life questions
What is man on earth for? Who am I? What is my origin, where do I go to? My destination, what is it and how do I get there? What is the relationship between my life and that of others? Life, my life – what can I do with it, what do I do with it? In ZeeVELD we tackle these and other life questions from a double framework. The broader framework is that of the Judeo-Christian tradition. Within this we focus in particular on the monastic tradition of the Benedictines. We are in constant dialogue with both traditions. What shapes, words, and ways does the spirit speaking from them requires in our time? And how do these traditions relate to the spriritual and relgious schools of other cultures?
Paradox
An at first sight strange contradiction characterizes our lives. Our questions are ambitious. You would soon expect a pompous learning program. Nothing is less true.
Simplicity
If we are concerned with anything, it is with what is apparently ordinary and low to the ground. To meet that with inspired attention, with an open ear and eye: this is one of the two most important components of our learning. Do wash the dishes consciously. Walking up and down the stairs with care. To rake the leaves on the lawn with love. Consciously picking up the phone. To be truly present for who or what crosses our lives. Slowing down again and again where we feel rushed. To be still where unrest threatens to overpower us.
The basic exercise that carries all this: Liber .
Grounding
This is how we practice the art of grounding. As we approach the deepest ground of our existence, we become more aware of what it means to be human; truly be ourselves. We learn to surrender to it better and better, to express it better.
Fall and be erected
What do we do all day? In summary: we fall and are raised again. Again and again we fall into the pit of our conceit; we pretend to be the captives of our heads: as it thinks things, so it is! To which we are called to order again by the focus and structure of our lives. Who have no other purpose than to bring us back again and again to the knowing of our heart; to free us from the narrowness of mental constructions and to place us in the space of our deepest knowing.
Difficult and beautiful
It is a confrontational process. Life as it concretely presents itself to us often turns out to be at odds with what we had imagined it to be. Going so violently against what we had hoped or thought that we would rather cling to the negation of what is than let it go to undergo the experience of being. But it is also a rewarding journey. Because if we dare to let go, life turns out to be more meaningful than we thought possible in our wildest dreams.
