On Attention and Distraction - St. Ignatius Brianchaninov

Jul 8, 2024

St. Ignatius Brianchaninov, a revered Russian saint, shares profound insights on the dangers of distraction in our spiritual lives. He warns that while the world may view distraction as harmless, the holy fathers see it as the root of all evils. Distraction leads to superficial understanding and spiritual inconstancy, preventing deep emotional connections. Ignatius emphasizes the necessity of vigilance and attentiveness to genuinely fulfill our Christian obligations and avoid the emptiness that comes with a distracted heart.

Ask episode

Chapters

Transcript

Episode notes

The Dangers of Distraction in Spiritual Life

00:00 • 8min

A word for us all from one the greatest Russian saints of recent times. "The sons of the world consider distraction to be something innocent, but the holy fathers recognize it to be the origin of all evils." -LISTEN to other recordings of St. Ignatius Brianchaninov ---My Cross and the Cross of Christ https://youtu.be/RDmmWFqGGYA ---Exhortation on the Prayer Rule https://youtu.be/YvCo0NiHMjU ---The Antichrist Will Be the Natural Result of the Spiritual Direction of Man https://youtu.be/Y97eoXfZJ_k ---On Prayer https://youtu.be/ElPypoFJM3A -BUY a number of books by St. Ignatius here: https://www.holytrinitypublications.com -FIND an Orthodox parish and monastery near you: https://orthodoxyinamerica.org/ Text is from "Divine Ascent: A Journal of Orthodox Faith", Autumn 2001, No. 7 _______ St. Ignatius writes: The sons of the world consider distraction to be something innocent, but the holy fathers recognize it to be the origin of all evils. The person who is given up to distraction has, concerning all subjects and even the most important ones, a very light and most superficial understanding. One who is distracted is usually inconstant. The feelings of his heart usually lack depth and strength; they are not solid but transitory. As a butterfly flits from flower to flower so also a distracted person passes from one earthly satisfaction to another, from one vain care to another. Distraction itself punishes the one who is devoted to it. With time everything bores him, and as one who has not acquired any sound understandings and fundamental impressions whatsoever, he is given up to a tormenting endless despondency. As much as distraction is harmful in general, it is especially harmful in the work of God and the work of salvation, which requires constant and intense vigilance and attention. "Watch and pray lest you enter into misfortune," says the Savior to his disciples (Matthew 26: 41). "I say to all: watch," (Mark 13:37), the Savior said to all Christianity, and therefore, he said it to us in this time. He who is leading a distracted life is directly contradicting the commandments of the Lord Jesus Christ with his life. All of the saints diligently fled from distraction. They were concentrated in themselves constantly or at least as often as possible They paid attention to the movements of their mind and heart and they directed them according to the testament of the gospel. The habit of attending to oneself keeps one from distraction, even amongst distractions which are noisy and surrounding one on all sides. The attentive person abides in solitude, even amidst a multitude of people. A certain great father who had learned by experience the benefit of attention and the harm of distraction said that without intense watchfulness over oneself it is impossible to succeed in even one virtue. The attentive life weakens the effect of a person's bodily feelings. It sharpens, strengthens and warms the feelings of the soul. While on the contrary, distraction dulls the feelings of the soul. _______ Orthodox Wisdom is dedicated to sharing the writings and lives of the Saints of the Orthodox Church. Glory to Jesus Christ!