P010 – Introduction to Eastern Spirituality

Course Information

Professor: Peter Dufka, SJ, dufkap@gmail.com

Schedule:  Mon. I-II, 1^st sem., 2 cr., 3 ECTS

Content

The course offers an overview of Eastern spirituality and demonstrates its various currents. It concentrates on the fundamental themes that are drawn from the sources and traditions of the spirituality. Additionally, the course examines monastic life wherein are found the themes of asceticism, progress in the spiritual life, virtue, temptation, logismoi, purification, apatheia, vigilance of the heart, obedience, the role of the spiritual father, and the obligations of the person being guided. The course will also touch on the fundamental themes of prayer in the Christian East, where contemplation, the prayer of the heart, and prayer of the body play a typical role.

Objective

To identify the current and fundamental themes of the Christian East, comparing them to various Western spiritualities.

Bibliography

T. Špidlík, La spiritualità dell’Oriente cristiano. Manuale sistematico, Roma 1985;

T. Špidlík & I. Gargano, La spiritualità dei padri greci e orientali, Roma 1983;

P. Zilio & L. Borgese (ed.), La salvezza. Prospettive soteriologiche nella tradizione orientale e occidentale, Torino 1985;

I. Hausherr, Padre, dimmi una parola, Padova 2012.