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If I had not studied Advaita Vedanta beforehand, I would likely think, when John starts talking about detachment from memory, he was crazy — but he's not. He's describing what Vedantin sadhakas who followed jñana yoga have taught almost 1:1. What John called "a state of perfection" Vedantins call "jivanmukta". This type of sadhana is... really, really advanced.

Ok, so I think 1/3 this book is about visions so I think unless you're actively having visions (?) this might be a bit hard to absorb. Lol. It's a book on mysticism, what do you expect.

I'm actually impressed that John goes into so much detail about why "visions" are not to be relied on. Now he refutes the argument of "well, if they're not reliable, then why do people get them"? There definitely was always some doubt in my mind about the level of superstition in 1500s Spain, but John is probably the most "skeptical mystic" one can imagine. He doesn't put much stock in "visions and loquations".

For someone who was so deep into non-dualist mysticism (as far as a 16th century Spanish monk could be without being labeled as a heretic), John is extremely skeptical of "visions" and "supernatural experiences". He makes the case that it is extremely hard to discern if they're legitimate or not, and even if they were, it is harder to discern their meaning. This protects against delusion/egoism. Good stuff.

Absolutely underestimated the difficulty of these teachings. To put it in terms I'm familiar with, John describes advanced dhyana at this point of the book, that is, of going from meditation (with subject/object differentiation) into contemplation (to "go beyond the senses"). Translating what he's imparting from Catholic to Vedantin equivalents helps me parse this text a lot.

This book is doing more for me than therapy. Maybe I should dump my therapist and just read JotC 🥲

Trying to get through this book again! St. John of the Cross remains my favorite Catholic writer, and interpreting his mysticism through the lens of advaita vedanta is truly fascinating. Also, despite its density, AoMC is such a beautifully written work.

Trying to get through this again! St John of the Cross remains much favorite Catholic writer; interpretating his mysticism through the lens of advaita vedanta is fascinating. AoMC is also just a beautifully written text in general.

Ivan's monologue on the sublimation of the Church into the State — such that this new entity not only encompasses legalistic proceduresn but the entire social character of man, rendering it thus obsolete as a "State" or a "Church" but rather transforms both into a new entity — really hits differently after fully grasping the ultimate aims of socialism.

can you tell i am obsessed fr

idk how much money i'd pay for someone to draw the sequence of smol pompey changing his outfit 4x, riding a white horse decked out with 10 pounds of bling bling while fantasizing about meeting sulla-senpai, only to find a drunk & sick old man 😭

HE WON THE GRASS CROWN 😭😭😭😭 holy moly colleen, why did you make this so badass, i am screaming and crying and had to re-read it like 3x bc of how EPIC it was 😭😭😭

half this book is just colleen describing how hot sulla is and honestly im inclined to agree

"I never realized Penelope died before Odysseus." — NOOOO MY HEART I CAN'T TT___TT

not me with my mouth wide open at one of the saddest odyssey references ever made in lit history TT__TY

omg it's time to simp for my fav murderous bicon lucius sulla & his twink polycule again lessgoooo

CINNAMON BUN CARROT CAKE CANDY APPLE RAND AL'THOR 🥺🥺🥺

I'm starting to really like Faile. Perrin's boring af. The Aiel are awesome and carry all his chapters.

Rhuidean was one of the best arcs I have ever read, period. Rand going through the glass columns to see the past Age was... just wow. WOW. Loved it. Mat's own arc mirrors Odin's threefold death for wisdom... superbly done. Incredible.

Perrin and Faile have such an unhealthy relationship. I'm not sure if it's intended to be that way but like. Seriously. It makes reading their scenes so uncomfortable.

This book is starting to feel like Rand's harem anime and I honestly don't mind. So far Egwene (past), Elayne, Min, Berelain, and Lanfear all seem to want a piece of his peachy bottom. Ishamael *probably* does too, he just doesn't want to admit it LOL.

Rand is a cinnamon bun who needs a hug. Also Perrin and Mat... just smh. Light, are you his friends or not?