Oh, lovely. You must be familiar with Thomas Merton, one of my favorite Catholic contemplatives.
I'm currently studying Orthodox practices and I'm finding, not surprisingly, it's mostly the same - with some Greek words. :)
It's one and the same, except those "Greek words." :)
Though as I said much earlier, contemplative are not seen as mainstream in the West as in the East, or at least that's my limited impression and experience
It's a culture that has been greatly lost or suppressed in the West, I believe, after the intrusion of Greek pagan philosophy into Western Christianity and the Age of Reason.
Thanks for sharing this.
Yes. Merton was the pivot (in a rather fortuitous accident) for me in traveling from atheism to Catholicism. I've heard him criticised for going too Eastern (as in buddhist), but that gate is where a lot of opportunity for evangelism is these days in the West. I wasn't the first or the last.
Hadn't thought about the Age of Reason's effect on contemplative spirituality in the West but it makes sense. In general the Western mind is more aimed at or drawn to the rational and empirical sciences. Personally I was just grateful - and amazed - that the practices and traditions still exist and are taught, somewhere, anywhere in Western Christianity. Anecdotally, I think it is growing.
thanks very much for your reply..
"The very rich liturgical and spiritual heritage of the Eastern Churches should be known, venerated, preserved and cherished by all. They must recognize that this is of supreme importance for the faithful preservation of the fullness of Christian tradition..."