Episode 14 - Third Mansions 2.4 - Interior Castle, St Teresa of Avila

So far, St Teresa has stressed the need for humility in order to become perfect in love. But now she turns to the importance of obedience. Obedience does the will of one's superior. Obedience surrenders my will to the command of another. Why is this so crucial?

If we want to open ourselves to God'a activity in the fourth mansions, we must let go of always doing things according to our own will and judging others according to our own viewpoint. There is a danger at this point in the spiritual life of self-reliance and self-will. We need great humility to obtain this obedience. We need to submit our wills to the will of another, to the will of a spiritual guide. Such obedience will help us not look down on others, but look to our ourselves and the Lord.