> I find it a good reminder that Christianity, in
> spite of what the
> religion has become, has deep roots in mysticism and
> *MYSTERY*.

I like this one, by John of the Cross:

I entered into unknowing,
and there I remained unknowing
transcending all knowledge. 

I entered into unknowing, 
yet when I saw myself there,
without knowing where I was,
I understood great things;
I will not say what I felt 
for I remained in unknowing
transcending all knowledge. 

That perfect knowledge
was of peace and holiness
held at no remove
in profound solitude;
it was something so secret
that I was left stammering,
transcending all knowledge. 

I was so 'whelmed,
so absorbed and withdrawn,
that my senses were left
deprived of all their sensing,
and my spirit was given
an understanding while not understanding,
transcending all knowledge. 

He who truly arrives there
cuts free from himself;
all that he knew before
now seems worthless,
and his knowledge so soars
that he is left in unknowing
transcending all knowledge. 

The higher he ascends
the less he understands,
because the cloud is dark
which lit up the night;
whoever knows this
remains always in unknowing
transcending all knowledge. 

This knowledge in unknowing
is so overwhelming
that wise men disputing
can never overthrow it,
for their knowledge does not reach
to the understanding of not understanding,
transcending all knowledge. 

And this supreme knowledge
is so exalted
that no power of man or learning
can grasp it;
he who masters himself will,
with knowledge in unknowing,
always be transcending. 

And if you should want to hear:
this highest knowledge lies
in the loftiest sense
of the essence of God;
this is a work of his mercy,
to leave one without understanding,
transcending all knowledge.

--- hermandan0 <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote:

> A dozen or 14 years ago I was at a Baroque choir
> Christmas concert and
> they sang a piece by Jacob Handl. The verse was
> short and without
> elaboration but the translation struck me and stayed
> with me all these
> years--even though the composers name was elusive
> and I never saw the
> piece again--because it reminded me of the verse
> from Upanishads:
> 
> "pUrnamada: pUrnamidam
> pUrnAt pUrnamudachyate;
> pUrnasya pUrnamAdAya
> pUrnam evAvashishyate"
>  
> Which roughly translates in part as:
> 
> From the Fullness came this Universe;
> Although fullness came out of Fullness,
> Fullness did not become any less Full,
> since Fullness remains ever full!
> 
> Today, thanks to Google, Wikipedia, and the Choral
> Public Domain
> Library (cdpl.org) I was able to find again the
> composer, the sheet
> music and the translation.
> 
> I find it a good reminder that Christianity, in
> spite of what the
> religion has become, has deep roots in mysticism and
> *MYSTERY*.
> 
> Merry Christmas FFLers.
> hd
> 
>
http://www.cpdl.org/wiki/index.php/Mirabile_Mysterium_%28Jacob_Handl%29
> 
> 
> Original text and translations
> 
> Latin text
> Mirabile mysterium declaratur hodie,
> innovantur naturae; Deus homo factus est;
> id quod fuit, permansit, et quod non erat,
> assumpsit, non commixtionem passus neque divisionem.
> 
> English translation
> A wondrous mystery is declared today,
> an innovation is made upon nature;
> God is made man; that which he was,
> he remains, and that which he was not,
> he takes on, suffering neither commixture nor
> division. 
> 
> 
> 
> To subscribe, send a message to:
> [EMAIL PROTECTED]
> 
> Or go to: 
> http://groups.yahoo.com/group/FairfieldLife/
> and click 'Join This Group!' 
> Yahoo! Groups Links
> 
> 
> mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]
> 
> 
> 



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