Tentative Summer Reading Schedule for Discussions on The Cloud of Unknowing

Tentative Summer Reading Schedule for Discussions on The Cloud of Unknowing

          June 12          “Introduction” (xi-xxvii).  For next Tuesday, June 19, read the “Preface” (5-6),  Chapter 1 (7-8),  and Chapter 2 (9-10).

         
         
         June 19          We discuss the “Preface” (5-6), Chapter 1, “The four stages of the Christian life,  and how the disciple for whom this book was written advanced in his calling” (7-8), and Chapter 2, “A short lesson on humility and the work of contemplation” (9-10).  For next Tuesday,  June 26,  read Chapter 3 (11-12) and Chapter 4 (13-18).

         June 26          We discuss Chapter 3, “How to do the work of contemplation, and why it is the best work” (11-12) and Chapter 4, “Contemplation’s brevity, and why knowledge and imagination can’t acquire it” (13-18).  For next Tuesday, July 3, read Chapter 5 (19-20), Chapter 6 (21-22),  and Chapter 7 (23-25).

July 3             We discuss Chapter 5, “How contemplation requires us to hide all people and all things past, present, and future, and all accomplishments, under the cloud of forgetting” (19-20), Chapter 6, “A short look contemplation, through dialogue” (21-22), and Chapter 7, “How to deal with your thoughts during contemplative prayer, especially when curiosity and natural intelligence intrude” (23-25).  For next Tuesday, July 10, be sure to note that THIS PRACTICE AND DISCUSSION WILL BEGIN AT 9:00 AND MUST END AT 10:30 SO THAT LARRY and ANDY CAN DRIVE TO ATLANTA FOR A NOON MEETING WITH “GEORGIA LAWYERS FOR THE ARTS.”  For next Tuesday, July 10, read Chapter 8 (26-29).

         July 10           We begin at 9:00 a.m. and discuss Chapter 8, “Answering your doubts about contemplation; why learning curiosity, and intellect must be destroyed; and the difference between the active and contemplative life” (26-29).  For next Tuesday, July 17, read Chapter 9 (30-31) and Chapter 10 (32-33).

         July 17           We discuss Chapter 9, “How even the holiest thoughts obstruct rather than help contemplative prayer” (30-31) and Chapter 10, “How to tell which thoughts are sinful, and which are mortal or venial” (32-33).  For next Tuesday, July 24, read Chapter 11 (34) and Chapter 12 (35-36).

July 24           We discuss Chapter 11, “How to evaluate each thought and impulse and avoid being careless about venial sin” (34) and Chapter 12, “How contemplation destroys sin and nurtures virtues” (35-36).  For next Tuesday, July 31, read Chapter 13 (37-38) and Chapter 14 (39-40).

July 31           We discuss Chapter 13, “Humility, and when it is ‘perfect’ and ‘imperfect’” (37-38) and Chapter 14, “Why we must go through imperfect humility to reach perfect humility—because we are sinful” (39-40).   By the end of July we will have read and discussed about 25% of The Cloud of Unknowing.  At this rate, we should finish our reading and bring our discussions of the book to a close sometimes in early 2013.   Keep up the good work!