ABSTRACT
In this chapter, the author describes Teresa of Avila's life as a 16th-century Carmelite nun and mystic, primarily focusing on her understanding of the soul as she describes it metaphorically as an interior castle with many mansions. Teresa suggests the outer mansions are much more influenced by the outer world and life, and that it takes commitment and contemplative prayer to be able to withdraw from the distractions of the world to retreat toward the inner mansion where it is possible to be in relationship with God. Her descriptions initially sound as though she is suggesting this inner mansion is like a ‘core’ of the person, but this in fact does not hold up. This inner relationship within this inner mansion must result in outward good deeds and may also act as a gateway toward an unknowable/indescribable Divine Other. Here she shares much in common with John of the Cross, and Meister Eckhart, whose concepts share much in common with Eastern traditions. Although her descriptions of mansions suggest a metaphor of layers of a person, they might also be understood as varying types of relationship with the Divine.
