Divine contingency : theologies of divine embodiment in Maximos the Confessor and Tsong kha pa

This work explores the points of contact, as well as the differences between the distinct notions of divine embodiment developed by Maximos the Confessor (580-662), one of the greatest Greek Fathers, and Tsong kha pa (1357-1419), arguably the most important thinker in the history of Tibetan Buddhism. Both authors developed a spiritual theology where natural contemplation and the practice of the virtues are invested with a transformative value and are construed as a response to a cosmic intelligence, which sustains the universe, but also becomes manifest in history. Table of Contents 6 Preface: The Challenge of Contingency 10 1. Dialogue or Enstasy? Spiritual Transformation Across Different Traditions 16 2. And His Kingdom will have an End: Evagrios Pontikos and the Flight from Plurality 36 3. The Redemption of Plurality: Maximos the Confessor and the Christo-centric Cosmos 58 4. Moira Theou: Spiritual Transformation and the Boundaries of Identity 88 5. The Henad in Tibet: rDzogs chen and Original Self-Awareness 124 6. The Gift of dharmakāya: Contemplation and Philosophy in Tsong kha pa’s Understanding of Practice 170 7. Imitatio Buddhae and Deification: Perfections and Virtues in Tsong kha pa and Maximos the Confessor 204 8. The Virtues of Participation: Maximos’ Theology of Divine Embodiment after the Encounter with Buddhism 236 9. Conclusion 286 Bibliography 294 Index 318 Thomas Cattoi. Includes Bibliographical References (p. 279-302) And Index.