| Ascetic Philosophy THE DYNAMICS OF DISCIPLINE Job 5:17 DISCIPLINE OF THE ALMIGHTY Blessed is the one whom God corrects; so do not despise the discipline of the Almighty. Numbers 11:4-6 THE RABBLE CRAVES MEAT TO EAT The rabble with them began to crave other food, and again the Israelites started wailing and said, “If only we had meat to eat! We remember the fish we ate in Egypt at no cost— also the cucumbers, melons, leeks, onions and garlic. But now we have lost our appetite; we never see anything but this manna!” Numbers 11:33-34 GOD'S WRATH KILLS THEM WITH A PLAGUE IMPENITENT GLUTTONY & REBELLION While the meat was still between their teeth and before it could be consumed, the anger of the Lord burned against the people, and he struck them with a severe plague. Therefore the place was named Kibroth Hattaavah, because there they buried the people who had craved other food. Proverbs 1:7 FEAR OF GOD AND DISCIPLINE REQUIRED The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge, but fools despise wisdom and instruction. Proverbs 5:23 DISCIPLINE AND LIFE For lack of discipline they will die, led astray by their own great folly. Proverbs 12:1 DISCIPLINE AND KNOWLEDGE Whoever loves discipline loves knowledge, but whoever hates correction is stupid. Proverbs 13:18 POVERTY & SHAME FOR LACK OF DISCIPLINE Whoever disregards discipline comes to poverty and shame, but whoever heeds correction is honored. Proverbs 15:10 HATRED OF DISCIPLINE & DEATH Stern discipline awaits anyone who leaves the path; the one who hates correction will die. Proverbs 15:32 DISREGARD OF DISCIPLINE Those who disregard discipline despise themselves, but the one who heeds correction gains understanding. Proverbs 19:20 THE WISDOM OF DISCIPLINE Listen to advice and accept discipline, and at the end you will be counted among the wise. Proverbs 23:2-3 GLUTTONY Put a knife to your throat if you are given to gluttony. Do not crave his delicacies, for that food is deceptive. THE DYNAMICS OF HUMAN DEBAUCHERY UNIVERSAL DISOBEDIENCE Gluttony Alcohol & Drugs Sexual Immorality Financial Corruption Ambition Select Passages from the Philokalia BEHAVIORAL VIRTUES AND VICES DISCRETION WATCHFULNESS "As hesychasts, we should discriminate between virtue and vice with discretion and watchfulness" quoted from St. Nikodimos The Philokalia (Kindle Locations 716-718) Kindle Edition FEAR OF GOD "Then the fear of God will establish itself within us, and through this fear love will be made manifest" St. Nikodimos The Philokalia (Kindle Location 725) Kindle Edition OBEDIENCE TO NATURAL LAW GOVERNS THE INTELLECT "If a monk submits his will to the law of God, then his intellect will govern, in accordance with this law, all that is subordinate to itself" St. Nikodimos The Philokalia (Kindle Locations 730-731) Kindle Edition THE STATE OF GRACE THE REALM OF GOD "When the intellect has shed its fallen state and acquired the state of grace, then during prayer it will see its own nature like a sapphire or the color of heaven. In Scripture this is called the realm of God that was seen by the elders on Mount Sinai" (cf. Exod. 24:10) St. Nikodimos, The Philokalia (Kindle Locations 1304-1306). Kindle Edition. SCRIPTURE DISPASSION OF HEART THE INTELLECT SHINES LIKE A STAR "Let the teachings of the Holy Spirit be always with you; and use the virtues as your hands to knock at the doors of Scripture. Then dispassion of heart will arise within you, and during prayer you will see your intellect shine like a star." St. Nikodimos, The Philokalia (Kindle Locations 1390-1391). Kindle Edition. THE INTELLECTUAL ASCENT TO GOD "Prayer is the ascent of the intellect to God" St. Nikodimos, The Philokalia (Kindle Location 1579). Kindle Edition. PURIFICATION & DELIVERANCE "Pray first for the purification of the passions; secondly, for deliverance from ignorance and forgetfulness; and thirdly, for deliverance from all temptation, trial and dereliction." St. Nikodimos The Philokalia (Kindle Locations 1581-1583). Kindle Edition. RIGHTEOUSNESS & SPIRITUAL KNOWLEDGE "In your prayer seek only righteousness and the kingdom of God, that is, virtue and spiritual knowledge; and everything else 'will be given to you' (Matt. 6: 33)." St. Nikodimos The Philokalia (Kindle Locations 1583-1586) Kindle Edition. PRAY FOR PURIFICATION OF OTHERS IMITATE THE ANGELS It is right to pray not only for your own purification, but also for that of all your fellow men, and so to imitate the angels. St. Nikodimos The Philokalia (Kindle Locations 1587-1588) Kindle Edition. PRAYER DISTRESS OF SOUL "Conscious awareness of prayer is concentration accompanied by reverence, compunction and distress of soul as it confesses its sins with inward sorrow." St. Nikodimos The Philokalia (Kindle Locations 1592-1593) Kindle Edition. PASSIONS versus INTELLECT "For when the passions are aroused in the non-rational part of our nature, they do not allow the intellect to function properly." St. Nikodimos The Philokalia (Kindle Location 1618) Kindle Edition. INTENSE LOVE THE NOETIC REALM LONGING FOR WISDOM "The state of prayer is one of dispassion, which by virtue of the most intense love transports to the noetic realm the intellect that longs for wisdom." St. Nikodimos The Philokalia (Kindle Locations 1624-1626). Kindle Edition. THE THEOLOGIAN "If you are a theologian, you will pray truly. And if you pray truly, you are a theologian." St. Nikodimos The Philokalia (Kindle Locations 1649-1650). Kindle Edition. THE PRESENCE OF AN ANGEL LIGHT AND ENERGIZATION "When the angel of God comes to us, with his presence alone he puts an end to all adverse energy within the intellect and makes its light energize without illusion." St. Nikodimos The Philokalia (Kindle Locations 1690-1691). Kindle Edition. ANGELS WILL COME TO YOU THEY WILL ILLUMINATE YOU WITH KNOWLEDGE "If you pray truly, you will gain great assurance; angels will come to you as they came to Daniel, and they will illuminate you with knowledge of the inner essences of created things" (cf. Dan. 2: 19). St. Nikodimos The Philokalia (Kindle Locations 1704-1705). Kindle Edition. DIGNITY OF THE INTELLECT "Prayer is the energy which accords with the dignity of the intellect; it is the intellect's true and highest activity." St. Nikodimos The Philokalia (Kindle Locations 1713-1714). Kindle Edition. CONTEMPLATION OF DIVINE KNOWLEDGE POWER OF THE INTELLECT THE HELPMATE OF PRAYER GREAT BEAUTY "Spiritual knowledge has great beauty: it is the helpmate of prayer, awakening the noetic power of the intellect to contemplation of divine knowledge." St. Nikodimos The Philokalia (Kindle Locations 1717-1718). Kindle Edition. |
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| This page is dedicated to the monks and nuns of Eastern Orthodox Christianity Revelation 14:1-4 |
| This page dedicated to the monks and nuns of Eastern Orthodox Christianity Revelation 14:1-4 |
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