinwnoth n i"ac ghat,ih snee, an nsrdee fearreen ce
yobnedia nnhgdy perefsabsieelcn,iat tnuih svaeeil oe )afw p ophatic fusienidtd oe wnitetivhte yIn cnto .n ttrota hrseet a laisazn a tion
mysatnlialcm sre esJi ufasyst. e txhper "eXis bsse iyoaonnln aldm es" instoamfny csetu inciwaohlni cha c eonmtppalsieyltcseh ological,
turbnauscp ko n sitoth esexe plrfe",sb seiyoonnasdn -"dbh eyi­ng" episteamnodl oognittcroaallno,sg fitochmraeeml aa ntiinogn ,e vent
pernetsiisanels,ao"stf haaerryt e r lueeta,tod h oewiunrn doing. iass emaonctciucrIc rtae onnc ccteruo.er a wdietrhswi int aah noudt
Apopmhoavsteiossw atrrda ntshre.Ie ctfa endrnieosntpt einasle withp artriecluiclgoaimrom uu(snt ihitotsyusi g ghn imfaiydc iabfnefc eer ­
refebruettnh crteoh,uce go hn sttuarbnnatiuc npkgio tnosw r ne fer­ enftot rht ewg or oourfpe sas .d) er
entdiieamllii otinasttse ,ea mk osm enltiabrefyrr asotumidc oehn- Thceo nocmfee patn eivneiguns st ie tndh sitsui dcnyo nttor ast
10• INTRODUCTION UNSAYIGN • 11
thmeo derno efcx opnec.rAe ispde ten fcbieymn aendey x,p erience tuassd iviUnnilYtiHykW?eoH rA l l"aGhoa,dn "id tG sr eaenkd
presupapg orsaemsmo abtjoieefccx atpl e rimeendciea;t ion; Latpirne dedceeuassns tdoh erdosson,, o atp peexaprl aisdc ii­tly
(1) (2)
consnterusRcsat.tte2hhd2eaa rtn t etmrope tditenfhgcie on nec ept visneel f-wniatamhs iianncgt r eeNxdot wr.e rteha elyw caoyns­
(3)
oefx perIui steehnt ece e"r,em v ieannm ta"en trh atn ocdtrao reys sidperroenpdae mrwe ist thhiCenh ritshtleiooagtnir caand4l.i 2tio
� .
supcrhe supTphorese iatdoiaifopn nogspsl.h a anhgocumf ay gset ical ModeGmo d-lainnsgo suwoa e gmeb eidnpd oesdt medieval con­
unitohfnao tlf loocuwup shoo nsw u lcahn gduiasgptelhg aerc aems­ struocdfte itiohtwnayhst a tcehvooeinrmce ae k eso gr(o Gldoa)dn, ­
matoibcjaaelffc iatrm ,mo sm oeifnmt m edainaadffc iyarm, mo sm ent guafgaeol nol nse osrtih odete ho etfrh ecsoem pilnetxe,r twined
oofn toplroeg-iccoanls ittnrh pueac rtaidrooenxf-tirahcaisaain tln issiunaew sat yh maetd ileavnag(luw aigttehh uoepu pte Ir case
mystuincitaohslneo r uelv "etwroht esirw tea b se fiowtrsa e.T "h e lowedriccahsoceto ouamlvyd.o) ih daIav de hetrote hmdeo dern
meaneivneigtns rt a nsrReaftethrhepearonn it nittaaoinl on .bg j ect, conveontftr iaonndse lutasht,e idoins,e,ga u ngdoa t s" Gowdi,t"h
apoplhaantgiaucta tgetemoe p vtoisknt e hr ee aadnee� vnrtt hat resenrsFv.ra oatmnai pooppheartsipcte hucept pievoreffc,eaa r sse
is-iitmnso vebmeeynotn d ossfte arlnuofdct thsueurrbea,Jsn e dc t tempftoa"rte iaroseenyfn e carpe h,e"n ovmieenbwoyaen pd o phatic
object-satnraultcoottg huoeeruv asel nmltyy s otufin ciAaolln­ . wriwtiettrhhsse a cmoen tche"arnct h geraahpca bese" ve ine bwye d
thoughl eavnoghcuabaasetg eienv eca raspi rtoitcseitczrteaidtv eeg y twencteinettthuhoer gonyil sIaa.tl asloii gtntssoee ola fsw iitlthyhe
(acnadn u sesdu icacnhse rctaastiehngse o) ha elir tseo under­ modheyrpne rottfrh woeop r"hdGy o tdh"r wohuigtchhrh ei chness
be
statnhadep opdhiastpilcoa tfch geerm aemnmtoa btjaieasckc aetly anddi ffeormfee ndcieesv aoldf e lhiaatnbvygee ure aengd etusoc ed
momeinnadt i stliintcmetoridawverie iyt t hos w n rules, convaes ni­nglPea orntftah m meoe d.me irsnu ndeorcfsl taaasnpsdoii­cnagl
tioannfsdi, eo mlfed asn aintnddog e ,v aec lroivpto iccaafblou rl ary phaisdsiu tseo ptrhoejb eacuctpkio onna nltaaitnqmedue ed ieval
betutnedre rstthlaainttd eidrneag.r y mo wriotfem roasn ongoemniGecord,dii cv ofrrcpoeamdr ttircaudlia­r
tiaonnldsa ng2Iu5tfa hg aeep .o phatoiufcn nieanamtbhuiailsti itoyn
valitdhiaert ney c,o nsoifd eaarptawoitrpciih oitpnsia nrgt icularly
CLASSIACPAOLP HAASNIDTS H EPR ESENT neeidvnei doe tfwh e mdooidmnearnat niddoe ni foitfch aet igoen­
Thiinst robdeugwcaitnatid hoi ns coutfsh esedi iotnao lrtiearla tions nenraimce .
byw hiEcchk hparrattyGo'eo strd bo ef roeGfeo wda csh antago e d Thdeo minoatfth gieeo nnne armeienc t aad iolmsi noatfth ieo n
prayer btefo ro e'fGeG o odTd ht'tee.o n cdyte tonr oarnamsp fo­ "wh.Ma"ut cdhi scoumfsy ssituoinnci aaonclndo mpamryasttiiv­e
phadtiiscci onautonrots sheeeo dtrfi sccuartseiignvsooel rt ii meist ed cihsambs e ebans eds uubpisoatnlla ainnstgtou wfah gaeto nre ss
tod ireedcitat nicdno gm meonnat paorpywh raiitntigIcisti s. n ­ quidDdoai dthye.or fde infftestr riandg"i wtoirotsnhhsei ps ame
scriinmb uecdmh o dGeomd -laTnhcgeou navgeepn.rt aicotniacle Go"d" ,beltihseeav mteeh ionr"g e,x"ipe entrchseea mteh ing"­
ocfa pitparloinazoniundnno gsut nhso tuboge rh etf ieaorlfe ntthe i.,ie ws.lm ts omefornotemr a dX ietxipoenro irbee nlciteehsve e s
diviiasnc ea isnpe on itA.tt hcer icteincotafael pr oa ptdhiics ­ samoerd iffefrreonmte xtpheartoi rbe enlcibeeydsv oemde one
coursmeo-mteohnmfety stuinciaoln -aip"sop rpefhoarsmiesd " from tYrT.ah qedu iietosointwfo h na tsnheaisdnsett shqo eu estion
throafu ugshoi dfni gva innhdeu mraenf eTrhecinastp si.t alizatioonfc ondiit"siw ohntaihtnme"gy :se txipce rcioenndcioetrsi oned
conve(niEtnni golnit shRheo maanndc e plraensagup umraeogs­e s) unconditioned?
noun rmeeufisettrth toeh re odrti hvneio nnnede iT.vr ianslation Thneo nsubsutnadneitrnisogattf lah tinersd atn sccoemnmdoenn t
based uacp oonnv emsnuutcscihthoo no set hbueep tpweerecna se taop opmhyastdtioicnec ossfit tt h per emoisfsu ecsh qIune stions.
(diavnildno ew)e (rncdoainsveti hnuuens)d ,ot ihrnefeg e rfue­nce thweo rodPfsl ottihnieunrssoet , ho urst -nstoIn.h t uhweo rodfs
sitohniaa sdt i stsienmcatfnietvaoietufc un rsea Aynai lntge.r native Eriutghteern aan,s icnseo ntdhiei.,nnne tog. -,t bheiynaoglen,lnd ­
itsuo s sel maasrhtk iosn dmiocmaetoensf tu sc h fusion (Himt/iahtniydm ,q uiadpdoiplthayan.tg oiuTdfcahi gesoe ol noitgcnyo ,n tinu­
ItH/eirt./, h er) almloyv ingar teomwootafvhr a"edlw h(arate "m tohviaanstle ver
23
A more ciosmsrpuelemi awciiatntthshwee od r" dG oidts"h :e achiael�yvwiespdn r, o gsruegsgasde )is,fft emsro edonecfto mpari­
uppedructeato sh seet aot"fuG soa dasp" r onpaemorer i tststo a - soonn,e l ilktereosel sdy tu hpceae r tiocdfui lffaetrrriiatndigie tsi ons