Via Negativa

[Buttons*]

Does anyone know anything about the "Via Negativa" as it occurs in religion? links would be incredibly helpful

 

[Comet]

via negativa (mysticism) -- Britannica Online Encyclopedia

For starters since I think I know what you look for.... basic there.... but we could get into the festival of trees, etc....

 

[Buttons*]

via negativa (mysticism) -- Britannica Online Encyclopedia

For starters since I think I know what you look for.... basic there.... but we could get into the festival of trees, etc....

oooh! What's the festival of trees?

 

[Mike182]

As far as I am aware, defining something via negativia is simply defining something by what it isn't. While defining a tree via negativia would be more troublesome than to define it by what it is, for Mysticism, defining what God is in the positive sense limits God to the expression of all things within human conceptions, but defining God by what God isn't (ie, all those things within human conception) God becomes limitless.

I can see how that would appeal to Mystics.

 

[Guitar's Cry]

One of the themes of mysticism, especially in eastern and existential philosophy, is creation through opposition: something exists, therefore its opposite exists. This is negation not in the sense of removal from existence, but in deciding what something "is not."

As in the Tao Te Ching, beauty creates ugliness because as soon as we define what is beautiful, we define what is not beautiful.

 

[Buttons*]

As far as I am aware, defining something via negativia is simply defining something by what it isn't. While defining a tree via negativia would be more troublesome than to define it by what it is, for Mysticism, defining what God is in the positive sense limits God to the expression of all things within human conceptions, but defining God by what God isn't (ie, all those things within human conception) God becomes limitless.

I can see how that would appeal to Mystics.

True It does tend to happen quite a lot in mystic traditions. And even most sects of Buddhism, which is arguably a philosophy, a religion, or mysticism. Do you know its place in any specific tradition? Personally, I find the Gnostic use of via negativa extremely fascinating

I also find its use in the TTC extremely interesting because it's a different sort of use for the same thing. You see, in Gnostic/Buddhist traditions, they talk about the aspects of God that aren't and use paradoxes to leave one open to the One (truth). (That seemingly cant' be uttered.) But in the TTC, there is no third party (ie, light v. dark / the one) instead, the paradoxes are actually part of the Way and not merely a construct on how to discuss it.

I could be wrong, and if this is confusing let me know, but there are (according to a reading I had) two types of via negativa. Gnosticism falls in the second category that is almost three pronged. While in the TTC, the Way seems to be in the paradoxes themselves and has two themes only.

 

[zenzero]

Friend Buttons,
The Advaita Vedanta of Sanatan Dharma inquires in this process namely *Neti, Neti* or not this, not even this, etc.
It is the same as *via negativa*.
Love & rgds

 

[Buttons*]

Friend Buttons,
The Advaita Vedanta of Sanatan Dharma inquires in this process namely *Neti, Neti* or not this, not even this, etc.
It is the same as *via negativa*.
Love & rgds

Yes! I had heard of that concept, even though I'm not completely familiar with it. Where would I be able to find Neti Neti? Do you happen to know a book with commentary on the subject?

 

[zenzero]

Friend Buttons,
Am sure a google on Advaita Vedanta will bring out many relevant websites and pages on the subject.
The Central idea being that one needs to STILL the mind or make it free of THOUGHTS.
A meditator keeps negating each thought and goes on doing this process till the mind becomes thought free.
Love & rgds

 

[Raymond Sigrist]

Via negativa does describe an important aspect of daoist mysticism. Here is an example from the Huainanzi:
是故有以自得之也，喬木之下，空穴之中，足以適情；無以自得也，雖以天下為家，萬民為臣妾，不足以養生也。能至於無樂者，則無不樂；無不樂，則至極樂矣！

It’s the one who has the ability to get it from within herself, whether she is under a big tree or in an empty cave, who gets satisfaction from whatever happens. If she can’t get it out of herself, even if she possesses an empire and everyone is her subject, it won’t be enough for consummate growth. If a person can get to a point where there is nothing (in particular) that she enjoys, then there will be nothing that she does not enjoy. This is to arrive at optimum enjoyment.

 

[zenzero]

Friend Raymond,

Welcome to RF!
Best Wishes.

Love & rgds

 

[Raymond Sigrist]

thank you Zenzero, I am happy to be invited to be your friend.