On the Threshold of Contemplation

Abstract

One of the most important milestones reached by Ramon Llull’s Book of Contemplation or Llibre de contemplació en Déu consists in exposing the nuanced difference between «observing» and «contemplating». This tractate is considered to be the starting point of Llull’s prestigious mystical tradition, which was destined to have a deep impact in centuries to come. The present article focuses on the work’s mystical and symbolic value.