Contemplation and "Non-doing" in the Christian Tradition: The Case of John of Ruusbroec

A recurrent theme in many forms of contemplative practice is the need to come to a state of outward solitude (i.e., being without distractions); this provides a framework for contemplation, which ultimately can give way to a suspension of all efforts, opening up a state of inner letting-be. This con...

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Détails bibliographiques
Auteur principal: Faesen, Rob 1958- (Auteur)
Type de support: Électronique Article
Langue:Anglais
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Publié: Ruhr-Universität Bochum 2023
Dans: Entangled Religions
Année: 2023, Volume: 14, Numéro: 4
Sujets / Chaînes de mots-clés standardisés:B Ruusbroec, Jan van 1293-1381 / Contemplation (théologie) / Action / Mystique / Christianisme
RelBib Classification:CB Spiritualité chrétienne
Sujets non-standardisés:B action and non-doing
B Christian contemplation
B John of Ruusbroec
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Résumé:A recurrent theme in many forms of contemplative practice is the need to come to a state of outward solitude (i.e., being without distractions); this provides a framework for contemplation, which ultimately can give way to a suspension of all efforts, opening up a state of inner letting-be. This contribution explores these elements in the Christian tradition following the Biblical typology of Martha and Mary (Lk 10:38-42) with some leading authors (Clement of Alexandria, Ambrose of Milan, Augustine of Hippo, John Cassian and Gregory the Great). A specific aspect of the Christian interpretation is that the state of ‘non-doing’ is essentially relational. This relational dimension, in which contemplation and the state of ‘letting-be’ are understood as a response to the initiative of the divine Other who is ‘the origin’ (Lat. principium), provides John of Ruusbroec with the basis to explain how action and non-doing (i.e., contemplation) can coalesce perfectly.
ISSN:2363-6696
Contient:Enthalten in: Entangled Religions
Persistent identifiers:DOI: 10.46586/er.14.2023.10222