The Ego’s Four Splits, Part I

Four-Part Blog Series on The Ego’s Four Splits
(Adapted from Fr. Richard Rohr’s April 21, 2012 webcast on Franciscan Mysticism)

 Fr. Richard is teaching in Switzerland, Germany and Romania for the next 10 days. While he is traveling, we have his permission to share with you some of his recent teachings.

Mysticism is when God’s presence becomes experiential for you, as opposed to intellectual. Mystics are not talking about belief systems, but rather a felt sense of Mystery.  A hallmark of mystics is the integration within themselves of what I have identified as the Ego’s Four Splits. To create our mental ego, our false self, there are Four Splits that the mind goes through. I’m going to very simply describe the Four Splits for you and show you how, in embracing the way of the mystics and people like Francis, we just might “get it” earlier than at the very end of our lives.

The First Split: Self from Others

The First Split is the split between my self and your self.  “I’m here, and you’re over there.”  We would call that dualistic consciousness. We learn to see this way as children, and most of us live with it for the rest of our days.  In the first half of life (and for many, into the chronological second half of life), we spend most of our time just accentuating and accessorizing that separate self.  “This is me. That’s you.  I’m better than you; you’re smarter than me. I’m better looking than you; you’re wealthier than me.” It’s all about separation, and using the self as the central reference point.  The modern word we use for this Split is the ego. This is the first Split to form, and usually the last to die.

When Jesus commands us to love our neighbor and to love the enemy, he’s training us in overcoming this split. What you do to another, you do to yourself. What you do to the neighbor, you do to Christ. “You are one in God, and one in me,” so it becomes what Julian of Norwich calls “Oneing”: overcoming the splits, little by little, so in the end there’s just One. As Jesus said, “I and the Father are one.” The whole point of Christianity is the experience of unity with creation, with the neighbor, with the enemy, and with God. This creates a basis for universal mysticism. God is not so far away. God is not so transcendent. God is not found in glory, but in humility. It really re-positions the spiritual journey. Now the goal is the bottom, not the top.

For the next post in the series, click here: Part II 

In Switzerland

After a wonderful week of talks in Assisi Italy with our CAC team, Jim Knipper and I have now moved into Switzerland. This morning awakening in beautiful Lake Lugano, and off to Flueli Ranft in a few hours. This is the home of Bruder Klaus, who is the mystic saint of this country, and we will give a few days of talks on contemplation here based on Pure Prezence, which is the German translation of the Naked Now book. St.Nicholas von der Flue is the only canonized saint of Switzerland and is sometimes considered the father of Swiss neutrality because of his ability to reconcile and heal opposing forces from his spiritual wisdom and his uneducated but non dual mind.

In Assisi

I wonder what Francis would think about one of his sons emailing a blog from right below his old house? Where he left everything, I seem to have everything, health, a wonderful crowd of students, beautiful weather, pasta and vino, and a bittersweet heart. I know this is the last time I plan to visit here and Europe, and so it all has a feeling of “no more” to it, but also a great joy that I can be here at all!

All of our 150 attendees here at the Cittadella are so responsive, and praying for all of your intentions out loud each day (we asked to bring your prayer intentions with us, and many of you
happily obliged, making us aware of how much need and suffering is out there). We are from many countries and backgrounds, but enjoying Jesus’ prayer “That all may be one”.

I am sure “the little poor man” would not begrudge us this bit of technology if it allows us to send you our love, our prayers, and our solidarity.

Thank you for caring. We do too.

Vatican Versus American Nuns

We must be honest and admit that there are only two remaining large systems in the world that are totally patriarchal in their style and in their leadership: Communist states and the Roman Catholic Church. Ours never looked quite as bad since we at least used the language of Jesus, the symbols of communion, humility, and service, and we men even dress in rather feminine robes. The Communist states make no display of humility themselves or respect for the feminine side of anything. But the real bottom lines in the Roman Church are becoming more and more apparent to thinking and spiritual people in the last decade or so. Despite the very clear reforms of the II Vatican Council in the 1960′s, the Roman patriarchy, a closed system that allows no prophetic critique, and their branch appointed officers (bishops), are step by step rolling back both the spirit and the letter of the Vatican II reforms–while pretending and saying they are not. (Remember, if you can reject this Council, then you have the basis for rejecting the other 20 Councils of the Church too! The Pope and bishops had better be very careful!)

Deceit and supposed magnanimity are at the heart of all patriarchies, or otherwise their subjects would see what they are actually doing. North Koreans also believe their “Great Father” is protecting them, as did many Filipinos under Marcos, and Russians under their Czars and Czarinas.

No group accepted the reforms and tried to renew itself following the Council like the American Sisters. Yes, they made their mistakes, and also enjoyed certain matriarchal benefits over the laity. Nevertheless, this cruel, humiliating, and intimidating attempt by the Roman Curia (“the place that cares for”) to punish and control the American sisters is being seen for what it is, and what it is not:
It IS male patriarchal control, hurt feelings because they are not that much in control any more; and it is certainly NOT anything like Jesus or the Gospel. Patriarchal systems normally engineer their own demise by such gross misuse of power.

We all need to sincerely pray–and speak much needed Gospel to very worldly power.