Daniel A. SeegerRezensionen

Daniel Seeger was the Executive Secretary at Pendle Hill retreat center. This pamphlet grows out of his experiences helping Friends from all branches, and other persons, deepen their spiritual experience of silence.

This essay is a reflection on the practice of inner silence in everyday life.

The nonviolent sensibility understands that there is no truly beneficial, liberating, or healing politics which is not spiritual in quality; that religion and politics are one; that vision and action are one.

Wow. This one is extraordinary. In 25 small pages, Seeger explains clearly and inspiringly what the practice of inner silence is, what it does to us, and how it brings us to the love of God, to the place of pure stillness and peace and reconciliation where we find what we seek. We grow into what we are meant to be, and our lives preach to the world.
Seeger writes very clearly. While he explains why language and logic cannot convey the experience of the Divine, he still informs us of how we may seek and find it and how it will transform us. This is a profound though brief exposition of the Quaker understanding of the life of the Spirit, from the silent-meeting tradition of Friends (liberal and Conservative Friends). It cuts through any confusion we may have about what we are doing.

The author's selective service court case, US vs. Seeger, greatly broadened the acceptable religious grounds for conscientious objection. These are his reflections on nonviolence.

This very special pamphlet on the spiritual meaning of nonviolence is notable for careful clarity and spiritual wisdom.
Writing in the 1980s, Seeger notes the prevalence among committed workers for social justice of a position either advocating for or tolerant of the use of "controlled" violence against the system of oppression. He sees such activists, formerly committed to nonviolence, having changed their view in response to outrage and frustration at the brutality and persistence of the violent systems. And he asks: can the use of violence in any way further the cause of nonviolent social change? His answer is deeply spiritually wise.

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