The Divine Field: The Power of Authentic Encounter - Mysticism in Life

Many of us envision God as a monolith—unchanging, firmly established, and absolute. This common portrayal offers us a sense of security and clarity. However, I increasingly believe that this depiction of God is incomplete.

God is Vitality

I hold the view that God is in a state of becoming. God embodies development, surprise, and liveliness. The essence of life is change; it grows, learns, and responds. Something that remains static cannot be truly alive. Just as a tree, an animal, or a human evolves over time, God too is a process, albeit not in the conventional sense of keeping pace with time.

Allow me to share an experience that I often revisit, as it is available to us in every moment. This realization first struck me during prayer times in our monastery. As I sit with my brothers, singing together almost daily for decades, something remarkable occurs.

I look into the faces of my brothers, one sitting directly beside me, and suddenly, something emerges. It’s not merely an emotional connection; it’s something profoundly spiritual—a third entity arises between us.

The Divine Field

What I experience in those moments is immensely precious. It is a force—not just the fact that there are four of us spending time together, but something uniquely collective. Perhaps you’ve felt this in significant moments too, when you sense that something else is present.

This “Other” is what I refer to. Sometimes I am particularly attuned to it, while at other times, less so, yet I can always feel it. I’ve discovered that this phenomenon is not limited to worship with my brothers; it unfolds in many situations with others, including interactions with animals and all that is natural. At times, I have sensed that it extends even further: it can occur with objects that hold meaning for me.

When we face each other, we create a third entity—a force or, as I prefer to call it, a field. When two individuals come together, this field can emerge. I name it the divine field, characterized by warmth, clarity, and profound stillness.

The Power of Relationship

You and I could experience this right now. As you read these words, I have penned them for you. Although there is a temporal gap, if we engage with intention—if I turn towards you and you open yourself to these words—this field can arise between us. You may sense a subtle form of energy and power.

Can you feel it?

It’s perfectly fine if it doesn’t resonate with you at this moment; perhaps you need something different right now. That’s no issue. However, this is generally how it works. You can carry this awareness into the world and notice it everywhere, even with a cashier at the supermarket.

Martin Buber beautifully articulated this concept, emphasizing the relational aspect. I must admit that I previously understood it in a very human, almost psychological way. Yet, I now realize that it transcends psychology. It’s not merely about having a “good relationship” in terms of sympathy. Here, relationship signifies something deeper—this field. It is a relational field where two individuals connect, creating a space that can be felt.

Becoming Aware Instead of Just Observing

We have various approaches to engage with the world. We can observe, but observation is passive and detached. It feels like I’m merely watching, removed from the experience. A step closer is to contemplate, which is more engaging.

However, the third approach—what Buber refers to as “being-in”—is where we truly immerse ourselves in the experience. What does this mean? It signifies that we are together in a field. Not only am I “in,” but so is the other. Together, we form this field, which we can perceive in stillness. When we take the time to be present, we can become aware of this field.

This field is a third entity to which I can actively relate. I can communicate with it. Speaking is one of the most refined forms of energetic engagement. No other ability allows me to calibrate my energy as precisely as speaking does. I can fine-tune my contributions to this field through my words, actions, or intentions.

Simultaneously, I can receive and remain open. This field may also communicate with me. We often say, "The book does not speak to me." This does not imply that the book is mute or incorrect; rather, it means that the field that should arise between me and the book remains silent. The resonance is absent, and it fails to reach me.

God is Always Becoming New

This field embodies life. It is a living field that emerges anew in every moment. It does not simply exist in a completed state; it is renewed continuously. Just as God is newly manifested in every instant, He emerges between us anew.

God is not a monolith; God is fluid and dynamic. While He is eternally present, He is also the one who is perpetually becoming. Revelation is an ongoing process. The field speaks to you, and you respond to the field. I mean this sincerely, without any naive simplicity: the field is present and desires to be recognized. You can engage with it and sense how something emerges within you or between you and another.

This is true encounter.

When you approach everything with this mindset—truly everything—this field arises for you everywhere. You are enveloped in the divine field. This realization has recently become incredibly significant for me, altering how I work and how I connect with others. The moment and this field are far more important than rigid structures. It only requires a willingness to engage and openness to connection.

When we feel this, it can foster immense gratitude and humility. Ultimately, it is about serving this grand field within our world.