A Time for Withdrawal

In his book, ‘The Psychology of Discipleship’, Douglas Baker wrote these words: If you have never known the sickening thrill of a straight flush; if you have never paused, guilty, “In the rank sweat of an ensemened bed”; or clapped your hands to ears that would shut out the screams of scorching tank-entombed men; or, true blue, have never quelled the nausea of protesting organs with gulps of C2OH5; or friendless in the great alone, have never heard the winds speak, or the earth move; or hounded by some unknown force, have not plunged deep in every glittering pool and have not emerged from all of these crying ever, “Not this! Not this!” then these words are not for you.

These are dramatic words, and they evoke the experience of a past generation.

But they speak of the dilemma of a man who has made his way in the world, but is looking for something more. He is hearing the voice of the Soul, and responding to its advances. As he does so, he enters a process of withdrawal, not necessarily to some remote hermitage, but gradually embracing a meditative way of life.

In this ebook, acknowledging the oneness of all life, Dr Baker seeks instruction in the life-cycle of the flower, its quiescence in the winter and at night, and its glory in high summer.

To fulfil our own potential we also need retreat to become part of our routine, and through meditation and related techniques, we need to develop what Dr. Baker calls a ‘Philosophy of response’, response to the Soul, which gradually invites us to adopt its values, which come to inspire our lives.

Chapter 1: My God is an all Consuming Fire; Chapter 2: The Soul; Chapter 3:  Responding - Pleasure and Pain, Chapter 4: Who are we; Chapter 5: Continuing Consciousness; Chapter 6: Journey of the Return, The Act of Withdrawal.