From the book
Centuries of Meditations
Thomas Traherne · Diotimos Editions · 2026
Browse this book’s lexicon →Orientation
At a Glance
- The wordAbundance is a fullness that exceeds a narrow allowance.
- In TraherneTraherne makes abundance a property of goodness as well as a quantity of possessions.
- In this editionThe adjective “abundant” can describe goodness, while “abundance” names the soul's beams.
- A place to beginThe speaker asks to become abundant in Christlike goodness, pitying misery and thirsting for others’ happiness.
Meaning
Abundance is a fullness that exceeds a narrow allowance. Its verbal neighbours, abounding and overflowing, suggest a source that remains plentiful while communicating itself.
Use in the book
Traherne makes abundance a property of goodness as well as a quantity of possessions. The prayer to become abundant in Christ's goodness asks for enlarged pity and desire for other people's happiness. What increases is the giver's power of loving. In the later account of the soul, abundant beams are freely communicated refreshment: inward riches become effective by shining upon others. This answers a possible misunderstanding of the book's language of treasure. Fulness does not reach its perfection by being enclosed; the richest soul has the greatest capacity to benefit. Nor does the divine abundance make created things dispensable. Space must be spacious enough for bounty, and creatures provide its delighted recipients.
Places to read
In this edition
The adjective “abundant” can describe goodness, while “abundance” names the soul's beams. Neither use is adequately glossed as material affluence.
Source note
Primary text: I.63, IV.82, V.4. The three passages connect abundance with compassion, communication, and the receptivity of space respectively.