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Acquire Peace Hope and Joy 23 Spiritual Insights From St. Paisios of Mt. Athos PDF
Acquire Peace Hope and Joy 23 Spiritual Insights From St. Paisios of Mt. Athos PDF
S
T. PAISIOS was a man with a warrior-spirit taught by God to wage
war1, a valiant fighter2 who was more than a conqueror by the power of
Him that loved him3. His was a noble spirit, a spirit of sacrifice, from which
God and man, removed of every trace of self. The “catch-words” which were
his life in an exemplary way, were philotimo, nobility, and sacrifice, virtues
closely linked which spring from a generous heart, a heart that puts its trust in
God, a heart that, in turn, gushes forth peace, hope and joy.
S
T. PAISIOS’ teaching on the value of philotimo, nobility and sacrifice
and on the need for interior vigilance and humble, positive thinking are
particularly crucial for all who have been raised on the dregs of Western
keystone of this now global way of life and worldview was succinctly stated
therefore I am." In contrast to this rationalistic creed, there stands that which
has been written to describe the theology of the Elder Sophrony of Essex, but
which can be applied equally well to the sum total of the teaching of the Elder
Paisios, and indeed to all Orthodox life: “I love, therefore I am.” For, it is only
1
Psalm 144:1,
2
1 Timothy 6:12, 2 Timothy 4:7
3
Romans 8:37
4
See: Hieromonk Damascene, The Orthodox Word, Vol. 39, No. 2 (229), March-April 2003, A Spiritual Father for Our
Times: An Introduction to the Life and Counsels of Elder Paisios the New of Mount Athos.
by love for Christ and the love of Christ that philotimo, nobility and sacrifice,
into this self-emptying spirit of Christ that one can ascend to the heights
~23~
Spiritual Insights
from
St. Paisios of Mt. Athos
1
THEY want to feel joy, but one has to sacrifice in order
egotism and self-love. These are what causes man to trip and
fall.”6 “Most people today have not tasted the joy of sacrifice nor
5
Mat. 19:19, 22: 37, 39; John 13:35; 14:15,21,23; 15:9-10, 12-13; Rom. 13:8-10; 1 Cor. 8:3; Gal. 5:22; Eph. 3:17-19; 1
Th. 3:12; 1 John 5:2-3.
6
Γέροντος Παϊσίου Αγιορείτου, Λόγοι, τόμος Α, Με Πόνο και Αγάπη για τον Σύγχρονο Άνθρωπο, εκδ. Ι. Ησυχ. Ιω. ο
Θεολόγος, Σουρωτή Θεσσαλονίκης 1999, σ. 240 [English translation: p. 270 ].
come to love hard work. Gone are philotimo and self-sacrifice. In
their stead have come laziness, easy solutions and much leisure. 7
2
CHRIST has nobility. He tells us, “This is what is good:
create slaves but children. Even though God foresaw our fall, He
did not make us slaves. He chose to come and take on flesh and
be crucified and win us back. Even though the devil can use the
freedom that God gave us to cause great harm, God also has the
opportunity to sift our hearts. What one does with his heart is
out.9
7
Γέροντος Παϊσίου Αγιορείτου, Λόγοι, τόμος Α, Με Πόνο και Αγάπη για τον Σύγχρονο Άνθρωπο, εκδ. Ι. Ησυχ. Ιω. ο
Θεολόγος, Σουρωτή Θεσσαλονίκης 1999, σ. 237 [English translation: p. 267 ].
8
Matt. 16:24.
9
Γέροντος Παϊσίου Αγιορείτου, Λόγοι, τόμος Α, Με Πόνο και Αγάπη για τον Σύγχρονο Άνθρωπο, εκδ. Ι. Ησυχ. Ιω. ο
Θεολόγος, Σουρωτή Θεσσαλονίκης 1999, σ. 35-6 [English translation: Elder Paisios of Mount Athos, Spiritual Counsel,
Vol. 1, With Pain and Love for Contemporary Man, Holy Monastery of the Evangelist John the Theologian, Souroti,
Thessaloniki, Greece, 2006, 36-37].
ELDER, what must one do in order to turn things
3 around spiritually?
philotimo will lead to inner peace and surety, and then the soul is
filled with hope and joy. For the athlete to be crowned with
stems from a heart filled with philotimo; and when one does
something with his heart for Christ, he neither tires nor feels pain,
4
ELDER when the Apostle Paul writes, “the fruit of
When something is not spiritual, pure, there cannot be true joy and
the worldly joy sought by many today. Let’s not mix things up. Did
the Saints have the kind of joy we are seeking today? Did the
10
Γέροντος Παϊσίου Αγιορείτου, Λόγοι, τόμος Β, Πνευματική Αφύπνηση, εκδ. Ι. Ησυχ. Ιω. ο Θεολόγος, Σουρωτή
Θεσσαλονίκης 2000, σ. 94 [English translation: Elder Paisios of Mount Athos, Spiritual Counsels, Vol. II, Spiritual
Awakening, Holy Monastery of the Evangelist John the Theologian, Souroti, Thessaloniki, Greece, 2008, 106].
laughing? Which Saint has gone through this life without pain?
divine consolation. He does feel pain, but inside he also feels divine
overjoyed with divine love. This is the joy, the spiritual joy, which is
11
Elder Paisios of Mount Athos, Spiritual Counsels, Vol. II, Spiritual Awakening, Holy Monastery of the Evangelist John
the Theologian, Souroti, Thessaloniki, Greece, 2008, 53.
5
ELDER, sacrifice gives us joy.
bored to live. A generous heart and self-denial are what drive us.
Without this force, we are tormented. In the old days, in the villages,
up a pathway for others, that they would bless and forgive them
when they died. Now one seldom encounters this spirit of sacrifice.12
6
WHEN someone takes seriously the struggle that
what the Lord said, “I came to cast fire upon the earth.” When this
divine fire exists, then the chanting and prayer we do for ourselves
1212
Elder Paisios of Mount Athos, Spiritual Counsels, Vol. II, Spiritual Awakening, Holy Monastery of the Evangelist
John the Theologian, Souroti, Thessaloniki, Greece, 2008, 219.
13
Elder Paisios of Mount Athos, Spiritual Counsels, Vol. II, Spiritual Awakening, Holy Monastery of the Evangelist John
the Theologian, Souroti, Thessaloniki, Greece, 2008, 236-7.
7
IF we work to correct ourselves and look more
will also achieve an inner serenity that will quietly help the souls of
virtue of the soul and transforms the soul. When someone applies
does not improve himself, he cannot say that his interest for the
common good is pure. When he is liberated from the old self and all
things worldly, then he will receive divine Grace and be not only at
peace with himself, but also be able to bring peace to everyone else.
But if he has not received the grace of God, then he can neither
effect. He must first be immersed in divine Grace and then utilize his
14
Elder Paisios of Mount Athos, Spiritual Counsels, Vol. II, Spiritual Awakening, Holy Monastery of the Evangelist John
the Theologian, Souroti, Thessaloniki, Greece, 2008, 81-2.
8
IN our day there exists a lukewarm spirit; there is no
9
Worldly people say, “How lucky are the wealthy that
10
Elder, what is the best way to come to
15
Γέροντος Παϊσίου Αγιορείτου, Λόγοι, τόμος Α, Με Πόνο και Αγάπη για τον Σύγχρονο Άνθρωπο, εκδ. Ι. Ησυχ. Ιω. ο
Θεολόγος, Σουρωτή Θεσσαλονίκης 1999, σ. 242-3 [English translation: p. 274].
16
Elder Paisios of Mount Athos, Spiritual Counsel, Vol. 1, With Pain and Love for Contemporary Man, Holy Monastery
of the Evangelist John the Theologian, Souroti, Thessaloniki, Greece, 2006, 189-190.
righteousness, and all these things shall be added unto you (Mt. 6:33).
This is the beginning of simplicity and the right way to deal with
11
Tranquillity is a very important subject. To be
12
IF we do not use good thoughts and deal with
17
Elder Paisios of Mount Athos, Spiritual Counsel, Vol. 1, With Pain and Love for Contemporary Man, Holy Monastery
of the Evangelist John the Theologian, Souroti, Thessaloniki, Greece, 2006, 196.
18
Elder Paisios of Mount Athos, Spiritual Counsel, Vol. 1, With Pain and Love for Contemporary Man, Holy Monastery
of the Evangelist John the Theologian, Souroti, Thessaloniki, Greece, 2006, 202.
myself at a military base. I should think of the trumpet as a
even the sound of the church bell will annoy us. Either we make
of it. A restless person will bring his restless self with him, even
into the deser. The first and most important thing for the soul is
that she acquire inner peace in the noisiest of places so that she
13
IF you want to be at peace and feel joy, never
example, a small child loves his mother and father with this kind
19
Elder Paisios of Mount Athos, Spiritual Counsel, Vol. 1, With Pain and Love for Contemporary Man, Holy Monastery
of the Evangelist John the Theologian, Souroti, Thessaloniki, Greece, 2006, 210.
He takes his father’s hat, even if it is an officer’s hat, and throws it
in the air and has such a good time. He has “good simplicity”,
audacity. Then we will hear, for example, of the girl who remains
water! Make it very cold! Oh, this is not cold. Didn’t I say cold?”
When they speak like this at that age, they will surely ask later,
“Why should a woman fear her husband?” (cf. Eph. 5:33) What
respect, and this respect in turn is filled with love. When I respect
something, I also love it; and when I love something, I also have
15
HOLY (discerning) asceticism with its great
20
Elder Paisios of Mount Athos, Spiritual Counsel, Vol. 1, With Pain and Love for Contemporary Man, Holy Monastery
of the Evangelist John the Theologian, Souroti, Thessaloniki, Greece, 2006, 296-7.
gladdened that he will die, for he will once again be near God and
continue his doxology there. In other words, he feels the same joy
that he is alive and the same joy that he will die. Undoubtedly, it
only in part. The joy on earth is, however, so great that, since he
has not yet experienced the heavenly joy, he feels that the earthly
16
THERE are four stages in confronting injustice.
but control yourself and do not speak. At the third stage you are
justified and feels satisfied. In this case, he feels a worldly joy. But
any idea what joy can be felt by a soul that is wronged but does
the one who wronged them for the joy rendered in this life but
also for the eternal life that has been secured. How different is the
17
In the spiritual life, things are in reverse: when
Christ Himself into your heart, Who was often wronged and
and fills you with peace and gladness. Try it, my children, and
experience this great joy! Learn to be happy with this spiritual joy,
21
Elder Paisios of Mount Athos, Spiritual Counsels, Vol. III, Spirtual Struggle, Holy Monastery of the Evangelist John
the Theologian, Souroti, Thessaloniki, Greece, 2010, 81-82.
not with the worldly one, and every day it will the feast of
Pascha!22
18
WE should put ourselves in the other person’s
19
TO want to go to paradise simply to provide a
who didn’t feel even a little true joy, and I care only for myself?!24
20
FOLLOWING confession, one should have a
his benefactor. You must be thankful to God while also living this
22
Elder Paisios of Mount Athos, Spiritual Counsels, Vol. III, Spirtual Struggle, Holy Monastery of the Evangelist John
the Theologian, Souroti, Thessaloniki, Greece, 2010, 82.
23
Γέροντος Παϊσίου Αγιορείτου, Λόγοι, τόμος Α, Με Πόνο και Αγάπη για τον Σύγχρονο Άνθρωπο, εκδ. Ι. Ησυχ. Ιω. ο
Θεολόγος, Σουρωτή Θεσσαλονίκης 1999, σ. 184 [English translation: p. 205].
24
Γέροντος Παϊσίου Αγιορείτου, Λόγοι, τόμος Γ, Πνευματικός Αγώνας, εκδ. Ι. Ησυχ. Ιω. ο Θεολόγος, Σουρωτή
Θεσσαλονίκης 2001, σ. 119 [English translation: Elder Paisios of Mount Athos, Spiritual Counsels, Vol. III, Spirtual
Struggle, Holy Monastery of the Evangelist John the Theologian, Souroti, Thessaloniki, Greece, 2010, 133].
verse from the psalms: “I acknowledge my iniquity and my sin is
21
EVERYONE cannot be fit into the same mold,
25
Γέροντος Παϊσίου Αγιορείτου, Λόγοι, τόμος Γ, Πνευματικός Αγώνας, εκδ. Ι. Ησυχ. Ιω. ο Θεολόγος, Σουρωτή
Θεσσαλονίκης 2001, σ. 265 [English translation: p. 294-5.
26
Γέροντος Παϊσίου Αγιορείτου, Λόγοι, τόμος Δ, Οικογενειακή Ζωή, εκδ. Ι. Ησυχ. Ιω. ο Θεολόγος, Σουρωτή
Θεσσαλονίκης 2001, σ. 63.
27
Elder Paisios of Mount Athos, Spiritual Counsels, Vol. III, Spirtual Struggle, Holy Monastery of the Evangelist John
the Theologian, Souroti, Thessaloniki, Greece, 2010, 82-83.
23
A spiritual man simply does not have sorrows.
28
Elder Paisios of Mount Athos, Spiritual Counsels, Vol. III, Spirtual Struggle, Holy Monastery of the Evangelist John
the Theologian, Souroti, Thessaloniki, Greece, 2010, 86.