Hello everyone.

[spyro_prime]

The following is an exerpt from the Philokalia

Comments

[spyro_prime]

Thank you for accepting this post.

It is only right to share my views to the above questions as well.

1. Dead actions I take it to mean those actions that are hurtful to others. Actions that lack spontaneity, intention and concentration; actions that are based on selfishness that lack value to others.

2. I agree that we should eventually move toward resurrection, although I am not sure what it would entail.

3. Spiritual knowledge, I think is meant to mature in order to become conscious of one's spirit and to communicate with one's spirit.

I was unaware that Christ continuously dies due to our ignorant state.

4. Ignorance...I take this to be lack of awareness, both of ourselves, processing our experiences and of not being aware of others. Being self centered.
To be in accordance with nature, I think it means to be trapped under natures' laws, being mechanistic. Unregenerate means stubborn so I am translating this to be associated with lack of internal change and to do with pride.

Thank you everyone for sharing your ideas/

[flipao_maria]

1) Dead actions are actions that are meaningless; actions that have no purpose and lack the unselfishness that our actions, as Christians, should have.

2) I guess I don't really like the idea of "Spiritual knowledge" and "resurrection" together. It sounds too gnostic for my liking. God can save whomever God wishes to, even the ignorant. It is God's grace that saves us, not our own actions. Our righteous action is a reaction to a life lived in reaction to God's grace.

3) Like I said before, it sounds Gnostic to me.

4) Christ is the man for the Other. I am often ignorant of the needs of those people around me. I realize that I have the potential to minister to them through actions of empathy and caring.

[meralog]

>3) Like I said before, it sounds Gnostic to me.

soon the Bible itself will sound "too gnostic" as well

[spyro_prime]

Thank you for sharing flipao_maria

[pastorlenny]

I think the phrase "Christ no longer dies" is not an "if" statement in the sense that it is possible for Christ to die more. I believe it is meant as a second firm assertion that -- in conjunction with the preceding conditional "if" -- leads to the conclusion "then you will not be overcome by the death of ignorance."

It's a bit like saying "If you are a wise investor, and wise investors can spot opportunities in any market, you will not be too freaked out by today's financial news." The first "if" statement is conditional. The second assertion is treated as a given. Together, the conditional and the given lead to the conclusion.

[spyro_prime]

I see, I didn't know. Thank you Pastor Lenny. Any insight on dead actions, resurrection with Christ, spiritual knowledge, the outer unregenerate self?

[pastorlenny]

I think flipao_maria is close on "dead actions." But I would go a little beyond just saying that our actions as Christians are to be "unselfish." They are to be unslefish in a specific way -- that is, to serve the purposes of the Kingdom. If I unselfishly help a serial killer kill more people, that's not exactly a "Christian" action.

The way to avoid the Gnostic aspect of "spiritual knowledge" is to understand that the "knowledge" is not merely intellectual/ideational apprehension of some generically "spiritual" ontological factoids. It is intimacy with the Christ.

For this reason I bow my knees to the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, from whom the whole family in heaven and earth is named, that He would grant you, according to the riches of His glory, to be strengthened with might through His Spirit in the inner man, that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith -- that you, being rooted and grounded in love, may be able to comprehend with all the saints what is the width and length and depth and height, to know the love of Christ

[spyro_prime]

Yes flipao_marias' answer is very good;

Great Pastor Lenny thank you this has been most helpful.

Re: Part 1

[spyro_prime]

I am not interested in opinions. I am interested as stated in the post for ideas/experiences.
Your post is very insightful thank you. For contemplation - theoria: the perception of the intellect through which one attains spiritual knowledge. It may be contrasted with the practice of the virtues - praktiki.

You have not explained what you may have understood to be dead actions, etc. from the original post. Plus, I don't understand why you are bringing up these technical terms that are discussed elsewhere in the Philokalia.

Also, I am not familir with the word prelest which does not exist in Websters.
http://www.metapleroma.org/forum/index.php?showtopic=183

Re: Part 1

[spyro_prime]

You are familiar with the Philokalia which clearly states that spiritual delusion also happens to monks as well as priests who are very familiar with the terminology! I am very unclear as to what you are getting at brother with bringing up new age, personal spins, etc. The bible is quoted all the time here. Why such concern about the Philokalia?
Yes fantasy is included in the ten page glossary, not the Russian word prelest.
Thank you for explaining it.
It really doesn't matter what you are not accusing me of. Your warning has been noted.
I appreciate your sincere concern!:)
I just hope that you realize what you are 'really' saying here! Because I do! And you can sale this to someone else, because I am not buying it brother. Thank you for your time.

Re: Part 2

[spyro_prime]

I appreciate your time and your post is excellent. Really excellent! I thank you. I have studied the back of the Philokalia, the glossary. What is your experience of noetic prayer? Can you give an example please?
Peace brother, and a blessed Pascha to you as well.

Re: Part 1 of Hesychia

[spyro_prime]

That's very good! I enjoy most of your posts very much.
A convert from Theravada Buddhism, what were you before Theravada Buddhism? Christian?
Descending" your mind into your heart and abiding in silence is the one that I am familiar with.