In today's meditation,
We'll practice imagining the eye of the heart and explore the concept of the nous.
Spelled N-O-U-S,
This Greek word is used in the New Testament and is associated with the mind,
God's will or law,
And the ability to understand and perceive spiritual truths.
For example,
In the familiar verse of Romans 12,
1 and 2,
Paul speaks of being transformed by the renewing of your mind and uses that word nous.
So it's much deeper than the intellect.
The nous encompasses our ability to discern spiritual truth.
Thomas Merton,
A famous modern Christian mystic,
Speaks of the nous in his book Conjectures of a Guilty Bystander,
Saying,
At the center of our being is a point of nothingness,
Which is untouched by sin and illusion,
A point of pure truth,
Which belongs entirely to God.
It is like a pure diamond blazing with the pure light of heaven.
In Eastern Orthodox Christianity,
This idea of the nous is referred to as the eye of the heart or the eye of the soul and represents our capability for intuitive intelligence.
It's considered essential for cultivating wisdom and experiencing the presence of God.
So in this view,
The nous can become darkened,
But as we practice connecting with God,
Tapping into our intuition and hearing from God's spirit,
We can cultivate a deeper and clearer sense of inner seeing.
Now let's enter into the meditation to connect with the nous,
What we can think of as our organ of spiritual perception,
Our inner eye of the heart that enables us to experience God's presence within ourselves and in the world around us.
Find a comfortable position,
And if it feels safe for you,
Close your eyes or simply soften your gaze.
Begin to notice the contact of your body with the surface beneath you.
Become aware of the support and stability that it offers.
As you continue to take a few breaths,
Bring your awareness to your bodily sensations.
Feeling the weight of your body.
The feeling of your breath going in and out.
Maybe placing a hand over your heart and feeling the gentle rhythm of your heartbeat.
This is a reminder that you can connect with the present moment through your physical presence,
Not needing anything to change,
But holding space for what is.
Take a moment to offer gratitude for your mind,
Your body,
And your emotions for the information that they give you.
And then begin to shift your attention deeper,
Directing your awareness into your soul.
If it's helpful,
You can visualize yourself entering an inner sanctuary in your body,
This place of connection with God inside the temple that is your body.
As you enter this space,
Feel a sense of peace and reverence enveloping you,
And take some breaths to experience this sacred space.
Now imagine a pinprick of light somewhere within the center of your being,
Maybe somewhere on your anatomical heart or in the very center of your chest.
This tiny pinprick of light represents the noose,
The eye of the heart,
Connecting you to divine wisdom and presence.
This is where God's presence meets you in your human body.
In your imagination,
Visualize the light coming through that tiny spot and growing brighter and more vibrant with each breath,
Illuminating the sanctuary of your soul.
Imagine the presence of God filling your sanctuary internally,
And your entire being permeating every aspect of your existence.
Feel the love,
Grace,
And wisdom of God surrounding you inside and out.
In this place,
Find space for a sense of self,
For whatever needs to be expressed.
Allow space for hopes,
Fears,
Gratitude,
And questions.
And then listen attentively for that whisper,
That small voice of the divine,
Allowing the wisdom of God to flow into your heart and your mind.
Maintaining this sense of connection and communion with God,
Notice how in the midst of this spiritual moment,
You can still stay connected with your physical body,
Feeling the rise and the fall of your breath,
The beating of your heart.
As you deepen your connection with your body,
Invite the light of the noose to infuse each sensation,
Filling it with divine presence.
As we bring this meditation to a close,
Take a moment to express gratitude for this practice of imagining our noose,
For reminding us of our capability to perceive spiritually.
If it speaks to you,
You can return to this image throughout the day,
Imagining the noose as this tiny little point on your anatomical heart in which God's presence can break through into your life.
May it remind you that your heart is trustworthy,
That God speaks to you from the eye of your heart.
And may the eye of your heart remain open to the beauty and the presence of God,
Guiding you toward a deeper understanding of yourself and the divine,
Allowing it to shape your thoughts,
Actions,
And relationships.
Take a final deep breath,
Gently opening your eyes,
Returning to the present moment,
And carrying the peace and illumination of your practice with you.
