Contemplation as a Way to Achieve Enlightenment in Thoughts of St. Gregory of Nyssa

Christianus Lanang Prasaja Lod

doi:10.24071/tic.v2i2.12086

Contemplation as a Way to Achieve Enlightenment in Thoughts of St. Gregory of Nyssa

Christianus Lanang Prasaja Lod^(1*),

(1) Faculty of Theology, Universitas Sanata Dharma
(*) Corresponding Author

Abstract

Contemplation is a profound and important spiritual practice in the Christian tradition, especially in the thought of St. Gregory of Nyssa. This paper aims to explore the role of contemplation as a path to achieving enlightenment and mystical union with God. The method used in this paper is a qualitative method, namely the author analyzes the thoughts of Gregory of Nyssa, who emphasizes that contemplation is not only a tool to achieve inner peace, but also a means to understand divine truth, know oneself, and develop compassion for others. The results of this study are that Gregory sees contemplation as a process of self-purification that brings the soul closer to God, through a continuous spiritual journey (epectasis). Gregory's thought invites to experience a profound spiritual transformation, find meaning in relationships with God and others, and achieve inner peace in the midst of a busy and divided world.

Keywords

Contemplation, Path, Enlightenment, Spiritual transformation

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DOI: https://doi.org/10.24071/tic.v2i2.12086