Ancient Wisdom of the Desert
- Lovers of Truth -
- The essence of philosophy lies in the fact that it imparts to man the
remembrance of death - Basil the Great + 4th century
- The mind is first of all in wonder when it reflects on God's universal
infinity and that inaccessible and greatly desired ocean. Next it is amazed
at how from nothing He has brought into existence everything that is. But
just as 'of His greatness there is no end', so is his wisdom unsearchable.
- Monk Maximus +7th century
- Very many wish to be vouchsafed the Kingdom without labors, without
struggles, without sweat; but this is impossible - St. Macarius of Egypt
- If you love the glories of men, and desire to be worshipped, and seek
comfort, you are going off the path. You must be crucified with the Crucified
One, suffer with Him that suffered, that you may be glorified with Him that
is glorified. - St. Macarius of Egypt
- Why do men learn through pain and suffering, and not through pleasure
and happiness? Very simply, because pleasure and happiness accustom one to
satisfaction with the things given in this world, whereas pain and suffering
drive one to seek a more profound happiness beyond the limitations of this
world. - Fr. Seraphim Rose
- During times of affliction do not seek human consolation so that God
may console you. - Elder Joseph the Hesychast
- One cannot hide anywhere from temptations except in the depths of humility.
- Elder Macarius of Optina
- Zeal for work is, in fact, a measuring stick of spiritual advancement.
Those striving to follow Christ measure the condition of their heart and
their spiritual advancement in patience and humility by their zeal for work.
If one has zeal for work, there is hope that you can acquire understanding
of the other ABC's of spiritual life. Without love of labor one will never
enter into the spiritual struggle nor understand the most elementary principles
of spiritual combat. - St. John Cassian
- The shortest path to Christ is to bear one another's burdens. - Elder
Ambrose of Optina
- Love towards one another without God cannot be love. And love towards
God without loving others cannot be love. - St. Theophan
- A Christian carries his cross by being thankful and rejoicing
in all sufferings. - The Arena
- The devil hath no other weapon so strong as despair. - Return
to Confession
- Christian wisdom is in preserving faith in the Lord during times of
temptation. - Elder Ambrose of Optina
- On our neighbor depends life and death of our soul. - The Arena
- When we offend our neighbor it is as if we are offending Christ Himself.
- The Arena
- It's not our cares in life that are our problem, but how we relate
to them. The sin is when we use the cares to fill our emptiness that comes
from lack of love of God. - a paraphrase of St. Theophan
- It is impossible to build a house starting from the top. So also it
is with the soul. Love for God is the roof of the house; therefore we must
start with love for our neighbor and then build up to love for God. - The
Arena
- Prayer rules and fasting without keeping the commandments will not
save us. - Elder Ambrose of Optina
- Suffering is Christ's greatest gift. - The Arena
- If we cannot love our brother whom we have not seen, how can we love
God whom we have not seen? - Counsels from the Holy Mountain (Elder Joseph
the Hesychast?)
- I don't believe in the salvation of one who doesn't work for the salvation
of others. - St. John Chrysostom
- If you always remember the Lord's Passion, you will unmurmuringly forbear
everything. - St. Dimitri of Rostov
- Who are you hoping to win? the world or your soul? - The Arena
- True joy is quiet and constant. - Way of the Asetics
- Master your senses and protect them from corrosion as a warrior protects
his weapons. - St. Ephraim the Syrian
- Consciousness of one's weakness, self-reproach, and patience are the
three steps to humility. - Elder Ambrose
- Shall we indeed accept good from God, and shall we not accept adversity?
- Job, chapter 2 verse 10
- Perfect humility of wisdom consists of bearing reproaches and dishonor
and the rest which our Teacher Jesus suffered.... A sign of the fact that
a man has touched on perfect prayer is the fact that he is no longer disturbed,
even though the whole world might offend him. - Saints Barsunuphius and
John
- When we pray and God delays in hearing (our prayer), He does this for
our benefit, so as to teach us longsuffering; wherefore we need not become
downcast, saying: "We prayed, and were not heard." God knows what is profitable
for a man. Rejoice in the Lord, leave off all your cares, and pray for me,
O beloved brother, one in spirit (with me). - Saints Barsunuphius
and John