Ideas across traditions · body · Christian
mortification
Works in 12 traditions beyond Christian attest this concept, on 1,736 cited pages. Translators have rendered it as “mortificatie”; a link through a rendering is marked as such, because another translator chose differently.
Also under: mortification of the flesh · mortification of sin · mortificatio carnis · mortification of the body · mortification of the will · mortification of the self · mortificationem carnis · mortification of the senses · mortification of self · “mortificatie”
83works in other traditions, with a cited page
0works in Christian, its home tradition on the maps
140further works where only a vocabulary list or keyword names it; not shown
1judged analogues in other traditions (a different word for a neighbouring idea)
Analogues, judged
A different word, in another tradition, that a reviewer judged to name a neighbouring idea. These are not attestations of mortification; each carries the reviewer’s confidence and reason.
- spiritual exercises Renaissance & Early Modern Europe70%glossed 'putting to death'/'suffering, chastening' - an adjacent Christian ascetic practice, not the exercises (judged from the other side)
In other traditions
Ordered by the earliest work in each tradition that attests the concept. Within a tradition, works run from earliest to latest by conventional composition date.
Indian
- 400 BCEUpaniṣads with technique (Śvetāśvatara, Maitrī, Kaṭha)same word
- 200 CEKauṭilya's Arthaśāstrasame word
- 1350Mādhava, Sarva-darśana-saṃgrahasame word
- 1896Raja Yoga (Vivekananda)same word
- 1896Vivekananda, Rāja Yogasame word
- 1896Vivekananda, Raja Yogasame word
Greek
- 400 BCEHippocratic corpus, Regimen IV (On Dreams)same word
Roman
- 180 CEPliny the Elder / Galen on dreams and diagnosis (De dignotione ex insomniis)same word
Early Christian & Monastic
- 425 CEJohn Cassian, Institutes and Conferencessame word
- 425 CEJohn Cassian, Conferences & Institutessame word
- 426 CEJohn Cassian, Conlationessame word
Byzantine & Orthodox
- 600 CEJohn Climacus, The Ladder of Divine Ascentsame word
- 600 CEJohn Climacus, Ladder of Divine Ascentsame word
- 1250Nikephoros Blemmydes, De anima / Epitome physicasame word
Arabic
Medieval Latin
- 1289Gertrude of Helfta, Legatus divinae pietatissame word
- 1290Gertrude of Helfta, Legatus divinae pietatis & Exercitia spiritualiasame word
- 1298Angela of Foligno, Memoriale / Instructionssame word
- 1298Angela of Foligno, Memorialesame word
- 1300Marguerite Porete, Mirror of Simple Soulssame word
- 1310Meister Eckhart, sermons and treatisessame word
- 1310Meister Eckhart, Talks of Instruction & German Sermonssame word
- 1310Meister Eckhart, German Sermons (ground of the soul)same word
- 1334Heinrich Suso, Horologium Sapientiae / Little Book of Eternal Wisdomsame word
- mortification — dying to the selfu also shall suffer spiritually according to your ability. Indeed, your heart shall be drenched, on account of the dailyPulcherrimum sapientie horologium, 1511, p. -19 · flagged as a term by the translator
- Mortification — the practice of self-discipline or putting to deathis made not frightening. 63.a Bodily death: how it can be called a new birth. 63.b Frightening death: why it is so. 62.bOeuvres spirituelles, 1586, p. -335 · flagged as a term by the translator
- mortificatione on the outside. Now, if one must suffer something for the love of God, he should hold it in low esteem. Initially, theBooks and Writings, Together with His Holy Miraculous Life, 1661, p. 129 · flagged as a term by the translator
- 1334Henry Suso, Horologium Sapientiae / Büchlein der ewigen Weisheitsame word
- mortification — dying to the selfu also shall suffer spiritually according to your ability. Indeed, your heart shall be drenched, on account of the dailyPulcherrimum sapientie horologium, 1511, p. -19 · flagged as a term by the translator
- Mortification — the practice of self-discipline or putting to deathis made not frightening. 63.a Bodily death: how it can be called a new birth. 63.b Frightening death: why it is so. 62.bOeuvres spirituelles, 1586, p. -335 · flagged as a term by the translator
- mortificatione on the outside. Now, if one must suffer something for the love of God, he should hold it in low esteem. Initially, theBooks and Writings, Together with His Holy Miraculous Life, 1661, p. 129 · flagged as a term by the translator
- 1334Henry Suso, Horologium sapientiae / Büchlein der ewigen Weisheitsame word
- mortification — dying to the selfu also shall suffer spiritually according to your ability. Indeed, your heart shall be drenched, on account of the dailyPulcherrimum sapientie horologium, 1511, p. -19 · flagged as a term by the translator
- Mortification — the practice of self-discipline or putting to deathis made not frightening. 63.a Bodily death: how it can be called a new birth. 63.b Frightening death: why it is so. 62.bOeuvres spirituelles, 1586, p. -335 · flagged as a term by the translator
- mortificatione on the outside. Now, if one must suffer something for the love of God, he should hold it in low esteem. Initially, theBooks and Writings, Together with His Holy Miraculous Life, 1661, p. 129 · flagged as a term by the translator
- 1340Jan van Ruusbroec, Spiritual Espousalssame word
- mortification — putting to deathart. Christ will pour out the remaining blood at the base of our altar. This pouring out of all our blood is the perfectD. Ioannis Rusbrochii summi atque sanctiss. viri, quem insignis quidam theologus alterum Dionysium Areopagitam appelat, , 1552, p. -93 · flagged as a term by the translator
- mortificationckaert and the Canon Coudenberg. 11 THE MAN ...the concrete sacrifices and the heroic life of deliberate self-disciplineRuysbroeck - Study by Evelyn Underhill, 1914, p. 29 · original word kept by the translator
- mortificationwhile he was listening to a sermon, drawing him gently and strongly toward a life of extreme simplicity and self-denialA Mediaeval Mystic - Life of Blessed John Ruysbroeck, 1910, p. 21 · original word kept by the translator
- 1340Jan van Ruusbroec, Die geestelike brulocht (Spiritual Espousals)same word
- mortification — putting to deathart. Christ will pour out the remaining blood at the base of our altar. This pouring out of all our blood is the perfectD. Ioannis Rusbrochii summi atque sanctiss. viri, quem insignis quidam theologus alterum Dionysium Areopagitam appelat, , 1552, p. -93 · flagged as a term by the translator
- mortificationckaert and the Canon Coudenberg. 11 THE MAN ...the concrete sacrifices and the heroic life of deliberate self-disciplineRuysbroeck - Study by Evelyn Underhill, 1914, p. 29 · original word kept by the translator
- mortificationwhile he was listening to a sermon, drawing him gently and strongly toward a life of extreme simplicity and self-denialA Mediaeval Mystic - Life of Blessed John Ruysbroeck, 1910, p. 21 · original word kept by the translator
- 1350Johannes Tauler, sermonssame word and a translator’s rendering
- mortificatie — mortificatione body of our Lord, and remain so hanging in it that they forget and neglect to adorn their soul inwardly through a trueGheestelycke sermoonen, 1685, p. -119 · flagged as a term by the translator
- mortification — spiritual killing of the ego and sinsirst of all to a diligent searching and contemplation of his own conscience, and teaches him how to purge it through thePiissimae tam de tempore quam de sanctis Homiliae, 1556, p. -524 · flagged as a term by the translator
- mortification — inner death to selfalmost rooted in the love of God through manifold practice and holy desire. They keep their hearts pure from all lack ofMedulla animae, das ist, von Vollkommenheit aller Tugenden, 1672, p. -239 · flagged as a term by the translator
- 1350Johannes Tauler, Sermonssame word and a translator’s rendering
- mortificatie — mortificatione body of our Lord, and remain so hanging in it that they forget and neglect to adorn their soul inwardly through a trueGheestelycke sermoonen, 1685, p. -119 · flagged as a term by the translator
- mortification — spiritual killing of the ego and sinsirst of all to a diligent searching and contemplation of his own conscience, and teaches him how to purge it through thePiissimae tam de tempore quam de sanctis Homiliae, 1556, p. -524 · flagged as a term by the translator
- mortification — inner death to selfalmost rooted in the love of God through manifold practice and holy desire. They keep their hearts pure from all lack ofMedulla animae, das ist, von Vollkommenheit aller Tugenden, 1672, p. -239 · flagged as a term by the translator
- 1350Jan van Ruusbroec, The Spiritual Espousals / Adornment of the Spiritual Marriagesame word
- mortification — putting to deathart. Christ will pour out the remaining blood at the base of our altar. This pouring out of all our blood is the perfectD. Ioannis Rusbrochii summi atque sanctiss. viri, quem insignis quidam theologus alterum Dionysium Areopagitam appelat, , 1552, p. -93 · flagged as a term by the translator
- mortificationckaert and the Canon Coudenberg. 11 THE MAN ...the concrete sacrifices and the heroic life of deliberate self-disciplineRuysbroeck - Study by Evelyn Underhill, 1914, p. 29 · original word kept by the translator
- mortificationwhile he was listening to a sermon, drawing him gently and strongly toward a life of extreme simplicity and self-denialA Mediaeval Mystic - Life of Blessed John Ruysbroeck, 1910, p. 21 · original word kept by the translator
- 1355Guillaume de Deguileville, Pèlerinage (dream-vision trilogy)same word
- 1370Birgitta of Sweden, Revelationssame word
- 1370Birgitta of Sweden, Revelationessame word
- 1375The Cloud of Unknowingsame word
- 1380Cloud of Unknowing / Walter Hilton, Scale of Perfectionsame word
- 1420Thomas à Kempis, De Imitatione Christisame word
- mortification — the act of subduing one's desires and fleshing lies in dying, and there is no other way to life and to true internal peace than the way of the holy cross and dailyDe imitatione Christi et contemptu omnium vanitatum mundi, 14uu, p. 97 · flagged as a term by the translator
- mortification-awareness of one's own frailty. Chap: 10. A prayer for the knowledge and following of the Way of Life. Chap: 11. Of theMonastic Practice, 1597, p. 354 · flagged as a term by the translator
- 1420Thomas à Kempis, Imitatio Christisame word
- mortification — the act of subduing one's desires and fleshing lies in dying, and there is no other way to life and to true internal peace than the way of the holy cross and dailyDe imitatione Christi et contemptu omnium vanitatum mundi, 14uu, p. 97 · flagged as a term by the translator
- mortification-awareness of one's own frailty. Chap: 10. A prayer for the knowledge and following of the Way of Life. Chap: 11. Of theMonastic Practice, 1597, p. 354 · flagged as a term by the translator
- 1470Hendrik Herp (Harphius), Theologia mystica / Spieghel der volcomenheitsame word
Renaissance & Early Modern Europe
- 1533Agrippa, De occulta philosophia (Book III on religious ascent)same word
- 1533Agrippa, De occulta philosophia libri tressame word
- 1533Agrippa, De occulta philosophia III (on dreams and prophecy)same word
- 1547Caspar Schwenckfeld, Christian Epistle on Prayersame word
- 1565Teresa of Ávila, Life (Vida)same word
- 1566Teresa of Ávila, Way of Perfectionsame word
- mortificationsensual a spiritual pleasure whereby He inclines them to the practice of virtue. She further strongly recommends the **The way of perfection, 1911, p. 15 · flagged as a term by the translator
- Mortificationd since we are healed by them, let us endeavor to anoint them lovingly and charitably with the ointment of mortificationThe Seven Meditations of Saint Teresa on the Lord's Prayer, 1601, p. 258 · flagged as a term by the translator
- 1577Teresa of Ávila, works (Way of Perfection, Life, Meditations)same word
- mortification — disciplining the bodystrictness and penance, but on the other hand, punish all abuse and excess of good living. For all works of penance andOpera. oder alle Bücher und Schrifften, 1686, p. -303 · flagged as a term by the translator
- mortificationsensual a spiritual pleasure whereby He inclines them to the practice of virtue. She further strongly recommends the **The way of perfection, 1911, p. 15 · flagged as a term by the translator
- mortificationctually precede those others, since tears, although good, are not all perfect; one always finds more safety in humility,The Life of Saint Teresa of Avila, 1857, p. 188 · flagged as a term by the translator
- 1585John of the Cross, works (Ascent of Mount Carmel, Dark Night, Living Flame)same word
- mortification — putting to deaththere because they are innumerable. From spiritual sobriety, it further follows that the soul lives in peace through theDie geistreiche Bücher oder Schrifften, 1753, p. -217 · flagged as a term by the translator
- mortification — killing offway the goal along with the object toward which perfect contemplation aims directly, it very skillfully brings about theDie geistliche Bücher und Schrifften, 1697, p. -588 · flagged as a term by the translator
- 1585John of the Cross, Ascent of Mount Carmel / Dark Night / Living Flamesame word
- mortification — putting to deaththere because they are innumerable. From spiritual sobriety, it further follows that the soul lives in peace through theDie geistreiche Bücher oder Schrifften, 1753, p. -217 · flagged as a term by the translator
- mortification — killing offway the goal along with the object toward which perfect contemplation aims directly, it very skillfully brings about theDie geistliche Bücher und Schrifften, 1697, p. -588 · flagged as a term by the translator
- 1597Francis Bacon, Essays (Essays or Counsels, Civil and Moral)same word
- 1606Johann Arndt, Vier Bücher vom wahren Christentum / Paradiesgärtleinsame word
- mortification — the putting to deatholous joy of this world, one loses divine wisdom, all devotion, and all fear of God. 4. Through daily repentance and theGesammlete kleine Schrifften, 1736, p. 89 · flagged as a term by the translator
- mortification — the putting to death of the flesheyes" 1 John 2:11 . Many teachers remind us in all their sermons that without the true discipline of faith, without the[Cyrillic:] Ctiri knigi o istinnum christijanstve [=Four books of true christianity], 1735, p. -190 · flagged as a term by the translator
- mortification — killing or putting to deaths 12:4, in the struggle against sin. In the school of the Holy Spirit, this is one of the first basic rules. The painfulSechs Bücher vom wahren Christenthum. Paradies-Gärtlein, 1738, p. -530 · flagged as a term by the translator
- 1624Böhme, Der Weg zu Christosame word
- 1624Jacob Böhme, Der Weg zu Christo (The Way to Christ)same word
- 1635Sir Thomas Browne, Religio Medicisame word
- 1642Thomas Browne, Moral Essays (Religio Medici; Urne-Buriall; Pseudodoxia Epidemica)same word
- 1650Isaac Ambrose, Media / Looking unto Jesussame word
- mortification — the process of "killing off" sinful desireslet us pursue it and make a solemn confession to God of it; sighing therein, and desiring help from God for His grace ofPrima, media, et ultima. Ofte de eerste, middelste en laetste dingen, 1660, p. -113 · flagged as a term by the translator
- mortification — the killing of sinful desiresthe highest degree has the holiest heart and the most mortified life. Sanctification the process of being made holy andPrima, media, et ultima. Ofte de eerste, middelste en laetste dingen, 1688, p. -103 · flagged as a term by the translator
- mortification. Now, so that we may get to the root of the matter in this investigation, and understand the truth and certainty of ourLooking unto Jesus, 1664, p. 637 · flagged as a term by the translator
- 1650Thomas Browne, On Dreams; Religio Medicisame word
- 1660Lutheran & Reformed devotional manuals (Sonthom, Müller, Hoburg, Neumann, Labadie)same word
- mortificationh century, this meant "plain," "unassuming," or "lowly" rather than "bad." works, there is indeed the greatest humility,A Summary of Right and True Christianity, 1685, p. 332 · flagged as a term by the translator
- mortificationDo not take grief then, though evil inclinations Urge you toward sin, and battle you daily: Make a virtue of necessity;Living Theology of the Heart, 1736, p. 230 · flagged as a term by the translator
- 1661Glanvill, Vanity of Dogmatizing / Lux Orientalis / Saducismus Triumphatussame word
- MortificationUS CHRIST*, and to confirm our belief in a glorious immortality after this life; to promote true devotion, mortificationSaducismus Triumphatus: Evidence Concerning Witches and Apparitions, 1681, p. 218 · original word kept by the translator
- mortificationChrist, to confirm our belief in a glorious immortality after this life, and to promote true *devotion*, *mortification*Sadducismus Triumphatus (4th expanded edition), 1726, p. 222 · original word kept by the translator
- 1669William Penn, No Cross, No Crownsame word and a translator’s rendering
- 1676Robert Barclay, Apology for the True Christian Divinitysame word
- 1678Cudworth, The True Intellectual System of the Universesame word
- 1682Quaker testimony (George Fox's Journal; Penn, No Cross, No Crown)same word and a translator’s rendering
- 1683John Pordage, Theologia mystica / Sophiasame word
- 1685Jeanne Guyon, Moyen court et très facile de faire oraison / Les torrentssame word
- mortification — the putting to death of desires1." . The other is a perfect spiritual life, which is a possession of God by union of love, and this is acquired by theJustifications de la doctrine de Madame de la Mothe-Guion, 1790, p. -228 · flagged as a term by the translator
- mortification — subduingeternal life? From these same lips drips an excellent myrrh: since the doctrine of JESUS CHRIST leads to penance, to theRecueil de divers traitez de theologie mystique, qui entrent dans la celebre dispute du Quietisme, 1699, p. -164 · flagged as a term by the translator
- mortification — self-denial of physical or ego desireshat God makes it His pleasure to accomplish all their desires and to do all their wills. These souls are in a very greatOpuscules spirituels, 1704-1712, p. -126 · flagged as a term by the translator
- 1696Jane Lead, A Fountain of Gardenssame word
- 1696Gichtel & Graber, Eine kurze Eröffnung der dreyen Principiensame word
- 1697Jane Lead, A Fountain of Gardens (spiritual diary) & tractssame word
- mortificationll have no reason for regret [concerning his deeds] / unless it were that he regretted that he had not begun the work ofThe Heavenly Cloud Now Breaking, 1696, p. 49 · flagged as a term by the translator
- Mortificationed of the truth of their visions and revelations? *Answer:* They are to seek it from God through a perfect mortificationA Fountain of Gardens, Vol. 1, 1696, p. 585 · original word kept by the translator
- mortificationtion original: "Renovation"; the spiritual process of being "made new" or regenerated. . They did not reach the state ofThe Ascent to the Mount of Vision, 1699, p. 12 · flagged as a term by the translator
- 1702Gottfried Arnold, Historie und Beschreibung der mystischen Theologiesame word
- 1708Pierre Poiret, Theologie du coeur (Hertzens-Theologie) & Bibliotheca mysticorumsame word
- mortification — spiritual discipline and denialh of the senses in particular, 444 And concerning the imagination and the sensual appetite. 447 Section 4. On the actualHertzens-Theologie, 1702, p. -578 · flagged as a term by the translator
- mortificationThe character of this enlightened author is, in my judgment, as follows: He urges, naturally, that the soul—through theSelect Library of Mystics, 1708, p. 155 · flagged as a term by the translator
- 1749William Law, The Spirit of Prayer / The Spirit of Lovesame word
- mortification — the subduing of physical desires through self-disciplineo prepare it. Look at this great saint, all you who desire to preach the Gospel. He came forth in the highest degrees ofAn appeal to all that doubt or disbelieve the truths of the Gospel, 1768, p. -136 · flagged as a term by the translator
- mortificationalvation from Christ is nothing else but to be made like Him; it is to have His humility and meekness, His mortificationThe Spirit of Prayer, Part I, 1749, p. 55 · original word kept by the translator
- 1750Gerhard Tersteegen, Weg der Wahrheit / Auserlesene Lebensbeschreibungen heiliger Seelensame word
- 1758Swedenborg, De coelo et inferno (with De commercio animae et corporis)same word
Persian
- 1657Dārā Shikūh, Sirr-i akbar (Persian Upaniṣads) / Anquetil’s Oupnek’hatsame word
Modern European
- 1758Swedenborg, Heaven and Hellsame word
- 1813Deleuze, Histoire critique du magnétisme animalsame word
- 1818Schopenhauer, Die Welt als Wille und Vorstellung (Book IV: asceticism)same word
- 1819Schopenhauer, Die Welt als Wille und Vorstellung (with Versuch über das Geistersehn, in Parerga)same word
- 1825Deleuze, Instruction pratique sur le magnétisme animalsame word
- 1869Von Hartmann, Philosophie des Unbewusstensame word
- 1911Evelyn Underhill, Mysticism / Practical Mysticism / The Mystic Waysame word
- 1913Underhill, The Mystic Way / Practical Mysticismsame word
Slavic & Finnic
- 1798Lopukhin, Some Characteristics of the Interior Churchsame word
Norse & Celtic
How it is done — 1 instruction page
Pages a blind judge read as giving the steps of the practice — order, positions, counts, timing — not merely naming it. Found by describing the act to the page embeddings and among the evidence above; each line says what a leader would still have to invent.
- 1902William James Varieties of Religious Experience (1902)
At home in Christian
No work labelled Christian on the four maps attests it behind the gate; the concept’s own tradition may be under-mapped, or its home works are held only in vocabulary lists.
Evidence gate. A work is listed only where a translator marked the word as a term with a gloss, or kept the original word beside the English, on at least one page of a held edition. Vocabulary lists and keywords alone do not count: in a Greek vocabulary list ἡσυχία is the ordinary word for quiet. Up to 3 pages are shown per work, preferring those with a gloss. The vocabulary was built 2026-09-11; the graph on 2026-09-13.