Book Review -- The Naked Now; Learning To See As The Mystics See
Over the last four years i have read several (10?) books on mysticism with an emphasis on "how to do it" type books. Many have been helpful in small ways. In my opinion Lao Tze, the Buddha, Jesus, and Rumi have not been topped. I also have to give Evelyn Underhill a lot of credit since her Practical Mysticism was written in 1915 in the middle of the Industrial Revolution and the first great modern technological war. (But i guess all great recorded mystical thought has come out of troubled times, otherwise why record it since it is unspeakable). i will continue to treasure Underhill and read her again and again, but Rohr has become my guide now and will probably be refer to him often in months and years to come.
Richard Rohr is a Fransiscan monk which greatly enhances his book. It also limits it, at least for non-Catholics and non-Christians. A paradox of Christianity is that it tries to be inclusive and exclusive at the same time, and i have an unfortunate tendency to focus too much on the exclusivity. I felt that a section on Love (p. 124) was slightly marred by a Western (and factually inaccurate) reference to sex. Such minor things should not distract but one almost has to already absorbed the message of the book to totally ignore such distractions. And i will say such distractions were very few and far between.
I read this 187 page book in just under one month. To me it was easy to read and interesting to read. My problem was that every page, often every paragraph, sometimes every sentence sent me into thought or meditation or contemplation. I might read one sentence and then spend the rest of the day trying to digest it. Also after the half way mark, i simply did not want the book to end. I did not want to have to know that Rohr has said his final word to me.
The "perennial philosophy" is dissected and laid out in simple short brief sections which are quite practical. The table of contents of the twenty-two chapters and seven appendixes, suggest how many bases are covered. We already have what we need,, we must unlearn more than we need to learn, but mystical wisdom does not deny common sense and scientific knowledge, we must embrace paradox and non-duality through contemplation. Wonder is an appropriate and permanent attitude, A ungraspable and unimaginable unity underlies diversity. Mindfulness includes not minding and sometimes not thinking. "Conversion" is not changing what we believe but how we believe. Meditation and contemplation are prayer. The ego's major problem is that it resists changes that threaten it and it is threatened by unreal and unimportant things, Great love and/or great suffering are vital for spiritual growth, for "seeing better." Remember, everything we need is already in us!
Along the way there are practical suggestions for achieving various insights, The appendixes have step by step guides to various contemplative techniques. I tried one "practicing awareness" exercise (p171-2) on a particularly difficult belly ache with rather remarkable results both mentally and physically,
The book is divided into three sections and i was never sure why. It might have had something to do with the levels of spiritual development, but i wish he had explained this division of the book.
To people for whom the word "mystic" is more attractive than repellent i very much recommend this book.