A Journey from Darkness into Light

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Back of the Book Carmel is always associated with silence, solitude, recollection, prayer and contemplation. As a youth John listened to the sound of silence and there heard the silent call, the call of Carmel. St. John of the Cross, the poet mystic is a great saint of Carmel and an apostle of Spain. To many a soul he was a doctor of Nada-Nothing, doctor of Dark Night. But with his doctrine of divine love and contemplation he has become the spokesman of all ages. His mystical vision provides meaningful answers to the seeking mind of modern man.

Foreword Research and dissertation are presumed conventionally as objective and impersonal acts, dealing with empirical data and externally verifiable facts. Very rarely has research turned out to be the researcher's own spiritual search and academic fulfilment at the same time. This book which has emerged from the author's doctoral dissertation is such a rare piece of self searching. It is a reliving of the spiritual experiences of one of the greatest mystic visionaries of all time-St. John of the Cross.

Reminding an Indian constantly of Tagore's verses, John of the Cross's poetry and his own interpretation of the same present the inner journey of the human self from awakening through dark nights towards union with God. Instead of confining St. John's works within the limits of religious experience, his inner searchings are interpreted as mystic insights into the relationship between man and God. He was often called 'Doctor of the Night' because of his prolonged exploration in darkness before he reaches the end of the tunnel, where union with God and the attainment of transforming love are actualised. In fact, the dark night of the soul is presented as an attractive experience in his poem "Dark Night."

"Oh, night that guided me, Oh, night more lovely than the dawn, Oh, night that joined Beloved with lover, Lover transformed in the Beloved." The author's sensitive explication of St. John's works is more than an academic act; it acquaints the reader with the mode and meaning of St. John's inner journey and inspires man towards an intimate bonding with God. St. John's works are seen as sagas of love, in which the dark night is a phase of purification, and the destination as eternal union with the Divine Lover.

Preface Thou hast made me endless, such is thy pleasure. This frail vessel thou emptiest again and again, and fillest it ever with fresh life.

Thus sang the poet and mystic Rabindranath Tagore. Carmel is always fascinated me with its associations of silence, solitude, recollection and prayer. I listened to the sound of silence and there heard the silent call-the call of Carmel. St. John of the cross, the poet mystic, was a great Saint of Carmel and an apostle of Spain. In olden days many considered and portrayed him as a dismal personality bent upon escaping from the world. But once I embarked upon this research a new figure emerged-a very human person with a real delight in life. Hence herein I have tried to bring him home to all, especially to the Carmelites. During the course of my study I had to pass through many a dark night and day before coming to light. But the Kindly Light was shining out of darkness all throughout and leading me on.

The core of the text concerns itself with what St. John has to say to us today. The text succeeds in bringing him out of the mists of asceticism and mysticism and shows vividly and persuasively his continual and profound relevance in this epoch and thereby to explore the mystical consciousness as revealed in the doctrinal literary production of St. John. His writings evince the unique combination of his poetic investigation, analytical faculty, intuitive powers and spiritual convictions. The main thrust of his doctrine is the Life of Love and Union with God.

The investigation has been undertaken in three distinct phases.

**Contents and Sample Pages**