Laurence Freeman OSB: So the theme of these retreats has been 'Levels of Consciousness and the Fruits of the Spirit' and the basic idea running through them, although with some variety, has been that in meditation we start on a journey, and this journey takes us through different levels of consciousness. Not in a kind of chronological way, necessarily. You don't just tick off. 'Oh, OK, I passed. Level one today, and next year I'll come to Level two.' It doesn't work quite as mathematically as that. But I think we all have a sense that if the longer we are on the journey, the journey means getting into a regular practice. The longer we're on the journey and the longer we are on it together, we become aware of a change in perception. The way we see ourselves, the way we accept ourselves, the way we handle our own problems or inner conflicts. Also, the way we see, perceive other people, those close to us, perhaps, those we work with and also the way we see our place in the world. Contemplation is proven, in a sense, by the opening of our mind and heart in compassion, and a sense of empathy, a sense of unity with others and also very important for us today. A sense of oneness with with creation. Because we are part of creation. Each human being is a microcosm of the universe. And also, each human being is a microcosm of the whole of humanity. So, in a sense, what we mean by microcosm? It means that we can see ourselves in others and others in ourselves. And that is the change of perception, really... Those are the levels of consciousness, we could say that we pass through in in a not necessarily a linear way. what stage one, stage two, stage three... those are just ways of trying to explain it. But there is a growth. It's a like the opening or the growth of a seed. The seed has to open to be broken to die, as Jesus reminds us.
