Vita Activa vs. Vita Contemplativa

The above Italian phrase, which means the active life vs. the contemplative life in religion refers to a passage from St. Luke, where Christ was invited to her home by Martha for a meal. While Martha was busy in the kitchen, her sister Mary listened to Christ. When Martha asked Christ why He did not ask Mary to help her in the kitchen, Christ replied "Martha, you are anxious &  troubled about many things; one thing is needful. Mary has chosen the good portion, which shall not be taken away from her." Here Christ seems to prefer the inner life of Mary.

In "Quranic Sufism", (published by Motilal Banarasidass), Mir Valiuddin argues that Sufism, the contemplative branch of Islam, derives its validity from the Quran itself. He differentiates between God, the "Knower" & the ideas of God, as the "Known." He also postulates that God is both immanent in His manifestations & transcendent in his Essence.

Of course in Hinduism, the contemplative life has always been accorded priority over the physically active life. The scriptures are replete with sages meditating in forests, not to speak of Patanjali Yoga Sutras & Narada Bhakti Sutras. Whereas, the contemplative life as exemplified by the mystics is a numerically minor phenomena in Christianity (Julian of Norwich) & Islam (Rabia of Basra), it is a more widespread feature of Hinduism.