Theos-Talk Archives (December 1995 Message tl00335)

Lewis:
> The idea that it the change in us is a gradual one seems to
>contradict other ideas that indicate that enlightenment or awakening
>to the next level is a sudden break through in consciousness. I once
>heard the analogy of a finger being pressed inside a ballon. The
>membrane stretches ever and ever thinner by the constant pressure
>but the breakthrough occurs suddendly.

Modern science now recognizes this phenomenon under
the name of catastrophe theory. The idea has been known for ages
as the old saw about "the straw that broke the camel's back" shows.
I think that Eldon's response to the above is good and leaves
little to be said. In terms of the human mind gaining knowledge
through book learning is the slow additive process that will of itself
never break through the veil of the abyss. However it is an important
step that must be taken and I do not mean to denigrate it. I love
reading and studying. But sooner or later as the human mind
approaches the abyss it must leap over it and land on the other
side--this is of course a beautiful and poetic metaphor of what
really is going on. Eldon is right when he says that gradual
development preceeds the sudden jump. This idea is also
very popular in Zen.

Jerry S.