Practical Theology

Practical Theology

Service-Oriented Mysticism According to Teresa of Avila

Document Type : Research Paper

Author
bakhshali ghanbari
Associate Professor, Department of Religions and Mysticism, Faculty of Literature and Humanities, Central Tehran Branch, Islamic Azad University, Tehran, Iran
10.22034/pt.2024.470321.1030
Abstract
Service-oriented mysticism, a branch of practical theology, was addressed by Teresa of Avila (1515-1582) in her writings, even though she did not explicitly use these terms. In this sense, Teresa can be considered a practical theologian. The aim of this article is to explore Teresa of Avila's perspective on service-oriented mysticism using descriptive and analytical methods. The article demonstrates that Teresa focused on both theology and practical mysticism. In her practical mysticism, benevolent actions serve as a means to achieve divine union. Her approach encompasses both struggle and contemplation, with a clear emphasis on struggle over contemplation. For instance, building monasteries is an example of mysticism through struggle, while meditation represents contemplative mysticism. According to Teresa, the devil can obstruct all human actions, including benevolent deeds, and seekers must remain vigilant against his deceptions. The devil's interference can prevent mystic seekers from attaining divine union. In her view, only those who succeed in practical struggle and serve others can become nuns. She considered acts of service, such as building monasteries for monks, reforming monastic practices, constructing places of worship for the public, and opposing the Lutherans, as forms of service that contribute to achieving divine union. Teresa addressed Service-Oriented Mysticism in the areas of vision, inclination, and action. She believed that the condition for the acceptance of services and meditations was the avoidance of major sins.
Keywords
mysticism
service
connection
intuition
Teresa of Av
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Practical Theology
Volume 1, Issue 1 - Serial Number 1
September 2024
Pages 216-231