Đi Trên Nước

by Anthony de Mello, Minh Anh

"Cầu nguyện, yêu thương, đời sống tinh thần, đời sống đạo đức sắp giải thoát bạn khỏi những ảo giác. Một khi đời sống đức tin triển nở, thật tuyệt vời, tuyệt vời! Nhưng khi nó trệch hướng, thì đó là bệnh hoạn, một dịch tể phải tránh. Khi ảo giác rơi rụng, con tim không còn bị tắc nghẽn, tình yêu sẽ nở hoa. Đó cũng là lúc hạnh phúc chợt đến và bắt đầu có sự đổi thay. Và rồi, chỉ khi đó, bạn mới biết Thiên Chúa là ai..."

Như một số ít người khác, Anthony de Mello đã biết kết hợp những tinh hoa của truyền thống Đông và Tây phương vào một phương pháp uyển chuyển và chân thực. Là một người có khiếu kể chuyện, Anthony de Mello sử dụng những mẩu chuyện của các thầy dòng, của các giáo sĩ Do Thái, của những người lính; những chuyện thần tiên, chuyện cổ tích, chuyện đùa dí dỏm và những câu nói đầy chất thiền song song với vô số bài tập thực hành đơn sơ cũng được tác giả vận dụng để dẫn chúng ta đi vào những nền tảng của đời sống thiêng liêng.

Trong quyển sách duyên dáng này, de Mello cho thấy, ngay tự bên trong chính mình, mỗi người đều có thể “đi trên nước”.

Genres: Spirituality, Religion, Christianity, Nonfiction

144 pages, Paperback

First published August 1, 1993

About the author

Anthony de Mello was a Jesuit priest and psychotherapist who became widely known for his books on spirituality. An internationally acclaimed spiritual guide, writer and public speaker, de Mello hosted many spiritual conferences.

The few talks which he allowed to be filmed, such as "A Rediscovery of Life" and "A Way to God for Today," have inspired many viewers and audiences throughout the United States, Canada, and Central America. De Mello established a prayer center in India. He died suddenly in 1987. His works are readily available and additional writings were published after his death.

In 1998, some of his opinions were condemned by the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith. Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger, who later became Pope Benedict XVI, wrote for the Congregation:
"But already in certain passages in [his] early works and to a greater degree in his later publications, one notices a progressive distancing from the essential contents of the Christian faith. ... With the present Notification, in order to protect the good of the Christian faithful, this Congregation declares that the above-mentioned positions are incompatible with the Catholic faith and can cause grave harm."

Some editions of his books have since been supplemented with the insertion of a caution:
"The books of Father Anthony de Mello were written in a multi-religious context to help the followers of other religions, agnostics and atheists in their spiritual search, and they were not intended by the author as manuals of instruction of the Catholic faithful in Christian doctrine or dogma."

Reviews

[Emlyn Lewis · Rating 4 out of 5]

Anthony de Mello is the most underrated spiritual authors of all time!
He dives into the philosophy of brainwashing through religion & the meaning of life like no other.
The end exercises I found weak compared to his first book

[Jeff Maziarek · Rating 3 out of 5]

I've read numerous books by Anthony DeMello, as he is my favorite spiritual teacher. While this title isn't necessarily a favorite of mine, it does have valuable content that is worth exploring. Here's my favorite passage from this book:

“One day God got tired of people. They were always pestering him, asking him for things. So he said, ‘I’m going away to hide for a while.’ So he gathered all of his advisers and said, ‘Where should I hide? Where’s the best place for me to hide?’

Some said, “Hide on the highest mountain peak on earth.” Others said, “No, hide at the bottom of the sea; they’d never find you there.” Others, “Hide on the other side of the moon; that’s the best place. How are they going to find you there?”
Then God turned to his most intelligent angel and asked him, “Where do you advise me to hide?” The intelligent angel smiled and said, “Go hide yourself in the human heart. That’s the only place where they never go!”

[Chio · Rating 3 out of 5]

Trae el mismo concepto que el libro Liberación Interior, los seres humanos somos parte de un cuerpo, y que debemos querernos como tal, la respuesta está en uno.

[Andrew McHenry · Rating 3 out of 5]

Back in 2015 I interviewed several pastors while on sabbatical, and I asked each one to name some "books that every pastor must read." A pastor of a megachurch recommended this one to me (among others), and he even gave me a copy - which I read in the following year.

It consists of short, readable chapters on topics such as vision, happiness, freedom, love, prayer, etc. The author is an Indian Catholic priest - and this little book is rich with stories and illustrations from Eastern sources.

At times his reliance on these is so extensive that it raises concerns of syncretism. So this book might put off some of the more conservative readers; but it doesn't need to be taken that way. At its best "Walking on Water" gives some good reflection/explication of various teachings of Jesus. Yet it's not a predominantly theological book - which means it will be accessible to non-religious readers as well.

In spite of its Eastern flavor, this book easily caters to the Western individualistic mindset. There's not much focus on corporate well-being - other than by means of the reader's own personal/relational development. As such then it kind of works in a complementary way the book my church has been reading on Amish grace and corporate spirituality. (See the previous review of "Amish Grace".)

The key component in this book are de Mello's "exercises" - which are designed to help the reader think about things differently. So the content is most valuable when it's turned into a habit; this isn't a book that you should just read through and quickly put aside.

I can certainly see how his practices could be conducive to having a greater sense of peace and less anxiety about life. Parts of it were so compelling after reading it through the first time (back in 2016) that I felt like I needed to get a new copy and re-read it.

[Pablo Cobo · Rating 5 out of 5]

Relatos y reflexiones que nos invitan a :
Llegar al país del amor pasando por el pais de la muerte.
Y si corazón lo llevará al extenso desierto.
Al comienzo sufrirá soledad...pero el desierto florecerá por su amor...y habrá música...será siempre primavera.
Dese un alimento apropiado...
Muera a sus necesidades. Y cuando no desee nada, ni nadie.
Estará libre para creer.
Después venga y camine sobre las aguas.

[Normando · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excelente libro sobre psicologia, especialmente con ejercicios para ansiedad, relajamiento, vivir en el presente y lo mas importante que el autor nunca se enfica única y exclusivamente en la religión católica, también pone ejemplos de budista, judaismo,etc.
E leído todos sus libros más de una vez y totalmente recomendables.

[Terry Jankowski kelly]

I go back to this book again and again. Easy read, not heady spirituality. Practical examples, suggestions. Highly recommended

[Shishir · Rating 3 out of 5]

Anecdotal book covering many aspects of living at peace and fulfillment with yourself and your surroundings

[Trevor · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thought provoking allegories. Sometimes his concepts are too abstract to grab hold of.

[Juan Nicolás · Rating 5 out of 5]

Con reflexiones muy sencillas es una excelente introducción para iniciar un viaje espiritual de conocimiento y liberación, muy recomendado.

[Kim · Rating 3 out of 5]

It contained helpful stories. The last two sections included spiritual exercises and a summary of major points.

[Larada Horner-Miller · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a refreshing understanding of the basics of Christianity with an Eastern flavor. De Mello captures my heart with stark jarring truths I’ve never thought of before. Thank you so much!

[Alberto Soto · Rating 5 out of 5]

Muy buen libro. No es una novela. Espiritualidad y religión. Cristianismo.

[Emmanuella Elma · Rating 3 out of 5]

"Tidak ada lagi ketakutan dalam cinta sejati karena cinta tidak punya nafsu atau keinginan, cinta tidak menawar, tidak menghakimi. Cinta semata-mata adalah cinta itu sendiri, cinta adalah saat ini. Cinta itu melihat dan bertindak" -Anthony de Mello
Buku ini cukup bagus, banyak pemikiran-pemikiran penulis yang unik dituangkan disini. Namun tetap saja berfilsafat, dan euhm, saya tidak terlalu suka akan hal itu. Mungkin harus dibaca dalam keadaan benar-benar luang dan tenang (karena jujur terkadang saya malah susah menangkap makna dari tulisan penulis). At least, buku ini berisi banyak perumpamaan yang jitu dan tepat sasaran utk menjelaskan hal-hal diluar nalar berfikir kita.

[Amber · Rating 4 out of 5]

A good collection of de Mello's thoughts, best used as a devotional. As always I enjoy his refreshing take of happiness being the normal state of being rather than something to reach for or attain, but I am critical of his overarching message of 'everything is the same' in his approach to the similarities between Eastern and Western thought, and also his brushing over of real trauma as being solely a personal problem, rather than a structural or a deeper problem. Otherwise good though, would be a fantastic companion to meditative prayer whether alone or with a group.

[Margareth · Rating 3 out of 5]

Teach us how to be happy, happy with all we are now, not later with all we expect or we will be in the future, (that seldom comes true).

Jadi, jangan bilang aku akan bahagia nanti...
Kalau aku sudah dapat promosi, atau sudah menikah, atau sudah punya rumah sendiri, or anything else.
You can be happy anytime you want, just leave all of your expectation behind, while do your best.

Sulit untuk diterapkan sendiri.. :)

[Annette]

Años atrás lo leí, y ahora lo volví a hacer para evaluar mi aprendizaje previo, muchos de los ejercicios los había olvidado, sin embargo, algunos han sido pilares en mi vida, como el vivir el presente, ya veremos que pasa en el siguiente presente. El otro pilar en mi vida es no importarme que piensen o digan de mi, y el tercero que siempre aplico es el de perdonar y olvidar las ofensas, eso siempre ha liberado mi corazón.

Gracias Anthony, bellas historias y enseñanzas nos regalas

[Davis Acuff · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was encouraged to read this book by my pastor. Interesting to me, this is more of a guidebook than a single-read. To read and re-read and practice the concepts revealed in this book is to re-train your thinking. Not a self-help book, this reads more like a blending Eastern & Western Philosophy. Anthony does a great job of illustrating his key concepts with stories. I loved this book, and I am grateful for my pastor's recommendation. I intend to keep it with me always.

[Barb Kapinus · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book offers inspiration for drawing closer to God in modern times. It offers exercises and quotes that provide platforms from which to reach toward spiritual growth, inner pace, and happiness.
I learned ways to work toward peace and awareness.
One of many quotes that I underlined: "God and spirituality must be found in life. Not outside it."

[Devin Lilly · Rating 3 out of 5]

Some nice ideas are presented by the author, but many I fail to see how we can practically put them into motion. Also, I am not a fan of the prose and how he chooses to phrase his ideas. It feels to me as if he is not plagued by anything he is discussing and is almost robotic to me at times.

Nevertheless, I enjoyed the segments on meditation and genuinely did help me relax the past few days.

[Gin Tadvick · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very thought provoking and spiritually uplifting. Put it on my "Keep" shelf to read and re-read as well as use as a reference.

[Mary Beth · Rating 4 out of 5]

A delicious, humble little book, simply written, but generously packed with inspiring truths about life and love.

[Nancy L. Gast · Rating 5 out of 5]

KNOWLEDGE WINS

The second reading was greater than the first. A must read for one on the journey to realize true life