View source for Traditions:The Seven Mansions

[[Category:Developmental models]]

Saint Teresa of Ávila's Seven Mansions is a spiritual guide describing the journey toward union with God.<ref>Ávila, de, T. (2007). ''Interior castle'' (Dover ed). Dover Publications, Inc.</ref> She uses the metaphor of a castle with seven mansions (or dwelling places), each representing a deeper stage of spiritual development on the "way to perfection".<ref name=":0">Ávila, de, T. (1999). ''The way of perfection''. Sheed and Ward.</ref> One of the experiences she describes along the way is the "prayer of quiet":<blockquote>“The soul rests in peace…all [her] powers are at rest. The soul understands, with an understanding quite different from that given by external senses, that she is now quite close to God and that, if she drew just a little nearer, she would become one thing with him by union.  She does not see him with eyes of the body or the soul.…The soul understands he is there, though not so clearly.  She does not know herself how she understands; she sees only that she is in the Kingdom….

It is like the suspension of all internal and external powers.  The external man does not wish to make the slightest movement but rests, like one who has almost reached the end of his journey, that he may resume his journey with redoubled strength.…The soul is so happy to find herself near the fountain that she is satisfied even without drinking.  She seems to have no more desire.  The faculties are at peace and do not wish to move…However, the faculties are not so lost that they cannot think of Him whom they are near.  Two of them are free.  The will alone is held captive.…The understanding desires to know but one thing, and memory to remember only one.  They both see that only one thing is necessary, and everything else disturbs it….I think therefore that since the soul is so completely happy in this prayer of quiet, the will most be united during most of the time, with Him who alone can satisfy it.”<ref name=":0" /></blockquote>

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