Desert Fathers with Bishop Erik Varden Episode 48: Endure Your Mind
Nov 25, 2025
Bishop Erik Varden, a Cistercian monk and Bishop of Trondheim, shares profound insights drawn from the Desert Fathers on handling intrusive thoughts. He emphasizes the futility of quick fixes and advocates for patience and endurance in managing mental battles. Varden explores how unengaged thoughts wither over time and the importance of cutting off harmful stimuli. He also addresses the impact of addiction, particularly pornography, on relationships, urging responsibility and prayer as key remedies. Tune in for a transformative discussion on the journey to mental clarity.
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Mind and Heart Are Intertwined
- Thoughts lodge in the heart and mind and intertwine with feeling and intellect.
- Purifying the heart requires deliberate purification of the mind first.
Starve Unwanted Thoughts Over Time
- Starve impure thoughts rather than expect an instant fix or deletion.
- Practice patience and endurance as these thoughts decay over time if not fed.
Thoughts Are Tools, Not Masters
- Thoughts have no autonomy any more than a tool does without a wielder.
- Cut off the source and bad thoughts will lose power and leave you in peace.