Posted by Maryse (198.111.190.2) on November 05, 1999 at 10:24:04:
In Reply to: Pain Spirituality posted by Bill McC on November 05, 1999 at 01:58:44:
In grad school I studied, among other things, the works of several mystic poets,
some of whom espoused the notion of the transcendental nature of pain. And I remember
contrasting that to my CH experience. Like most creatures on earth, I have suffered
a variety of intense pains in my life. I believe that the pain of CH is absolutely unique:
It is a closed circle of Hell; nothing exists outside of it; it is more engulfing, more "intimate"
than other pains; it is not "over there,"as the pain from a burned hand or a kidney stone would be;
rather, it completely entraps and paralyzes the soul (and thus might be a good definition of Hell).
I agree with you, Bill: There can be no spiritual transcendence during a CH, because there's no room
for anything else.
Maryse in Ann Arbor