Breakthrough to Unity: The Quaker Way Held within the Mystic Traditions

By Roswitha Jarman

The Quaker Way of worship has always been a mystic way.

Seekers broke away from liturgy, dogma and creed to discover that worship may be centred on direct communion with the Divine Spirit. This power for direct communication with God lies at the heart of everyone.

George Fox, the founder of the Quaker movement, proved to be a mystic who ranks with the great Catholic medieval mystics. Like them, he followed the path of the historic Jesus. For 350 years, that way has nourished generations of Quakers. It is a spiritual path that speaks to the deep needs of our time.

Breakthrough to Unity aims to induct seekers into the mystical tradition through understanding and practice. It shows how mysticism is the raw material of all religions; looks at early and contemporary mystics; examines the parts played by surrender, love, authority and the priesthood of all. It introduces the celebrated mystic, Meister Eckhart.

The booklet is for practical use, alone at home or worshiping in a community. It will also make for lively group discussion.

• Language: English
• Publisher: The Kindlers
• Release date: Mar 15, 2023
• ISBN: 9798215501139

Book preview

BREAKTHROUGH TO UNITY

The Quaker Way held within the mystic traditions

Roswitha Jarman

A Publication of The Kindlers

First published 2010. Financed by The Westcroft Trust.

This e-book edition published by The Kindlers at Smashwords, 2023.

Copyright © 2010 by Roswitha Jarman

Smashwords Edition, License Notes

Thank you for downloading this e-book. This book remains the copyrighted property of the author, and may not be redistributed to others for commercial or non-commercial purposes. If you enjoyed this book, please encourage your friends to download their own copy from their favourite authorized retailer. Thank you for your support. Requests for permission to reproduce in any form whatsoever any part of this text, other than brief quotations in articles or reviews, should be made via: https://thekindlers.webs.com

Table of contents

Introduction

I. Where am I on My Journey? Where are You on Yours?

II. Exploring the Mystic Path

III. Surrender

IV. Authority

V. Taking Responsibility for Ourselves: The Priesthood of All

VI. Love: the Cornerstone

VII. Quaker Mystics and the Mystic Tradition

VIII. Journeying with Meister Eckhart

IX. The Birth of the Divine in our Lives

X. Modern-Day Mystics with Practical Teachings

About the author

Further information

Introduction

Breakthrough to Unity is an experiment to introduce you to the contemplative path. My own spiritual journey has been profoundly enriched by what I have learned from many mystics of the past and many alive today. They inspire me to share their light so that you may be enlivened, too. This is an invitation for you to use the booklet in a practical way.

• First, recognise that the body and spirit are one. Whether alone of in a group, sit in an easy but spiritually attentive way. Spend time relaxing toes through to head, to remove stress and tension. Slow your breathing. Take deeper breaths. This is time well spent. Centre down into stillness.

• Read just one section of the booklet. In a group, it could be read aloud. Relish any of the quotations. The writings of many mystics are seemingly simple, often based on concrete and domestic objects or situations, but, like the parables of Jesus, have layers of meaning and ambiguity within them. Ideas may be expressed as paradox or koan or poetry to provoke thought or to touch your personal experience. Let the sense of mystery settle in your consciousness. A surprise insight or opening may suddenly come to you. In a group, the quotations will call for discussion to tease out.

• Read the section again – now as a whole. Let it simmer.

• Dwell in turn on each of the two or three reflections at the end of the section. Give yourself as long as it takes to find your response. As you grow more experienced, you will be able to spend longer and find more depth in the question. Contemplatives are encouraged in absolute perseverance.

• Have a shuffle break or a brief leg stretch.

• If working in a group and time allows, take a second section and repeat the process. You will find your responses will deepen. Two sections are sufficient for a group session.

I

Where am I on my journey?

Where are you on yours?

Adam and Eve hid in the Garden of Eden; they had tasted the forbidden fruit and realised that they were naked, they felt ashamed. A Rabbi was asked: How are we to understand that God, the all-knowing, needed to ask Adam: Where are you Adam? (or: where are you Eve?). To which the Rabbi replied, In every era, God calls to every man: ‘Where are you in your world?’

Martin Buber (1876-1965 a Jewish Religious philosopher) reminds us of this story in his little book, The Way of Man (2). It is indeed a question I have to ask myself again and again: where am I, a Quaker, a Spirit-led person, in my life now? How do I link my spirit to the reality of my life? How do I understand the spirit within me and how do I let my life be drenched by the spirit?

The stories of the Bible and other religious writings are vehicles that convey a message that is relevant to the way of the human spirit in all times and in all places. Archetypical concepts are conveyed to us through these stories and something within us can identify with the hidden truth within that touches us in a deep way. We don’t understand these things through our intellect or