Poetry Chaikhana
Sacred Poetry from Around the World


Poetry Chaikhana Home
New | Books | Music | Teahouse | About | Contact
Poets by: Name| Tradition | Timeline Poetry by: Theme | Commentary
Blog | Forum | Video Channel
www.Poetry-Chaikhana.com

Christian : Catholic
17th Century

About Angelus Silesius

Timeline (1624 - 1677)

Angelus Silesius, Angelus Silesius poetry, Christian, Christian poetry, Catholic poetry, [TRADITION SUB2] poetry,  poetry

<<Previous Poem | View All Poems by Angelus Silesius | Next Poem >>

English version by
Paul Carus

Original Language
German

In Spirit senses are

Commentary by
Ivan M. Granger

 
 
 
 
 

 

Recommended Books

The Angelic Verses: From the Book of Angelus Silesius, Translated by Frederick Frank
Angelus Silesius, by Jeffrey L. Sammons
Angelus Silesius: The Cherubinic Wanderer (Classics of Western Spirituality), by Angelus Silesius / Translated by Maria Shrady
Angelus Silesius' Cherubinischer Wandersmann: A Modern Reading With Selected Translations (Renaissance and Baroque Studies and Texts), by Maria M. Bohm
The Book of Angelus Silesius, Translated by Frederick Frank

More >>

In Spirit senses are
One and the same. 'T is true,
Who seeth God he tastes,
Feels, smells and hears Him too.

 

 

 

<<Previous Poem | View More Poems by Angelus Silesius | Next Poem >>

Commentary by Ivan M. Granger

This aphoristic verse by Angelus Silesius describes a simple truth experienced by many mystics. Although many think in terms of "seeing" God, in the states of deepest unity, the Divine is perceived wholly, without the intervening division of the senses. It is only in trying to intellectually comprehend this experience that the mind attempts to sort it out in terms of the common perceptual awareness of the senses.

Since sight is the dominant sense for most people, the direct perception of the Divine is most often understood and described in terms of visual phenomenon. But the perception floods the other senses, as well, so mystics sometimes speak of a honey-like sweetness on the tongue, or the tactile sense of delight in every cell of the body, or the scent of roses, or the sound of a heavenly flute.

Angelus Silesius is, in his poetic way, stating that these are not separate sensory inputs; they are all One. It is only later that the limited mind parcels out the experience in order to better comprehend and communicate it.


Poetry Chaikhana Home
New | Books | Music | Teahouse | About | Contact
Poets by: Name| Tradition | Timeline Poetry by: Theme | Commentary
Blog | Forum | Video Channel
www.Poetry-Chaikhana.com

Please support the Poetry Chaikhana, as well as the authors and publishers of sacred poetry, by purchasing some of the recommended books through the links on this site. Thank you!

Ivan M. Granger's original poetry, stories and commentaries are Copyright © 2002 - 2008 by Ivan M. Granger.
All other material is copyrighted by the respective authors, translators and/or publishers.