Light to Live By: An exploration in Quaker Spirituality

by Rex Ambler

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Genres: Spirituality, Religion

66 pages, Paperback

First published March 1, 2002

Reviews

[Neil Saltmarsh · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really love the Quaker tradition and I have probably lamented in other reviews that the Quakers of today are split between those who hold to God and those who don't and that there are some that hold to the Christian tradition and those that hold to syncretism. It is regrettable, particularly, when you read a book like this that hearkens back to following the early Quaker tradition and finding it works. I have read a lot of the early Quaker writings along with Thomas Kelly and Rufus M. Jones and love the closeness to God that they exhibit. Most of today's Quaker authors don't seem to. This book takes apart the components of the inward light seeking and it is really good in that it explains the technical side a bit more fully and the effect it has had upon the author and some communities.

[Merilyn · Rating 5 out of 5]

A fascinating book at the intersection of Focusing and Christianity. How a modern Quaker looking to experience the rich living experiences evident in early Quaker writings came to understand that the early Quakers were in fact engaging in a kind of meditation. When he combined their meditation with the principles of Focusing found in Eugene Gendlin's "Focusing" and continued the practice over a period of time, he realised he had in fact come to that early richness he'd been looking for.

[Fashnhat · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a meditation guide for Quakers as well as anyone else. I have been in a workshops that used this book and now keep it by my bed.

[Mandy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Rex Ambler is a Quaker who wanted to go back to early Quakers, to study how they came to be so sure of God's presence that they risked their life and liberty by standing for the truths they believed. He found his study showed him a method of contemplation that stripped him of his ego, and brought strength and purpose into his life. In talking to others about this method he heard about the psychotherapeutic method called "focusing" developed by Eugene Gendlin (wikipedia link here), which is similar, but without the spiritual aspect of Quaker meditation.

I found the whole thing fascinating, and hope that using his method will really help me in Quaker meeting for worship to quiet my chaotic and uncontrolled innner voice.

[Chaundra · Rating 4 out of 5]

A very interesting exploration to reawaken a truly Quaker method of meditation, based in part on the experiences of early Quakers and in part on modern, secular practices. The beauty, as in much of the Quaker experience, is in the simplicity.

I read the book in preparation for an "Experiment with Light" organised by my Area Meeting using this meditation. While not all I had hoped for, the promise is certainly there.

[Jason · Rating 4 out of 5]

It didn't change my life as it seems to for some Friends. Overall I felt that it was good as a system, but aren't we doing that already? Evidently not all of us were and for those Friends I would say definitely give it a go and join a light group. Maybe it's unsurprising I felt it not to be earth-quaking seeing as I was familiar with some of the same material that inspired the author.