Synthesized answer
Moving from the "common degree" through the "Special" and "Singular" stages toward the "Perfect," individuals can anticipate specific shifts. Initially, when called from the "common degree," it appears the "everlasting love of His Godhead" does not permit one to remain distant from Him [Passage 2]. This leads to a kindled desire and a "leash of longing," drawing one into a "more special state and form of living" to become a servant among special servants [Passage 2]. In this "Special" stage, one learns to live "more specially and more ghostly in His service" than in the common degree [Passage 2].
The transition to the "Singular" stage involves learning to "lift up the foot of thy love" and step toward a perfect state [Passage 1]. In this solitary form of living, all individuals are equally regarded, as there is "no cause, but only God" [Passage 4]. A perfect worker, focused on fulfilling His will, desires nothing but Him, not even release from pain or increase of reward [Passage 5]. This includes a profound detachment from earthly affections, where all are loved "plainly and nakedly for God, and as well as himself" [Passage 4]. The passages describe these advancements, but the…
Synthesized from the book passages below. Chat with the book on Feynman for follow-up.
From the book
thus lightly, for love of His heart, the which He hath evermore had unto thee since thou wert aught: but what did He? Seest thou nought how listily and how graciously He hath privily pulled thee to the third degree and manner of living, the which is called Singular? In the which solitary form and manner of living, thou mayest learn to lift up the foot of thy love; and step towards that state and degree of living that is perfect, and the last state of all.
nd in the same course our Lord hath of His great mercy called thee and led thee unto Him by the desire of thine heart. For first thou wottest well that when thou wert living in the common degree of Christian men's living in company of thy worldly friends, it seemeth to me that the everlasting love of His Godhead, through the which He made thee and wrought thee when thou wert nought, and sithen bought thee with the price of His precious blood when thou wert lost in Adam, might not suffer thee to be so far from Him in form and degree of living. And therefore He kindled thy desire full…
← Table of the Chapters The Cloud of Unknowing translated by Evelyn Underhill Chapter 1 Chapter 2 → 4564079 The Cloud of Unknowing — Chapter 1 Evelyn Underhill HERE BEGINNETH THE FIRST CHAPTER Of four degrees of Christian men's living; and of the course of his calling that this book was made unto. GHOSTLY friend in God, thou shalt well understand that I find, in my boisterous beholding, four degrees and forms of Christian men's living: and they be these, Common, Special, Singular, and Perfect. Three of these may be begun and ended in this life; and the fourth may by grace be begun here, but…
iend. Nevertheless, in this work he hath no leisure to look after who is his friend or his foe, his kin or his stranger. I say not but he shall feel some time—yea, full oft—his affection more homely to one, two, or three, than to all these other: for that is lawful to be, for many causes as charity asketh. For such an homely affection felt Christ to John and unto Mary, and unto Peter before many others. But I say, that in the time of this work shall all be equally homely unto him; for he shall feel then no cause, but only God. So that all shall be loved plainly and nakedly for God, and as…
ork a perfect prentice asketh neither releasing of pain, nor increasing of meed, nor shortly to say, nought but Himself. Insomuch, that neither he recketh nor looketh after whether that he be in pain or in bliss, else that His will be fulfilled that he loveth. And thus it seemeth that in this work God is perfectly loved for Himself, and that above all creatures. For in this work, a perfect worker may not suffer the memory of the holiest creature that ever God made to commune with him. And that in this work the second and the lower branch of charity unto thine even-christian is verily and per¬…
More questions about this book
- What are the "four degrees of Christian men's living" described in Chapter 1, and how would you explain their progression and purpose to someone completely unfamiliar with the text?
- How does the description of these "four degrees" in Chapter 1 conceptually prepare the reader for the overarching theme of "The Cloud of Unknowing" and the idea of a soul being "oned with God"?
- The text states that three degrees "may be begun and ended in this life," while the "fourth may by grace be begun here, but it shall ever last without end." What are the significant spiritual implications of this distinction for understanding the nature of Christian "perfection" according to this work?
- Considering Evelyn Underhill's 1922 translation of this ancient text, what might have been the particular relevance or appeal of reintroducing a structured path to contemplation, involving stages from "Common" to "Perfect," to a 20th-century audience?