The Eastern Orthodox spiritual tradition is steeped in spiritual practices that aim to cultivate a profound awareness of God’s presence, and one crucial aspect of this is theoria or contemplation. To the uninitiated, this may seem like an esoteric concept, but the teachings of the Philokalia offer profound insights into this transformative practice.
From Philokalia’s wealth of wisdom, we can learn how to journey to theoria and attain a deep and lasting transformation of the soul.
The Philokalia teaches that the journey to theoria is a whole-person experience that encompasses every aspect of one’s life. Theoria cannot be achieved through a few isolated spiritual practices but is instead the fruit of a deeply integrated spiritual life. The texts call for a life of asceticism and virtue as a means by which to cultivate a pure and humble heart that is receptive to divine grace.
Here, the Philokalia explicitly affirms the Eastern Orthodox understanding that the spiritual life is not merely a legalistic adherence to external practices but is instead rooted in the free and willing cooperation of the human person with God’s grace. The Philokalia lays out a roadmap to theoria through the various stages of ascent, purification, illumination, and union.
It explains that the journey to theoria requires a profound awareness of God’s presence, cultivated through prayer and other spiritual disciplines. As we progress on the journey, the Philokalia teaches that we will encounter various spiritual obstacles that hinder our progress, including despondency, sloth, and changing spiritual states.
Here, the texts offer practical advice for overcoming these challenges, such as engaging in confession, seeking the guidance of a spiritual father or mother, and cultivating perseverance. Another insight that Philokalia offers is that the central goal of theoria is not knowledge but transformation. While the knowledge of God is vital in the Eastern Orthodox tradition, the primary aim of theoria is to transform the heart and soul of the practitioner.
The Philokalia teaches that theoria involves a radical transformation of the way we see reality and the way we understand ourselves within that reality. This transformation gives rise to deep humility and love for all of God’s creation and results in an ongoing process of attaining God-like virtues. Finally, the Philokalia invites us to understand that theoria does not exist in isolation but is instead part of a holistic spiritual life.
Moreover, this journey to theoria is communal and involves fostering relationships with others on the spiritual path. Here, the Philokalia touches on the essentiality of living in solidarity with the marginalized, performing acts of mercy, and living lives of service. By doing so, the Philokalia invites us to see that the spiritual journey is not complete until every aspect of our lives is fully aware of God’s loving presence.
In conclusion, the Philokalia offers profound and transformational insights into the Eastern Orthodox spiritual tradition’s practice of theoria. Through its teachings, we can learn how to cultivate a deep and abiding awareness of God’s presence and undertake the journey of attaining union with God. Moreover, the Philokalia invites us to understand that this journey is not about attaining some abstract knowledge but is profoundly transformative, leading to a radical redirection of our lives towards virtue, love, and service. In essence, the journey to theoria is an invitation to a profound transformation that affects every aspect of our lives and spills over into our relationships with others and the world beyond us.
