Customer Reviews

The Cloud of Unknowing: and The Book of Privy Counseling (Image Book Original)

5 star:		(15)
4 star:		(5)
3 star:		(3)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(2)

 

 

It seems only proper to begin a review of this book with the warning given by the anonymous author in his/her prologue. My paraphrase of that warning goes something like this, "In the name of the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit, and in the bond of love I beg you not to read, copy, or look at this book unless you are ready. Furthermore I beg you not to copy it, loan it out, or give it to anyone else to read unless they, too, are ready for this depth of spiritual growth, lest they misunderstand the things written herein and fall into error."

In this age of newly rediscovered Christian mysticism I agree with the author. This, almost zen-like book, can lead the novice into an empty, shallow, form of spirituality that misses the substance of our true faith. Do not be misled by sensational experiences. Most people experienced in meditation can put themselves into an "alpha" state almost at will. Do not forget the old saying, "Study without prayer is flat; prayer without study leads to error."

OK . . . NOW THAT I'VE GIVEN THE DISCLAIMER . . .

There is another old saying that is relevant here.

Let prayer lead to meditation.
In meditation allow God to grace you with contemplation.
Contemplation, in God's timing, leads to intuition.
Intution ushers in oneness with God.

This book reminds us that if we have the ability to conmprehend all there is to know about God, our God is too small. When I first read this book, I wasn't ready. It didn't make sense. However one day, years later, while I was praying, all the pieces came together and the book made sense.

If you read this book years ago and didn't like it, read it again. If you are a novice in the contemplative life begin with works by Nouwen and Thomas Merton. Then, dig deeper into the writings of St. John of the Cross. Hold on to The Cloud of Unknowing until you are ready for it.

If you are following a way of prayer, you really should read this book. It is considered foundational to much present-day teaching on Christian meditation and prayer. Although it was written for a monk in 14th-century England, this good translation by William Johnston makes it very accessible.
Is this book for everybody? No, and the author starts right out by saying so. If you don't care about nurturing your relationship with God in deep prayer, if you have no experience of spending time in God's presence, and don't want to, then you should forget about this book! But, if you want to grow in prayer and experience God in your heart and yourself in God's heart, this is written especially for you.
Review by Janet Knori, author of Awakening in God

This is the best book I have ever read on the life of prayer, and it has transformed my prayer life. It was originally written as a series of letters to teach mystical prayer to one particular monk. This book tells us that our minds are too small to grasp God, and when we try to approach him intellectually, we freeze up, entering into a "Cloud of Unknowing" which our minds can not penetrate. Yet God is approachable - "Because he may well be loved, but not thought. By love he can be caught and held, but by thinking never." We are told to long for God, to "strike that thick cloud of unknowing with the sharp dart of longing love". This longing love calls us to give up everything else for the sake of God - "a naked intention directed to God, and himself alone, is wholly sufficient".

The theme of the writings:
In short but instructive chapters, the mysterious Briton, who mastered the way of the mystics gave an admirable essay on Christian life and its development through contemplation. Prayer is in fact the core of Christian life, and the backbone of this marvelous work, where he explained conducting oneself with respect to examining and silencing the thoughts with humility. Love is the goal in which a faithful should abide through contemplation.
His smaller work "the Book of Privy Counseling," is a more mature but moving treatise on attaining salvation by enlightenment through kenosis (self denial). What is left should only be consciousness of the presence of the Lord!

Apophatic tradition of the Orientals:
Eastern monastics started the root to mysticism, practicing the Macarian arrow prayer (K. Ware, in Study of Spirituality p176), carried to Europe as "The Jesus Prayer," through the Praktikos of Evagrius Ponticos.In chapter 38 of the Cloud, this holy English mystic speaks of a little prayer of one syllable Kyriya Elaison (Lord have mercy) that is powerful enough to pierce the heavens.
Origen was the initiator of the Apophatic concept (commentary on song of Songs), carrying over from Philo, based on roots that go all the way to Asaph, Ps 73:21-24. But, the crystallization of the whole theology took final shape in the writings of a Syrian monk of early six century of pseudonym Dionysius the Areopagite (who was probably a student or companion of Severus of Antioch), taking to himself the name of St. Paul's Athenian disciple.

The wave of Mystical Milieu:
During 14th and 15th century Europe, a pilgrimage to the unknown God started by Eckhart and his fellow Dominicans Susa and Tauler based on spiritual poverty. In England, Rolle, Hilton, and Julian of Norwich took the same road. These were all disciples in the school of negation. The influence came through John Scotus who in the ninth century translated the corpus Dionysium into Latin, initiating a chain of commentaries from Aquinas, Bonaventure, and Gallus. The English Counselor translated Dionysius' Mystical Theology under the title" Hid Divinity"
Rowan Williams, wrote in his book (The wound of knowledge); "The unknowing Englishman gave a brilliant little summary of the Dionysian ideas"

Enjoying the way of Unknowing
After reading the expert introduction by Wm. Johnston, helpful for a reader of some background on the subject, but the seal of the deal is reading his Privy Counselings. The less informed could attain a better appreciation after reading "The wound of knowledge". Many books on mysticism explain Apophaticism or the way of unknowing in elaboration.

Companion reading
The Foundation of Mysticism, Bernard McGinn, The mysticism of Dionysius, pp 157- 182

Five stars if the printing had been better! This work is invaluable, however I would recommend buying a copy by another publisher because this edition is so poorly printed it is at times almost unreadable. Such a shame to have published this without care.

My understanding and practice of contemplative prayer is that it cannot be forced or willed; it is God's gift. In this state, one transcends words, thoughts and images to enter a state of oneness with God. It silences the noises of daily life, revealing an awareness of God's love which both humbles and exalts. To that end, this 14th century book on the nature of apophatic (mystical) prayer also provides modern audiences with an understanding of the foundation of "centering prayer".

As a practitioner of lectio divinia and contemplative prayer, I found that over time, *The Cloud* enriched my relationship with God. However, it took some time; I wasn't ready when I first tried to read and absorb it. But with daily prayer, a grounding in the works of others (eg; Desert Fathers, Augustine, John of the Cross, Teresa of Avila, T. Merton, etc.) and spiritual growth, it took root. This is just my experience, but one which echoes the comment of reviewer RKirkham, "Study without prayer is flat; prayer without study leads to error."

If you're not sure this is the book for you, sample this excellent translation by Evelyn Underhill online @
http://www.ccel.org/ccel/anonymous2/cloud.toc.html

I've been told that brevity is golden so I'll keep this short. "The Cloud..." is among the greatest classics of Christian mysticism available. As a Novice Benedictine it was required reading; as one Professed it was Lectio Divina; and as a man before God it is a hope.

I hope this helps. Be.

This superlative, modern translation, of a genuine classic of English literature would be second to none but for one unfortunate consideration; the print quality is awful. The faded, inconsistent, nearly illegible type in this book is an affront to its contents. It really is a desecration by a publisher who should have more respect, and self-respect.

I have an earlier printing of this so I don't have the print quality issues. This is the best book on religious contemplation I've read. It helped change the way I think about God. A good deal of thinking is necessary to get anything from this work, but it is definitely worth it.

Excellent reading and challenging thoughts. Must be ready to go beyond the "norm" to enjoy and make application of this book. I highly recommend this...only be prepared to face yourself...and God.