An MP3 version of this talk can be found at my podcast, Dante’s Divine Comedy, found on your podcast feed.
The mode of life called purgatorial is a medieval superstition, according to some, and the very purpose of mortal life, according to others. So what did Dante make of Purgatory and what has it to teach us now?
In the Purgatorio, the essence of the spiritual path is shown in encounters and discussions. Purging itself, for example, is not about being rid of what we don’t like, an activity that is another form of vanity. Rather it is about becoming clearer of that which hinders our sight of God and so limits the expansion of our being. Purgatorial living cleanses the doors of perception.
This is the first of three talks, originally hosted by the Fintry Trust. Why Purgatory and Why Paradise follow.
The talk draws on Mark’s book, Dante’s Divine Comedy: A Guide for the Spiritual Journey – https://www.markvernon.com/books/dantes-divine-comedy-book