In our journey through life, we often encounter moments that challenge our understanding of spirituality and existence. One such profound concept is the Dark Night of the Soul, a term that resonates deeply with those who have experienced intense personal loss and spiritual transformation. As we delve into this concept, we aim to make the teachings of the Dark Night of the Soul accessible and beautiful, reflecting our own spiritual journeys.
We begin by immersing ourselves in the teachings of the Dark Night of the Soul, striving to understand its depths. The moment we encounter these teachings, they seem to mirror our own souls, mapping onto our spiritual journeys of dropping into emptiness, whether we like it or not. We might have spent countless hours in meditation, experiencing fleeting moments of non-dual states of consciousness, where we rest in the spaces between thoughts, in deep stillness, where forms and explanations fall away.
However, our understanding of these teachings is often put to the test by life’s shattering experiences. The death of a loved one, for instance, can coincide with the release of these teachings into the world, humbling us into realizing that such profound losses can be catalysts for true spiritual transformation. These experiences strip away all our preconceived notions about God, ultimate reality, ourselves, and what it means to be on a spiritual path. This realization is a powerful medicine, teaching us that our shattering life experiences can indeed lead to profound spiritual growth.
As we navigate the tension between theoretical knowledge and lived experience, we learn to hold these aspects together in our spiritual journey. We are often told that books and words are limitations, and that true awakening unfolds through living into something. While we agree that lived experience is crucial, we also believe that words and teachings can be valuable in leading us to spiritual awakening. Great teachings from the past and contemporary teachings can be like fingers pointing at the moon or a hand knocking on the door of the soul, opening it to deeper understanding.
John of the Cross teaches us that the Dark Night of the Soul is usually a very private and invisible spiritual crisis. Others may not even know that it is happening to us, and we ourselves might not fully understand the radical spiritual transformation we are undergoing. This luminous darkness, as he describes it, suggests that external circumstances have nothing to do with the spiritual opportunity of the Dark Night of the Soul. We might initially believe that the Dark Night is independent of life circumstances, but as we experience multiple crises—such as divorce, death of a loved one, loss of community, or serious health diagnoses—we begin to see that these difficult experiences are not separate from our spiritual path. They are, in fact, integral to it.
Our personal reflections on translating and teaching the Dark Night of the Soul reveal that profound spiritual teachings often come through personal suffering and loss. The day we receive our first advanced copy of our translation of the Dark Night of the Soul might coincide with a devastating personal loss, such as the death of a child. This convergence of events obliterates everything we thought we knew about anything, including the teachings of the Dark Night of the Soul. Yet, through hours of contemplative practice and knowing John of the Cross in our bones, we learn to be okay with not knowing what is going on, who we are, or what the connection is between our shattering loss and these timeless teachings.
As we reflect on our journey, we recognize the historical context of the Dark Night of the Soul and its connections to other mystical traditions such as Sufism and Jewish mysticism. During the Golden Age in Spain, Jews, Christians, and Muslims collaborated on great works of literature, mathematics, architecture, art, and spirituality. This confluence of mystical streams has flowed through the centuries to the present, revealing deep connections between these traditions. Our love for Rumi and the Sufi path leads us to John of the Cross and Christian mysticism, where we find resonances that speak to our own spiritual longing.
Teaching the Dark Night of the Soul to students presents its own challenges. Traditional translations often fail to engage modern readers, as they can be didactic, pedantic, and dry. We realize the need for translations that capture the poetic and mystical essence of the original texts, making them accessible and resonant with contemporary readers. Our love of language and our fluency in Spanish inspire us to try our hand at a new, fresh translation of John of the Cross’s Dark Night of the Soul. This daunting and terrifying proposition becomes a beautiful privilege, as we sit in the presence of a great being, asking questions and receiving the transmission directly, then sharing it with others.
Our journey through the Dark Night of the Soul teaches us that profound spiritual transformation often comes through personal suffering and loss. We learn to integrate theoretical knowledge with lived experience, recognizing the value of both in our spiritual awakening. The historical and cultural contexts of these teachings enrich our understanding, revealing deep connections between different mystical traditions. As we continue to teach and translate these profound texts, we strive to make them accessible and resonant, helping others navigate their own spiritual journeys through the luminous darkness of the Dark Night of the Soul.
SUMMARY
The goal of making the teachings of the Dark Night of the Soul accessible and beautiful through translation is emphasized. A personal story is shared about how life was forever altered upon the book’s publication, coinciding with a period of intense personal loss. The teachings of the Dark Night of the Soul are described as reflecting a deep spiritual journey into emptiness and non-dual states of consciousness, resonating deeply with personal spiritual experiences.
The transformative power of shattering life experiences is highlighted, suggesting that such events can catalyze true spiritual transformation by stripping away preconceived notions about spirituality and life. The tension between theoretical knowledge and lived experience is addressed, with advice on integrating these aspects in one’s spiritual journey. The historical context of the Dark Night of the Soul is provided, highlighting its connections to other mystical traditions such as Sufism and Jewish mysticism, and the influence of the Golden Age in Spain where Jews, Christians, and Muslims collaborated.
Challenges in teaching the Dark Night of the Soul to students are discussed, noting that traditional translations often fail to engage modern readers. The need for translations that capture the poetic and mystical essence of the original texts is emphasized. Personal reflections on the journey of translating and teaching the Dark Night of the Soul are shared, including the realization that profound spiritual teachings often come through personal suffering and loss. The value of teachings and language in leading individuals to spiritual awakening is acknowledged, despite the limitations of words.
KEY POINTS
Here’s a numbered list of the key points from the conversation:
1. The goal of translating the Dark Night of the Soul was to make the language beautiful and accessible.
2. The teachings of the Dark Night of the Soul reflect a deep spiritual journey into emptiness and non-dual states of consciousness.
3. Shattering life experiences can be catalysts for true spiritual transformation, stripping away preconceived notions about spirituality and life.
4. There’s a tension between theoretical knowledge and lived experience in spiritual journeys.
5. The Dark Night of the Soul is often a private and invisible spiritual crisis.
6. External circumstances may be integral to the spiritual path, contrary to initial beliefs.
7. The historical context of the Dark Night of the Soul includes connections to Sufism and Jewish mysticism.
8. The Golden Age in Spain saw collaboration between Jews, Christians, and Muslims on spiritual works.
9. Teaching the Dark Night of the Soul to students presents challenges, as traditional translations often fail to engage modern readers.
10. There’s a need for translations that capture the poetic and mystical essence of the original texts.
11. Personal reflections on translating and teaching the Dark Night of the Soul reveal that profound spiritual teachings often come through personal suffering and loss.
12. The value of teachings and language in leading individuals to spiritual awakening is acknowledged, despite the limitations of words.
