The Ladder of Divine Ascent - Chapter XXVII: On Stillness of Mind and Body, Part I

St. John Climacus brings us now to discuss the fruits of the ascetic life. We picked up this evening with Step 27 on “stillness of mind and body”. John is very hesitant to approach such a subject. He does not want to distract the warrior from the task at hand; that is, those who are engaged in the spiritual warfare against the passions and the provocations of the evil one.  He only relents because he understands how important it is to see the goal of the spiritual life so that it might increase our desire for God and our detachment from the things of the world. 

Holy stillness emerges when the Nous, the eye of the heart, has become impenetrable and undistracted by the noise of the world. The disordered passions have now become a purified and single passion or desire for God. The love of and immersion in silence deepens because it is there that God speaks a Word that is equal to Himself. The language of Love, beyond words, begins to well up from within - united to the Spirit that cries out with groans that are beyond our understanding. 

St. John acknowledges that many will not perceive or grasp the holy violence of the Hesychast; that is, the radical turning away from the things of the world in order to turn completely toward God. This turning toward God, however, does not limit our vision or comprehension as those who are worldly often believe. Rather, it opens us up to an experience of infinite mystery of God himself; everlasting Life and Love.

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Text of chat during the group:

00:06:16 FrDavid Abernethy: page 221   00:06:30 FrDavid Abernethy: Sept 27 On Holy Stillness   00:36:18 Anthony: How do we relate, then to people like I have met, pagan Hindus and a Muslim, who also appeared to me to have this spirit of peace?   00:41:16 Rachel: Yes!!   00:41:32 Rachel: Saint Charles de Foucald   00:41:55 Rachel: Algeria   00:42:05 Rachel: same as St. Charles De Foucald   00:43:55 David: O Gods and Men is the movie   00:44:25 David: https://www.imdb.com/title/tt1588337/   00:45:06 David: The original is French Des Hommes et des dieux   00:47:14 Jeff O.: When I was Nepal, the Christians would, instead of greeting with “namaste” greet with the phrase “J’amasee” - “I honor Christ (and his work) in you.” I thought that was a beautiful way to greet people with the honor and love of seeing Christ in the other…   00:49:17 Rachel: This happens in iconography as well/   00:49:31 Anthony: Reacted to This happens in icon... with "👍"   00:49:41 Rachel: Or I should say, sacred art as opposed to iconogrpahy   00:53:09 Rachel: I am not criticizing either but making a distinction when someone thinks that" abstraction" in iconography is simplified, yet, it is the overly realistic and naturalistic emphasis on every line that detracts from the mystery that is being revealed before us.   00:58:22 Rachel: Oh my goodness. That is so beautiful. Thank you for sharing.   01:00:03 Anthony: Reacted to When I was Nepal, th... with "👍"   01:01:09 Maureen Cunningham: Did Father Damion who lived among the leaders in Hawaii   01:01:27 Anthony: Replying to "I am not criticizing..."     Compare the "naive" ...   01:02:17 Maureen Cunningham: He would go on a boat to and yell his confessions. I was told   01:02:44 David: https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0165196/   01:11:26 David: Theology without practice is the theology of demons- Maximus the Confessor   01:14:34 Maureen Cunningham: Thank You Father   01:15:02 David: Thank you father!   01:15:02 Jennifer Ahearn: Thank you   01:15:05 Rachel: Thank you   01:15:05 Jeff O.: thank you!   01:15:19 Rebecca Thérèse: Thank yu