|
A Sagely Word
People should not worry as much about what they do but rather about what they are. If they and their ways are good, then their deeds are radiant. If you are righteous, then what you do will also be righteous. We should not think that holiness is based on what we do but rather on what we are, for it is not our works which sanctify us but we who sanctify our works.
*Meister Eckhart, Selected Writings. Trans. Oliver Davies. Eckhart (ca. 1260-1327) is one of the foremost intellectual mystics in the history of the church. Eckhart was a Dominican scholar and reputed for his great preaching. Eckhart, still popular among Christians, has been a favorite Christian writer read by Buddhists, likewise, due to his apophatic theology and emphasis on the essential union between God and the human.
Commentary
An African story tells of a tribal chief inviting all the men of the village to a festival. He informed them, “Food is provided, but each man must bring one jug of palm wine.” One man had no palm wine. He thought, “There is a way to go to the festival free of expense. I will find an empty jug, fill it with water, and add it to the great pot of palm wine. My bit of water in the jug will go unnoticed, and everyone will think I brought palm wine.”
During the festival the time came for the chief to speak. He told the servants to fill each man’s glass with palm wine. When the guests raised their glasses, they were surprised to find that they were drinking water. For each of the guests had bought a jug of water, thinking his little bit of water would not spoil the pot of wine.
We have heard, “Honesty is always the best policy.” However, honesty, though it seems an easy matter, can become complex. Often we, indeed, might not discern the more subtle ways that we live dishonestly. Right, we may not tell a blatant lie, but we might conceal motives and information. We might not tell the whole truth, telling just enough to give a false impression. We might hold values and claim adherence to them, while hiding that we are violating those values.
Likely, the person who thinks she is always honest does not have a clear knowledge of the subtleties of her own dishonesty. Rather, through spiritual formation we become more attuned to the subtle motives and sly behaviors that before escaped our awareness.
|
|
Honesty is more a journey than simply avoidance of not telling the truth. We can be grateful that as we get closer to Christ, Who is Purity, we are given grace to see into the ever more subtle ways that we can be duplicitous. Along with this increasing insight into our own motives and actions, forgiveness is part of the journey, likewise.
When we are faced with telling the truth or not, or acting out the truth or not, we need to be able to stop and take inventory, prayerfully. If we are tempted to be dishonest or not forthcoming, we need to know why. Are we trying to protect someone else? Are we trying to protect ourselves? And, if we are not honest, fully, what image are we offering to others? And when is it the right and loving thing not to tell the whole truth?
This is an area that many literalists and moralists fail to address adequately. Anyone can quote a commandment and say, “Ha! I don’t do that.” However, like Jesus presenting the new “law,” the Beatitudes, telling the truth, indeed, all morality, is more than just not doing something. Morality pertains to motive. Indeed, not lying, for example, is only the beginner’s level of honesty.
The above story from Africa reminds us that honesty does matter, and to the whole community. Duplicity multiplied brings detrimental consequences to the whole community, family, or job place. Likewise, one act of your honesty contributes to the spiritual health of everyone.
One of my friends has a maxim about honesty, which she got from her dear, late mother. The maxim is as follows: When in doubt, tell the truth.
Spiritual Exercises
1. Reflect on the opening saying by Eckhart. Does action, according to Eckhart, proceed from character or character from action? Do you agree with his position? Explain.
2. What might Eckhart say about the best way to become more honest?
3. What is meant by “subtle” levels of dishonesty or honesty?
4. Do you ever struggle with honesty? In what contexts do you feel most tempted to lie or not tell the whole truth?
5. Are you in a relationship in which you need to be more forthright? What is keeping you from being more up front with the other person or persons?
6. Do your daily meditation and spiritual reading…
|
