Tag: purity of heart
My Bickering Spirit
I need to admit that I struggle with the ‘Spirit of Bickering’. I try not to. However, in my pride, I think I am above it, which is based on a deep-seated arrogance that I see deeper than others, or that I am better than they are. That is a sin since it is based… Read More ›
Do you look at those around you with Godly eyes, or tempted ones?
The great Russian Orthodox monk and Metropolitan, Anthony Bloom, has left a wealth of wonderful spiritual reading — his book Beginning to Pray is one of those amazing, small books that has something worth underlining and taking to contemplation on every page — and his book Courage to Pray is a similarly illuminating, but brief, read…. Read More ›
Contemplation of Divine Things
. . . As long then as this inequality lasts in this world, [works of charity and mercy] will be needful and useful to the man that practises it, as it brings to a good purpose and pious will the reward of an eternal inheritance: but it will come to an end in the life… Read More ›
The way to Perfection
. . .perfection is not arrived at simply by self-denial, and the giving up of all our goods, and the casting away of honours, unless there is that charity, the details of which the Apostle describes, which consists in purity of heart alone. For “not to be envious,” “not to be puffed up, not to… Read More ›
The Inner Self
There is and can be no special planned technique for discovering and awakening one’s inner self, because the inner self is first of all a spontaneity that is nothing if not free. Therefore there is no use in trying to start with a definition of the inner self, and then deducing from its essential properties… Read More ›
Awakening One’s Spiritual Self
There is and can be no special planned technique for discovering and awakening one’s inner self, because the inner self is first of spontaneity that is nothing if not free. Therefore there is no use in trying to start with a definition of the inner self, and then deducing from its essential properties some appropriate… Read More ›
Remain at every moment in contact with God
The life of contemplation in action and purity of heart is, then, a life of great simplicity and inner liberty. One is not seeking anything special or demanding any particular satisfaction. One is content with what is. One does what is to be done, and the more concrete it is, the better. One is not… Read More ›
On the Observance of Lent: Purity of heart.
[Return to part two] Lent is a time of coming to purity of heart. It is the pure of heart who see God. It is a challenge. But I think the community should support us in this by certain signs, symbols, and actions. The older monks may remember how dramatic Lent was. We put up… Read More ›