Those who commit themselves to the combat of the mind must apply all their energies to drawing spiritual practices from the divine Scriptures and applying them to the mind as healing medicines. From the morning we must stand courageously and unbendingly at the door of the heart, with the precise remembrance of God and the continual prayer of Jesus Christ in the soul; and, through mental control, we must put to death all the sinners of the land1; moreover, in the ecstasy and extension of the faithful remembrance of God, cut off the heads of the mighty2, thanks to the Lord, cutting off the first manifestations of the enemy thoughts.
1 Cf. Ps 101 (100):8.
2 Cf. Hab 3:14.
Philotheus of Sinai, Forty Neptic Chapters, 2. In Filocalía de los padres népticos, vol. 2, Spanish trans. Juan María de la Torre, Ediciones Monte Cassino, 2017, p. 499.
We must be aware that the mind is a tool we have to learn to use. Until now we have been confused, believing that the mind and its endless thoughts were our own voice. Now we realize that, from the spirit, we must shape the way it works and take control. That is why there is nothing better than this advice the hesychast leaves us: “drawing spiritual practices from the divine Scriptures and applying them to the mind as healing medicines.” Another important piece of advice Philotheus gives us: “from the morning […] stand courageously and unbendingly” with “the continual prayer.”
When he says here “put to death all the sinners of the land,” paraphrasing a psalm, and “cut off the heads of the mighty,” “cutting off the first manifestations of the enemy thoughts,” it is important to bear in mind that he is referring to all those inclinations that arise from our unconverted passions, our most animal instincts and our most selfish and petty tendencies. These are the sinners, the enemies, the mighty ones who must be beheaded. Our tools are watchful attention, familiarity with the Holy Scriptures and a continual remembrance of God, that is, doing everything in His presence and realizing that we have no more important task in our life than to pray without ceasing.
elsantonombre.org
Leave a Reply