A fundamental tenet of Buddhism is that the state of presence and un-distraction cultivated during meditation should be gradually integrated into ordinary life. Albeit less known, a similar principle has been formulated within the Christian tradition at least since Meister Eckhart and, very likely, it reached its highest expression in the Spain of XVI century, when Ignatius of Loyola coined the expression "active while in contemplation". The main contemplative practice leading to this state was known as “recollection”, a term that, today, has unfortunately lost most of its original meaning. Recollection was extensively practiced both by lay and ordained people, including mystics of the rank of Teresa of Avila and John of the Cross, and it inspired some of the greatest masterpieces of the mystical literature of the time. Recollection was understood as a practice for stabilizing consciousness, and to prevent it from being at the mercy of inner and external events. In the most important and widespread manual on recollection, written in 1527 by Franciscan friar Francisco de Osuna, the author teaches that “the opposite of recollection is distraction, or wandering thoughts”, and that we can be recollected even while engaged in daily chores, no less than when we kneel in solitude. “Soft perennialism” claims that differences between mystical experiences occur more at the level of interpretation and conceptualization than in phenomenology. This standpoint is strongly supported by recognizing similar practices within different traditions. If we want to foster cross-cultural understanding, and contrast any sectarian and divisive view of the contemplative path, it is fundamental to rediscover and underline what spiritual traditions have in common, beyond their socio-cultural and doctrinal differences. Therefore, this presentation aims to highlight the remarkable similarities between mindfulness-based meditative practices and the original teaching of recollection.
Active while in Contemplation: The integration of contemplative and active life in the Christian tradition
Gunetti Daniele
2024-01-01
Abstract
A fundamental tenet of Buddhism is that the state of presence and un-distraction cultivated during meditation should be gradually integrated into ordinary life. Albeit less known, a similar principle has been formulated within the Christian tradition at least since Meister Eckhart and, very likely, it reached its highest expression in the Spain of XVI century, when Ignatius of Loyola coined the expression "active while in contemplation". The main contemplative practice leading to this state was known as “recollection”, a term that, today, has unfortunately lost most of its original meaning. Recollection was extensively practiced both by lay and ordained people, including mystics of the rank of Teresa of Avila and John of the Cross, and it inspired some of the greatest masterpieces of the mystical literature of the time. Recollection was understood as a practice for stabilizing consciousness, and to prevent it from being at the mercy of inner and external events. In the most important and widespread manual on recollection, written in 1527 by Franciscan friar Francisco de Osuna, the author teaches that “the opposite of recollection is distraction, or wandering thoughts”, and that we can be recollected even while engaged in daily chores, no less than when we kneel in solitude. “Soft perennialism” claims that differences between mystical experiences occur more at the level of interpretation and conceptualization than in phenomenology. This standpoint is strongly supported by recognizing similar practices within different traditions. If we want to foster cross-cultural understanding, and contrast any sectarian and divisive view of the contemplative path, it is fundamental to rediscover and underline what spiritual traditions have in common, beyond their socio-cultural and doctrinal differences. Therefore, this presentation aims to highlight the remarkable similarities between mindfulness-based meditative practices and the original teaching of recollection.
I documenti in IRIS sono protetti da copyright e tutti i diritti sono riservati, salvo diversa indicazione.
