Publishers of Books on Early Christianity, Sufi
Poetry, Gnosticism, the Fourth Way,
and Celtic and Other Mythology
The Thorn and the Rose: A Journey from Suffering to Love
Compiled by Anthony Williams
Published by Archive Publications,
$19.50
Buy the Thorn and the Rose through Amazon.com
About
the Author
Anthony Williams was educated at Cambridge, England, where he graduated
with an honors degree in Natural Sciences. He has made extensive studies
of the religious and esoteric literature, and specializes in early Christianity
and its relationship to the ideas of the Fourth Way. He works in publishing
and computers, and now lives in California.
From
the Author
Like many people, I too was overwhelmed when forced to confront the reality
of unavoidable suffering, and experienced the desperation and panic that
confronts one when there seems to be no way out. Luckily, and with help,
I was able to turn this into a search for what other people had found
on this subject, and the results of this are contained in this book.
These quotations come from people of all walks of life, and, surprisingly, they come to very similar conclusions. Their answers are both profound and practical. They tell us that traveling this road with one's eyes open can lead to a deeper understanding of life and an expanded feeling of kinship with our fellow humans. And even more is possible in the realm of love and the development of the human spirit. And this is not just for the saints and the virtuous, but for anyone who is willing to take that first step and turn around and face himself.
Even if your life is going along smoothly, I would recommend that you read this book or at least give the subject some thought. Life can quickly take unexpected turns, and then, suddenly, there one is looking at Nature's other side.
I
hope that this little collection will be of help when this inevitably
happens.
Extracts from the author's Preface:
When our lives are comfortable we rarely think about suffering and its
place in life. Generally it is an unwelcome intruder that goes against
our ideas of what life should be like, and so we do our best to consider
it as little as possible. So when it does come, suddenly we are confronted
with fears about the future,and questions on the meaning of life.
How
to deal with suffering
It is here that I hope this book will be helpful. It consists of quotes
from people of all walks of life who have already been down this road
and who have made discoveries that are both profound and practical. Their
emphasis is on how to deal with suffering once it has arrived, and where
this may lead to, rather than on analyzing why it exists and how it might
be removed. Moreover, they tell us that suffering is not just incidental
to our lives but is integral and deep at the center of our existence;
and is not only a necessity but, later on, if one wishes and is able to
travel that far, a cause of joy and higher spiritual experience. And they
also show us that although we usually become embittered and resentful
when suffering comes, this other direction is possible, and it is up to
us to try it....
Suffering
and Love are connected
The final theme, hinted at in the book’s subtitle, is the connection
of suffering with love and positive emotion. Many of the quotes refer
to how the authors’ experiences of suffering brought them closer
to other people. And we have all had a similar experience of how shared
difficulties can form bonds between the people who experience them. It
seems to be the ultimate paradox that the one thing we want the least
should bring us what we want the most, but this is the conclusion we are
led to. It has been suggested by many teachings that we should all have
love in common, but it is plain that mostly we do not even feel kinship
with our fellow humans. We do, however, have suffering in common. And
here, perhaps, is the secret. For if it is true that suffering and love
meet in their extremity, then is not love already there, but hidden? If
we were to remember that it is not only ourselves but everyone who suffers,
friend and foe alike, then this could be a motive force to bring us closer
to the love that both religions and philosophies have always encouraged
us to develop.
Perhaps one could sum it up by saying that love is the remedy for suffering, and all suffering, eventually, after many detours, leads to love.
Published
by Archive Publications, 2000. Hardcover, 255 pages, ISBN 0967771803,
$19.50.
Buy
the Thorn and the Rose through Amazon.com
A
Selection of Quotations From the Book
About the Author
Contents and Index