Greco-Christian stream·The Imitation of Christ·Book III — On Inward Consolation·Chapter LI. That We Must Give Ourselves To Humble Works When We Are Unequal To Those That Are Lofty
LI. Humble works when we are unequal to lofty ones
The wisdom of doing what we can do well rather than aspiring to what we cannot do at all. When lofty exercises (long contemplation, austere fasting, prolonged prayer) are beyond present strength, the small humble service still pleases God.
Source context
- Theme
- descent to humble action as spiritual discipline when exalted states are inaccessible
- Soul-faculty
- Consciousness Soul
Steiner
not engaged in the GA corpus
Cross-tradition
- Benedictine Rule / Humilitas doctrineBenedict's twelve degrees of humility prescribe a structural equivalent: when contemplative elevation fails, the monk returns to manual and lowly work as the proper ground of spiritual formation.
- Sufi station-doctrine (maqamat)In Sufi station-doctrine, the wayfarer who cannot sustain higher maqamat is directed to tawadu (lowliness of self-presentation) and service as stabilizing stations that preserve progress already gained.
- Vedanta / Karma Yoga (Bhagavad Gita)Krishna's instruction to Arjuna in the Gita identifies action performed without attachment to fruits as the path available when jnana-yoga remains inaccessible, showing cross-tradition congruence with the Imitation's counsel to take up humble work when lofty spiritual activity is blocked.
Chapter LI. That We Must Give Ourselves To Humble Works When We Are Unequal To Those That Are Lofty
THAT WE MUST GIVE OURSELVES TO HUMBLE WORKS WHEN WE ARE UNEQUAL TO THOSE THAT ARE LOFTY
"My Son, thou art not always able to continue in very fervent desire after virtues, nor to stand fast in the loftier region of contemplation; but thou must of necessity sometimes descend to lower things because of thine original corruption, and bear about the burden of corruptible life, though unwillingly and with weariness. So long as thou wearest a mortal body, thou shalt feel weariness and heaviness of heart. Therefore thou oughtest to groan often in the flesh because of the burden of the flesh, inasmuch as thou canst not give thyself to spiritual studies and divine contemplation unceasingly.
2"At such a time it is expedient for thee to flee to humble and external works, and to renew thyself with good actions; to wait for My coming and heavenly visitation with sure confidence; to bear thy exile and drought of mind with patience, until thou be visited by Me again, and be freed from all anxieties. For I will cause thee to forget thy labours, and altogether to enjoy eternal peace. I will spread open before thee the pleasant pastures of the Scriptures, that with enlarged heart thou mayest begin to run in the way of My commandments. And thou shalt say, 'The sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us.'"(1)
(1) Romans viii. 18.