The Window

  A window is useful while it is light out.  But once the darkness comes the window is no longer useful, or not in the same way.  If not electrical lights outside, you see only darkness through a window.  Such can it be at a monastery.  Verbal prayer is like a window.  It is useful so long as you have the light of thoughts, imagination with its images floating through your mind.  But once you enter into the darkness of meditation, verbal prayer is no longer useful.  Words, like windows are pretty useless in the dark.  When I close my eyes in prayer it is dark.  I don’t try to use words, thoughts or images as a kind of electricity to lighten things up.  There is plenty enough to “see” in the dark, but not with the eyes of words and images.