In 2010, my hope is that we can deepen our practice. At least, that is what I have decided for myself. I invite you to join with me.
The philosopher Aristotle thought that all things move toward a natural goal (telos in Greek). Acorns grow into oak trees. The oak tree is the telos of the acorn. He assumed that the world works like that. He applied it to human beings and asked the question, “What is the natural telos of being human?” His answer was happiness (eudaimonia in Greek). He meant not merely feeling happy, but a well-rounded life of well being. We might say, “flourishing.”
I think that is a noble goal to pursue. Yet, there is nothing “natural” about it. It is very difficult to move from “acorns and oak trees,” to “human beings and a eudemonic life.” Oak trees follow naturally from acorns, other things being equal. Flourishing does not flow from being human. Many people experience lives far from Aristotle’s telos.
The difference seems to be that human beings have choice. Admittedly our choices are often limited by circumstances, social structures, even our biological makeup. Yet, unlike the acorn, we can choose a telos. In my other writing I have called this an “elective telos.” We are not bound, as the acorn is, to become an oak tree. We can choose the goal we wish to pursue.
So what do we choose to become? What do we aim for?
Over the centuries Aristotle’s telos of happiness has been a firm favorite. Its main competitor has been pleasure. There is a difference—I’ll let you work it out. A third aim has been stability—a middle way, neither too high nor too low, or to be undisturbed.
The “elective telos” is important. What you choose for your aim largely determines the practice you engage in. One of the most ancient questions is, “How should we live?” Many philosophers have tried to find the answer in what Immanuel Kant called a “categorical” way. What would the way to live be in every single situation, for anyone in the world, at any point in time? Kant though you could find these “categorical imperatives.” Is seems to me that this is impossible!
The “should” depends on an “if.” I call this the “if-then-should” principle. If you want to run a marathon, then you should do a course of training. If you want to play chess, then you should learn the rules.” How should we live? It all depends on what you choose as your aim. If your aim is pleasure, then you should do those things that will bring you pleasure. If your aim is to maximize pleasure for everyone, then you should do those things that maximize pleasure and reduce pain for most concerned.
The practice you engage in is determined by the aim you choose.
This might seem a long way round to get to the idea of deepening our practice. Here’s the reason: To deepen our practice requires that we first determine what our aim is. Telos determines practice. Practice relies on telos for direction.
So what is your aim? Work it out for yourself.
It will be no surprise to those who know me that the aim I choose has something to do with love—actually has everything to do with love. To choose love as a telos determines the kind of practice I need to engage in.
I have been mulling over aspects of our understandings in the Lindisfarne Community. There are four ways of expressing who we aspire to be. Each of these four ways relates to practice.
- The summary of our Rule: “To love, to serve, to forgive.”
- Our community prayer: “That I may be as Christ to those I meet; that I may find Christ within them.”
- Our commitment to a balanced life of prayer, study, work and rest.
- Our particular practices: Eucharist, daily office, meditation, mindfulness, study, and service.
To deepen our practice in 2010 would be to build the daily habits of spiritual life. It might mean to concentrate on just one aspect of the above—say, to build a more conscious meditation practice.
It might mean to adopt a new element of practice. For instance, over Advent-Christmas, I have reconnected with prayer bead meditation in a much deeper way than before.
It might mean to dust of the journal that has been languishing in the drawer. It might focus on internal thought practices: thinking the good of each person in each situation; or letting go of control; or extending love and goodness to each person you meet.
How will you know? Listen intently. You will hear. Then, deepen your practice.
+Ab. Andy