Mansions of humility (Christianity)

Every human has a soul but some are unaware of it and refuse to enter this interior castle. They are only interested in outward things. This interest in the things of this world sooner or later leads them to become more and more like this world. Eventually they become frozen in this state. To leave this state one must strive through prayer and meditation focusing on God. At this point some individuals enter the rooms but bring their own pre-occupations with them turning toward God once or twice a month.

While in the state of mortal sin, the soul will profit in nothing and good works will be of no avail. What ever its intentions, the soul separated from God produces nothing but misery and filth. It is not the wonder of God that has departed or gone out but the soul has placed a dark cloth between itself and God.

In these first mansions there are two things to be learned, to have the greatest fear of offending God and to be present to a mirror of humility. In order to grow the soul must roam through the mansions of the soul and the only room it should spend time in is that of self knowledge and to soar aloft on the glory of God. While self-knowledge is of critical importance and should be cultivated, it is better to dwell on the purity and humility of God than on its own baseness. For dwelling in self-doubt and misgivings about one's own worthiness do not arise from humility but from a lack of self-knowledge. Self-knowledge enobles and does not make one fearful.

In these first rooms the soul is blinded by many concerns, possessions, honours and business dealings all calling for its attention. One must focus on God and put aside all else. Even the religious life has its dangers. A person inspired to do penance such that he only has peace when he is torturing himself is in a trap. Also trapped is the person striving for perfection so that any other person's smallest fault seems to be a major failure. These people fail to see their own real faults.

The first of seven mansions of the soul's progress described by St Teresa of Avila.