Light as a Synonym for Consciousness

A man asks Rupert to comment on a quote from Simone Weil: ‘Religion as consolation is an obstacle to true faith. Love is not consolation, it’s light. There’s only one fault – our inability to feed on light’. He specifically struggles with understanding ‘our inability to feed on light’. Rupert explains that light is often used in spiritual traditions as a synonym for consciousness, as the sun’s light renders the world visible just as consciousness renders experience knowable. Weil is correct, he says, that our mistake is deriving nourishment from objects of sense perception rather than going directly to consciousness or being – the source of peace and happiness within ourselves. He clarifies that this doesn’t mean we shouldn’t desire activities or relationships, but we shouldn’t seek them for peace and happiness. The man adds that understanding this gives a key to reading great traditions with new appreciation.

From event 09 - 16 March, 2025 Seven-Day Retreat at Mercy Center, 9–16 March 2025

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