Via purgativa (Christianity)

Although in its extreme form, this way of Pseudo-Dionysius is criticized as nurturing obsessively negative attitudes to the flesh or physical side of life, and to dualism, where the flesh is sinful of itself and at war with the spirit, the prolonged and strenuous self-discipline of this first stage of the threefold path (purgation, illumination, mystical contemplation) is an intrinsic part of the process of spiritual development. Obstacles to divine grace are removed and an inner freedom is achieved which allows the Christian to respond lovingly to Christ's call.