What is Hesychasm? - Mystical Practice in Orthodox Christianity
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- Опубліковано 12 чер 2021
- In this video, we talk about the mystical tradition called "Hesychasm" in the Eastern Orthodox Church.
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Sources/Suggested Reading:
Lossky, Vladimir (1944). "The Mystical Theology of the Eastern Church". James Clarke & Co.
Ware, Timothy (2015). "The Orthodox Church: An introduction to Eastern Christianity". New Edition. Penguin Books.
"Gregory Palamas: The Triads". Translated by Nicholas Gendle. In the "Classics of Western Spirituality Series". 1982.
#Hesychasm #Mysticism #Christianity
I was raised a "non-denominational" evangelical Christian, but joined the Orthodoxy as an adult. I often think of the Orthodoxy's approach to mysticism is simply an acceptance that we may never understand all that God is, we may never have all the answers. Once you can accept that you can't know or explain everything, it is so much easier to enjoy spirituality.
Yes I think that's a very good point. Same way a cat can't comprehend quantum mechanics (probably) so we surely can't fully understand God, at least in this life.
Just leave your brain at the door!
@@garyl8356 Recognizing our cognitive limitations equals not using our brains? Someone's narcissism has got the better of him, methinks.
I love the way you think
@@garyl8356 your "brain" is not only your faculty of reason. And to "know" something is to catagorise it and God cannot be catagorized, and your base faculty of reason doesn't even serve you well in the field of Quantum physics and Event Probability, where we see a clear tendency in Nature toward that which is incalculable, both of which are the creations of God, let alone the Creator Himself... Unity with God sounds better than being able to catagorized Him in some made up human box
I am black and I went to a Russian Orthodox church. Where the women in the church wore Amish type clothing. But do you know even though I was the only person of color they made me feel...just like I belonged.
🧢
@@dontdie777😂😂😂
That is what true Christianity is, my sister in Christ. God bless you.
You should be looking for salvation, not what the women are wearing ..
@tylerkessler4021
You should be seeking salvation not caring about what people write online...
I'm a convert from Roman Catholicism to Eastern Orthodoxy, and have lived as a postulant on Mt. Athos. I was especially delighted with your well-balanced approach to this subject which is dear to me and to which I have devoted many years of study. Thank you.
Have fun navel-gazing
Well said! I’m publishing a weekly UA-cam video on episodes from the life of Don Bosco, entitled ST JOHN BOSCO by JOE ZAMMIT. In this series I’m narrating events and miracles from the splendid life of Don Bosco. St John Bosco used to perform a miracle almost every day, through the intercession of Mary Help of Christians. From the lives of saints we can learn how to love God more and draw closer to him. Thank you
May God bless you and Mary keep you in your vocation. And may East and West soon be reunited!
From one lie to the next line. Repent to be born again!
Why bother? Are you supernatural?
One of the reasons why I converted to Eastern Orthodoxy because it was the only Church that still held mystical traditions and spiritual disciplines while most American churches had forgotten them
Same
Where's the emerald tablet , how can can issue Newton read the emerald in the 16th century and dead in the 17th century and there's no emerald tablet in the 21st, Where's it at ?
They didn't forget them, they were pagans and heretics from the start. In other words, either protestants. Also the Catholics of the Novus Ordo (Vatican 2) are same as protestants
What if the whole Christianity is a wrong path. What's your plan B?
@@whatislifebuttheenjoymento3405 The only wrong path is paganism - ALL Abrahamic religions are valid and true (except from the protestants and reformers in all faiths). There is only plan A period
He always mentions how he could go on and on without doing it justice. Dude, go on and on, do a podcast, do a 3 hour video. I wanna hear it all.
😂
Exactly
seriously, this ☝️
I, and I’m sure many others, would be absolutely delighted if he did a podcast!
There are many videos on UA-cam on orthodoxy and you will see how beautiful it truly is.. right here at your fingertips enjoy and be blessed❤
Great video! The Orthodox Churches are a topic rarely mentioned in general western education. Thanks for the insight
It's almost if they purposely ignore it.
@@otundetchagala9560 yes. Along with many other things.
@@otundetchagala9560 I suspect the Catholic Church and its obvious influence in the west.
@@Gizziiusa Or the Cold War.
Still very mainstream compared to the oriental orthodox churches. Coptics, Armenians, Ethiopian and Syriac church are almost forgotten
Hi - as a life long Orthodox Christian I really loved this video! I don't know if this comment will be seen, but I just wanted to add that a key component of Hesychasm is having access to a spiritual teacher, that can guide you during this process (especially as rigorously experienced as it is in monastic life). Obedience towards your spiritual teacher (often an older monastic) is vital to guard against the ego and any mental illness that may arise in such intense inward inspection. Again, love the video!
Sounds very similar to Eastern Vedic mysticism that states the "student" requires guidance from a spiritual teacher / guru before Enlightenment can even be approached.
@@raminybhatti5740 It is.
First time I've heard introspection can cause mental illness 🤣
@@leminjapan more like the silence, relative isolation, and extreme mental rigor. It's not for everyone.
@@palanfuiniel well put. I wish you the best on your path
I can connect to this Hesychasm quite easily. In surrendering all to God in prayer, day to day life including good times and bad, He will come. It is difficult to remain open to receive the grace, but God also knows we are trying and He will come when the time is right. Having said that, He also backs off for a time which some mystics refer to as a dry period, however He wants us to continue to search, hope and remain vigilant in our prayer life. Remembering those experiences of when He did come, keeps us enlightened and going on further. Thankyou for this rich teaching! Spiritually rich.....
Your comment resonates with me. I am an American Christian but I stumbled upon this Hesychasm before I knew it was a thing. I find myself quieting the outside and seeking Jesus and thinking on the encounters with God until another one happens.
Do you mind telling me more?
Why do you think God puts us through dry periods?
@@ruthimegi5556is it he who’s putting us there?
As long as you keep referring to an external god, there is no gnosis.
There nothing kind or merciful about any of it. God rips everything away from you anyway and leaves you with whatever he decides to give back to us. I'm not of the opinion that groveling and licking boot is going to do anything except make God disgusted with us.
"The man who has a conscience suffers whilst acknowledging his sin. That is his punishment"
- Fyodor Dostoyevsky,
Jesus shall forgive you for your sins, therefore you are free to commit them to your hearts content. Amen.
@@xianseah4847 What motive do I have to act morally then, if I will be forgiven?
Jesus appeared to people. Jesus is God. He is the part of the trinity that is seen, so why was there ever controversy?
@@jmanderson84 non-trinitarians believe that Jesus is a literal son of God and thus a literal different being.
Big fan of Dostoyevsky and currently getting deep into russian culture. I am pleased my the timing of this video and your comment. Thank you.
As an Orthodox Christian I'm happy to see videos like this. Well explained and well researched.
Great ✔
Where are you from brother?
@@Igor-my6ml Orthodox Albanian brother
I'm sick of seeing comments that start with, "as a fill-in-the-blank, I think filling the-blank"
@@TheAncientLight hello from Orthodox Serb 👋
As an orthodox, I advice you to make a video about Philocalia, which are ancient texts showing a human path in life in order to get as close as possible to God.
Philocalia and hysichasm go hand in hand, Philocalia is for ordinary people living in society and hesychasm is for ascets living in caves.
Clarifying ✓
Little opportunities exist, as there are very few bases/Churches of the Orthodox in the Western World, for learning of and understanding the Orthodox Religions.
Many here see them as part of the Christian Religion and it as 1 with various interpretations.
The Roman Christian Religions being the greater root of the Western Catholics and Protestants.
It has required a journey through History, largely dependant on other Researchers and their interpretations of early Texts, the Sumerian Cuneiform Tablets, and Letters of the era, to gain a general concept of the more true History of Yeshua/Jesus and the relative stories.
It is a subject with almost no resources available to 9ne interested in having the clarity of the Historical Records and Facts.
The larger scope being that Constatine and his Priests really edited the earlier form of Christian Beliefs and basically established a wholly different Religion, one easily Marketable to Rome practicing Pagans, for his goal of establishing a "1 State/Empire Religion" (and its benefits for managing and controlling the Public).
Beth Bartlett
Sociologist/Behavioralist
and Historian
@@bethbartlett5692 I get that sense as well based on my research and observation of the church in history. The church/state union brought about by Constantine for the sake of political control and unification of the Roman Empire has altered the course of the church ever since. It's influence on a major segment of the church, has led to a leaning towards the desire for political dominance, strong hand tactics, tyranny and an attraction to and sympathy, and willingness to embrace and cooperate with fascism over the course of history. This explains a lot.
I am a Carmelite Hermit under the Roman Catholic Church. What you are expressing here has consoled me a lot. I indeed feel out of place among the Roman Catholics. I intend from hereon to explore more deeply into Eastern Orthodox discipline. Thank you for this material.
the only wrong thing with catholic church not their followers is manipulation ,the only wrong aproach ,welcome brother or sister Amin
What kind of hermit use internet and you tube?
You surely don't know the various Eastern Catholic churches.
Are you really not aware of say the Byzantine Catholic Church? The Maronite Catholic Church? Etc. I’ve been to both and receive the best of both Western and Eastern Catholicism.
Visited several times father Gabriel Bunge - and he too felt out of place among the Roman Catholics.....
After 30 years of searching philosophies, religions and practices, including Buddhism, Vipassana, psychedelics, Yoga, Taoism, esotericism etc.. etc.. I found real transformation and intimacy with God in the Orthodox Church, the horizontal intellectual search is no more, now is all a vertical search and experience, because the way is clear finally.
Thank God!!! and all the martyrs and saints of the Orthodox Church...
Superstition that's all this is
@@TheGuiltsOfUs If that's your belief, that's for you. Be well :)
Sorry, but you have yet to find it.
@@solelysoul8543 Are you sorry...? Or just feel threatened by others belief? Hope you find what you're looking for bud.
@@TheGuiltsOfUs Then why are you here?
That phrase "...we are God´s icon" is such a wonderful tool to blend both our ultimate, trascendental nature, and our bodily life.
You did a very good job at giving an introduction into the practice of Hesychasm. To the point, logically organised and presented. Well done.
This video, it seems to me, was exceptionally well done and understandable. I became a believer in Jesus when I was 16 and have had a few, what I would call mystical experiences and happenings that are beyond my understanding, but were real and not made by me. I comprehend them to be from God via The Spirit of God to my mind, soul, and spirit. All of this to say that I find your explanation of Hesychasm to have enlightened me. We are brothers in Christ because of our acceptance of Jesus even though we have grown up in different households. I find much to learn and appreciate in my Orthodox brothers and sisters and I would have no difficulty at all in joining in Community Worship in an Orthodox Church and in fact have spent a few Sundays doing so in Santa Barbara, California. As I said above, this video was exceptionally well done and I value your tone and intelligence in creating this for many people’s benefit. Thank you.
My 16 year old introduced me to this channel. Thank you for your information and insights!
You have a great son
Yes. You're very lucky.
J
You have a wise child. Well done.
all inclusive consciousness theory on my channel
I was raised Roman catholic, but feel I resonate more with the Orthodox tradition. I feel it to be more mystically oriented and has a stronger emphasis on its platonic roots, especially with the use of the Greek language.
Me too brother! I’ve been going to an Orthodox Church for 3 months now and I feel at home. Christos Anesti!
That’s because you are probably under 30 and from USA 🇺🇸 ,, here in Central America even the mass was done in Latin still in the early 70’s
@Reino de Hiperbórea very smooth! I am blessed with a wonderful community, everyone is so lovely at my church
Its roots is an explicit rejection of Platonism. We have battled against Platonic heresies since the beginning.
@Reino de Hiperbórea Yes Hellenism is the source of many of the earliest major heresies and that we battled through our ecumenical councils.
Thank you SO MUCH for identifying problematic terms and defining them before speaking so we have a clear understanding as to what you are talking about! It really helps a lot! Love the videos man, keep it up
Thank you for this!!! I grew up orthodox but then moved to the west and catholicism made me lose all hope in religion until I rediscovered orthodoxy. I wish more people knew about our beliefs!
It is the true faith
sometimes God has to remind us of these things.
I feel like Catholicism makes us worship the Church first, not God.
@@33jwill3☠️
orthodox LOVE to say the papacy is a medieval invention.. until you cite dozens of pre schism fathers, theologians, saints, and monks that taught roman authority and cited Matthew 16.
@@33jwill3 YES! it's very legalistic
Good work! A lot of the time when non-Orthodox people try to describe Essence/Energies distinction it gets very convoluted and different from how we understand it in the Church. It was great to see someone do their research and present it with minimal reference to Western Christianity.
I hope you do more Orthodox related content in the future. ☦☦☦
Orthobro spotted, who must go
Based orthodox assad pfp
Orthodox seems cool I wanna read your books insha Allah
@@malikialgeriankabyleswag4200 inshallah you will let the Holy Spirit guide you
@@neame-bh3uq Are you from Syria brother and can you give me some names of books? But I only worship One God ;)
Silence, or Hesihia in Greek, is the source of the wisdom and Devine knowledge. In silence everything is. From silence everything comes forward and into silence everything will dissolve. THat is why the best form of worshiping God is in Silence.
SHHHHHH!
“Silence is the Cross upon which we must crucify our Egos” ~St. Seraphim of Sarov
" Be still and know that I Am"
then how the hell can you worship GOD in truth and spirit if you never say a thing?what you are saying is for us to just shut the hell up and obey
It’s probably better for mysticism than Christian pop for having a legitimate one, but spirituality should never be subjective.
I read the "Cloud of Unknowing " by an unknown Christian monk I believe from the 13th Century. I did try one of the meditative exercises which at first I found very heart warning and relaxing but this was followed by an earth shaking experience that was both awesome, humbling and brought me to tears ...I will never forget it as I remember every detail...it made all my human experiences appear to be very superficial as if they were only simulations of reality. I have not dared to repeat this meditative exercise since then ...it has cast doubt on what we consider to be material reality ...even to our perception of time .
That is interesting.
That is beautiful. Many people can't get there without psychedelics.
That sounds like the end result was luciferic extremity. Something doesn't want you to do it again. You can channel your thurgic fields, chakras, chi, 3 crowns, spirit and soul, all these are based on 3 becoming 1. Chakras has a kundalini version that is activating all 7 chakras. You are at purity of 7 of God, 6 seraphims surround the 1. Seven. 12 is of jehovah jirah, for his Disciples. 9 is actually seven because his trinity 1 in 3 and we lost the set key. So everything is of manifold, we'd basically have a higher beginning number. Based 12, this stuff is hidden from us because other want power. As we fold in, we actually bloom out. This is natural law, and doesn't take but a thought to understand. I had a 5 level activation 4 days ago so everything but my 2 above. It made me quake the room creaked I heard knocks on my door. Look at every huge company. Toyota,7 GMC 3, Nintendo is of 8. So it's actually very terrae (earth) so is made by us. We are all God's. Don't deny the beauty God gave you.
@gracerenda640 psychedelics is a trick. No you have to go through it. I wrote something above this. I have learned more in 4 years than everything I've learned my life about anything and everything.
Yes....that is what I believe to be the experience of something Transcendent. Don't fear it....
Transcendence is our natural 'state' when we purely attempt to simply know or act without selfishness.
I honestly think you don't need to delve into a lot of specifics, technicalities or bend yrself out of shape with mental gymnastics written by 'other people' - that is their reality. Your reality is uniquely 'yours'.
Drop words & concepts and go with your heart's purist intentions (spirit, the essence of something). You will be amazed.
Small things, sometimes imperceptible at first, happen and then understanding just starts to flow.
I try to stick to things that can apply equally universally - never something that puts one thing/person above or in conflict with another. So I never pray for someone to 'win' (as in sport or war) as that is fundamentally 'a house divided' and not universal good to all parties.
Whatever the state of yr intention or 'being' at that time, will determine the nature of your experience.
I would not, for example, try this when I am traumatised or deeply upset. It is very likely you will 'magnify' that state of being or experience. We are told to be either 'neutral' in emotions (such as the Buddhist meditation practices') or to be 'joyful, grateful & loving'.
In being able to be 'that' in intention & experience and pray for yrself equally as for others - so if you are depressed, find a moment that was extremely joyful in your memories, feel those emotions and see everyone equally as joyful, at peace, having abundance, etc.
When we focus on our own needs we resonate a frequency/spirit of lack. But we don't necessarily feel all people 'lack' a particular thing. Therefore when we focus on an essence & extend it to all equally, not only does a power relating to a Universal condition kick in for everyone, but your own state is altered & magnified by the size of the vision you engage with.
Then weird negative experiences are so much less likely to happen. Your state of mind & heart (intention) will have blocked that possibility entirely.
Our experience is quite literally on the identical frequency we enter the meditative intent/purpose in. But magnified, because we are 'engaging' with it powerfully.
We are told in so many different cultures how to meditate/pray.
That is:
Neutrally
With a pure & joyful heart
Gratefulness for what is, or rather as if what you are praying for already exists.
Very good video. Informative, provided plenty of context, nice flow, concise, and great visuals. Thank you for sharing information about this tradition. Peace 🙏🏽
I have to say that after being a Christian over the western tradition, agonizing over theological questions by reading and speculating, the meditative practices of the hesychasts came me like a breath of fresh air, especially as described by Gregory Palamas
Sounds like you've fallen into great delusion.
@@severiusbrandusa1413 I suppose I could see why someone would think that
@@bigbrownhouse6999 I don't just think it but I know this to be true. You don't know the LORD God of Israel and the Father of the Lord Christ Jesus. Neither do the Protestants, Catholics, Orthodox, Mormons, Jehovah's Witnesses, or any other so-called "christian" denomination. They are all an abomination and against the LORD God of Hosts. Meditation is to think about the word of God with sincerity and diligence, not sitting in a yoga position and emptying your mind and focusing on the self. You're lost, bud.
@@severiusbrandusa1413
Who knows the Lord then?
@@severiusbrandusa1413 okay so every Christian denomination is wrong except for you? How is that?
Based on my experience growing up and living in a "Bible belt" region in the US, I would say the main issue we deal with in these areas is the fact that the word Christianity has acquired a very strict definition due to the social conditioning most of us experienced in childhood. Therefore, when people from Fundamentalist backgrounds encounter information like this, their first instinct will be to define those early Orthodox dissenters as heretics and write off anything you say after the first contradiction of King James they detect. Granted, that mainly applies to people who fully internalized and chose not to question the Fundamentalist doctrines they were raised with, but I unfortunately can't call that group a minority where I came from. My own mother would probably have a very hard time with these practices being defined as Christian due to conditioning from the Baptist church she attends. These are the kind of communication barriers we are facing in my neck of the woods. For my own part, I'd really just like to find a way to use concepts like this as a bridge between my worldview and those of my parents. I feel like if I could succeed at that, it would help heal a lot of intergenerational wounds in a larger cultural sense. Thanks again for bringing new pieces to the puzzle, Philip!
It’s true. I grew up evangelical and converted to orthodoxy when I was 18. My parents(especially my father) still have a very hard time understanding anything I say and like to draw comparisons to other religions. Like prayers ropes he wants to claim is stolen from Hindus or some nonsense
All the churches are corps. Supposed to be the living body of Christ, but instead are corporations, dead paper fictions. They all have Bank accounts, not lock boxes and treasurers and are under commercial tax benefit status from the state. Pretty much every church is an extension of Rome(the Federal State). None are following scripture, this is the great falling away.
@@FarmersAreCool I think you forgot the part in the video explaining the split with rome and the East
@@___-_____- I'm talking about North America. In order to be a Christian Church you gotta be in line with the new testament. OTherwise you end up a place of business/den of thieves and are not a church at all. THe only expression of Love on this Earth is through proper expression of charity, the church has been disordered from being properly organized around the Cross .
All nations are functioning on Roman Civil law/commercial code. Legal marriage has Rome as Third party, not God. National birth/berth certificates with debt liened against our Christian names that we neither benefits from nor incurred make a Man is neighbours slave unless we properly observe the law of the land in our dealings with each other. THe state has usurped the church over the last 150 years or so of global communism/satanism rollout.
Don't unfairly burden your neighbour, nor incur debt at his expense through government. Rome Runs all commercial law/code. Like this unlawful covid rollout.
@@FarmersAreCool I tried telling them that as a kid, but it didn't work out great.
Your intro statement is so on point. I've tried so hard to have broadened Abrahamic discussions with the church, such as origins of it, and it always gets turned into the same narrow, dogmatic conversation.
This video is refreshing. Thank you for it
This was the video where I discovered this channel. I’m so grateful ❤
Again to add to this discussion: The Orthodox Church considers the Hesychasts to be the Heart of Unceasing Prayer of the Church. Monasteries and Monastics play a BIG part in the life of the Church. Many of our Bishops come from these Hesychasts. Although most of our Priests are married our Bishops are not. They are either widowed or Hesychasts.
This sounds like another man made doctrine. What baffles me is several times he states that people that practice this doctrine seek to "become one with God." God has told us how to become one with Him through the Holy Spirit inspired, God breathed scripture.
2 Timothy 3 16 All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness:
17 That the man of God may be perfect, thoroughly furnished unto all good works.
How does one become one with God? The scripture tells us that when a pennetant believer in Godly sorrow repents, confesses Christ as the son of God, and is baptized (baptizo - immeresed) in water for remission of sins it is there he comes in contact with the saving blood of Christ. He is dead in sin upon entering the water, is immersed in the watery grave of baptism, sins washed away (by the cleansing blood of Christ) and rises up out of the water a new creature born of water and spirit. He now is in union with Christ, clothed in His righteousness. He is added by God to the one true church, the body of Christ.
Acts 2 (Peter preached the first gospel sermon on the day of Pentecost)
37 Now when they heard this, they were pricked in their heart, and said unto Peter and to the rest of the apostles, Men and brethren, what shall we do?
38 Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost.
39 For the promise is unto you, and to your children, and to all that are afar off, even as many as the Lord our God shall call.
40 And with many other words did he testify and exhort, saying, Save yourselves from this untoward generation.
41 Then they that gladly received his word were baptized: and the same day there were added unto them about three thousand souls.
42 And they continued stedfastly in the apostles' doctrine and fellowship, and in breaking of bread, and in prayers.
43 And fear came upon every soul: and many wonders and signs were done by the apostles.
44 And all that believed were together, and had all things common;
45 And sold their possessions and goods, and parted them to all men, as every man had need.
46 And they, continuing daily with one accord in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, did eat their meat with gladness and singleness of heart,
47 Praising God, and having favour with all the people. And the Lord added to the church daily such as should be saved.
Galatians 3 (clothed in Christ's righteousness)
26 For ye are all the children of God by faith in Christ Jesus.
27 For as many of you as have been baptized into Christ have put on Christ.
28 There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither bond nor free, there is neither male nor female: for ye are all one in Christ Jesus.
Romans 6 (baptized into His death)
What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin, that grace may abound?
2 God forbid. How shall we, that are dead to sin, live any longer therein?
3 Know ye not, that so many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into his death?
4 Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life.
Colossians 2 ( Warning against vain philosophies and false doctrine, baptism an operation of God, buried with Christ)
8 Beware lest any man spoil you through philosophy and vain deceit, after the tradition of men, after the rudiments of the world, and not after Christ.
9 For in him dwelleth all the fulness of the Godhead bodily.
10 And ye are complete in him, which is the head of all principality and power:
11 In whom also ye are circumcised with the circumcision made without hands, in putting off the body of the sins of the flesh by the circumcision of Christ:
12 Buried with him in baptism, wherein also ye are risen with him through the faith of the operation of God, who hath raised him from the dead.
13 And you, being dead in your sins and the uncircumcision of your flesh, hath he quickened together with him, having forgiven you all trespasses;
14 Blotting out the handwriting of ordinances that was against us, which was contrary to us, and took it out of the way, nailing it to his cross;
15 And having spoiled principalities and powers, he made a shew of them openly, triumphing over them in it.
@@dsvet Man made doctrine? Jesus went off into the desert alone to fast and pray for 40 days. That is an example of Hesychasm not only told in the Bible but practiced by Christ Himself. So not man made but an example set by Christ.
Matthew 4:1-11
1 Then Jesus was led by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil.
2 After fasting forty days and forty nights, he was hungry.
3 The tempter came to him and said, “If you are the Son of God, tell these stones to become bread.”
4 Jesus answered, “It is written: ‘Man shall not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God."
5 Then the devil took him to the holy city and had him stand on the highest point of the temple.
6 “If you are the Son of God,” he said, “throw yourself down. For it is written: “‘He will command his angels concerning you, and they will lift you up in their hands, so that you will not strike your foot against a stone."
7 Jesus answered him, “It is also written: ‘Do not put the Lord your God to the test.”
8 Again, the devil took him to a very high mountain and showed him all the kingdoms of the world and their splendor.
9 “All this I will give you,” he said, “if you will bow down and worship me.”
10 Jesus said to him, “Away from me, Satan! For it is written: ‘Worship the Lord your God, and serve him only.”
11 Then the devil left him, and angels came and attended him.
Also, what about John the Baptist? Everything about him was Hesychast. He lived alone in the desert and ate only what God provided. He prayed and finally, when God had told him to, he preached and baptized people, including Christ.
Hesychasm is about denying passions, prayer and facing your own temptations squarely to overcome them. In doing so you draw closer to God.
The Orthodox believe salvation comes only from the Grace of God and is not be earned. Even so we can STILL become closer to God through prayer and reflection. This process doesn't end for Orthodox anymore than it does for you. I am sure you go to Church and Bible Study or at least read the Bible a lot. You also have to think and pray a lot about it. How is that much different than Hesychasm? It isn't.
@@dsvet Another protestant heretic you up a bible and think you are saved
@@dsvetHave you ever stopped and thought “where did my Bible come from?”
@@dsvet That's a cop-out. Reflections on the Good News are not man-made, rather, they're God-inspired.
As a person raised in the Greek Orthodox faith, this is an excellent and well researched summary/introduction. Impressive.
You are so thorough! Thank you for creating this video. With all this information compiled, it’s such an easy way to demonstrate a complex history and answer theological questions.
Wow I used to go the Ethiopian Orthodox church as a kid with my grandmother. We used to pray while bowing numerous times as he described and we recited "God have mercy on us" (Ezgiyoh maherena Cristos" ). Also other prayers I didn't understand since they were in Geez (acient language used by the Church).
You are not going anymore ?
Although the video was posted posted a year ago, I am pretty disappointed why you left out Ethiopia and Eritrean orthodox from oriental group. Major fallacy. The only difference is that Ethiopia is black.
One of the best overviews I've seen on hesychast, been studying orthodoxy now for over a year having read 25+ books and found this video summarized it beautiful thank you.
This is pure fire 🔥 Thank you for this amazing work.
This was such a great video. Concise and to the point with loads of information. Thank you!
This is such a fascinating video and superb channel! Thank you for sharing, very insightful.
I was able to visit an Eastern Orthodox worship service as part of a Religious Diversity class at my university. I found it beautiful and the differences with my own faith very interesting..
What Must I Do To Be Saved? m.ua-cam.com/video/DmiH89xWZ0Q/v-deo.html
Chanced upon your channel and enjoyed learning something I've never heard of. Very well presented. Thank you.
Excellent counterbalance to 'one eyed' Western flavour of Christianity. Phil
Woah! I didn't think I'd see you here!
Yea, more corruption more bullshit
Amazing! The most interesting video I have seen in years. Thank you so much
I feel American Christianity is often reduced to “don’t do xyz, go to church, and you are saved, end of story”. Sadly i might describe it as a ‘Christianity without a God,’ a la Friedrich Nietzsche.
I agree my aunt was a catholic nun but she mentioned the apocrypha, the dead sea scrolls, and the research she did with hesychasm. I was too young to understand it but I remember her having a calm demeanour that I've only ever seen from people who have alot of experience meditating, usually in a zen or buddhist style. She also spent alot of time with a sect of european nuns in Colombia whos practises where very different from typical catholic guilt trips and hellfire. When she lived in the US she was amazed out how miserable the typical christian behaved in their day to day life. Everything seemed to her preformative and kind of like people where just ticking boxes to be part of a team. Anytime I've ever mentioned any of this to a christian they found it blasphemous and became offended. They don't seem to have any piece of mind or calmness that she had. I'm not religious myself but I can appreciate meditation and contemplative practices for their contribution to mental clarity and ultimately to treating people and yourself in a better way. I hope soon these contemplative practices of gnostic christianity return to prominence in place of the evangelist and guilt based movements that dominate the west and particularly the United States.
i disagree on behalf of my mormonism. however i was lead astray due to church politics and homophobia.
100%
@@funknotik before gnostic Christianity returns to prominence, Christianity will have to tackle and reverse the forced conversions. It is like a second original sin, committed by the church.
@@kyll5552 interesting that you use the term " lead astray". Sounds like a bit of guilt there. Indoctrination is a strong form of brainwashing and hard for some to shake off
Excellent. I stumbled onto Orthodoxy in Lawrence, KS of all places. I passed by the window and saw the zine “Death To the World” and have been fascinated since. Thank you for your unbiased, scholarly presentations.
What Must I Do To Be Saved? m.ua-cam.com/video/DmiH89xWZ0Q/v-deo.html
That zine is awesome
Thank you for your presentation. I am sincerely thankful for the insights that encourage me to seek a higher spiritual understanding and state of being.
This young man is really a great teacher.
So thankful for this one! Greetings from Serbia
Поздрав брате! 🇷🇸🥰
@@user-pl3zh8lu3i uzvraćam pozdrav,sada vidim...
☦
@@milenasovic поздрав поздрав 😁
@@Novalisov 😁
Great video as always! I believe it's interesting to mention that the word "energies" should be undertsood in a little different way than it is usually used in the english language. Energies can be used in greek also as "actions". Divine energies aren't supernatural beings devided from god or God's forms that can be understood by us. They are his "actions", ways that God is manifested to us. They aren't his esence but they aren't beings or streams of energy coming out of Him neither. Obviously this issue is very complicated and is very difficult to understand but this linguistic aproach might be helpful. I would like to ask about possible similarities or differences with Dvaita Vedanta in hinduism. It would be great if you can make a video about this! Thank you!
This is a very clarifying comment, thanks! Language barriers are so confounding, it’s usually a miracle if two people speaking the same language from the same country can really understand each other.
This is a subject to be EXPERIENCED, SELF-REALISED and NOT understood.
Ενέργεια = activity
For anyone wonder.
OK. I was thinking these energies sounded like the planets of the Babylonians and the gnostics.
I appreciate this video and the work you put into making it.
Wonderful explanation ❤️ Thank you for creating this!
Brilliant...I love mapping other traditions onto my own and this has always been a bit illusive...the clear explanstion of essence and energy finally sunk in...and wow I can see it how it fits in my own tradition. Thankyou.
Along with the Jesus Prayer and the posture used, many will use a Prayer Rope with knots on it. It is similar to the Rosary except that you go to the next knot after saying the Jesus Prayer once. It is simply another way of focusing your concentration so that you go deeper into your Prayer/Meditation. For one of the best stories about Hesychasm read the story of St. Mary of Egypt.
Thank you for complementing your discussions with this artwork. It's cool.
Really loved learning this topic that I had not heard of before now!!! ❤️❤️❤️
Excellent. This fellow has got it. He has an understanding beyond most of who Christ is and how to experience him. Well done.
I heard Alan watts mention the once in a speech. He said hecycast instead of hecycasm and I've wondered about it since. Thanks. Clear as a bell now.
I love listening to religious history. Thank you!
Thank you for this introduction / exploration of a tradition that (until now) I had not been aware existed.
Thank you for this video!
Hesychasm sounds a lot like “Recollection,” a kind of meditative prayer. 3rd Spiritual Alphabet by Fransisco de Osuna is a book discussing Recollection, and, like the Philokalia, is written for lay people and monks, and gives an excellent roadmap of how to attain oneness with one’s self in order to experience the grace of God.
This video is an excellent introduction of Byzantine theology and hesychastic practice. I really enjoy how you are able to present different traditions without all the confessional polemics that so often distort these discussions. Could you tell me where to find the illustration at 2:19? Thank you so much!
*Eastern Roman Theology
No such thing as Byzantine.
OMG I abhor confessional polemics...like totally
@@alhassani626 False!! There is no such thing as Eastern Roman Theology. The monikers serve purpose. Stop trying to disparage the fact!!
@@orthodoxrocks9644 Pick up a history book and see when the term Byzantine was coined. And it is called Orthodox Theology not Byzantine Theology. You're barely educated.
@@alhassani626 two things 1. I never called it Byzantine Theology. 2. The Empire indeed was split into East and West. However, no one calls it Western Rome Theology or Eastern Rome Theology. It doesn't make any sense to even group Rome with the other 4 cities that made up the Pentarchy since Rome was the reason for the split! The two Churches are under the appellation: Roman Catholic Church and The Orthodox Church.
Yeah, I'm barely educated.....Yawn......
Thank you for all your great work!
Thank you sooo very much for this.. I greatly appreciate it🙏🙏🙏
Orthodox Christian here, I was wondering when you'd make a video on a topic like this :) excited to see some videos about Oriental Orthodoxy in the future! Good job!
Wonderful video! Thank you. It is very interesting to learn about Christian mysticism as a devoted Buddhist practitioner and Dhamma-student. I know you want to be careful with comparisons, but it really seems like the attainment of Jhana (meditative absorption) is available to anyone who is sincere in the spiritual quest, no matter the religion. The experience must be the same I believe, but it is when the practitioner comes out of Jhana and tries to make sense of it things start to differ. A certain religious framework brought the practitioner to the point of complete surrender to the inner light, and this is the base from which the practitioner will use when conceptualizing the experience in mundane terms. But in Jhana itself, no such conceptualization occurs I believe.
I believe conceptualization still occurs during the Rupa Jhanas, but not in the Arupa Jhanas. But at that point it becomes very noodley and I won't pretend to be an expert. Also, greetings from a fellow Buddhist!
It's entirely possible someone is mistaking a Jhana experience for God lol! Even the mystic conceptions of God can be dismantled, the reason we don't see much talk of a creator in Buddhist circles.
@@TheGuiltsOfUs Who is to say they are mistaking? Could just be another, equally valid way of understanding it.
As someone who looks at all religions but doesn't follow any at a whole.. I love to see you compare one to another and find the similarities within each group.
@@TheGuiltsOfUs Buddha (Gautama ) was a a Hindu prince. Therefore he already knew of the creator and did not oppose the idea of Brahma.
Wow! This is well presented. Not too in depth but giving enough details. Thank you.
This is so good thank you, absolutely love this channel.
Awesome video. Nice to see the profound side of Christianity
For practicing hesychasm, it is essential to have an orthodox priest/Monk as a spiritual father. And be baptised Orthodox Christian, of course.
📚Must reads: Saint Joseph the Hesychast and his disciples, Elder Sophrony Sakharov, Elder Silouan, Elder Paisios of Mount Athos and Elder Porphyrios and many more...
Amazing saints. Also remember a monk is not the same as a married person or lay person. Don’t expect your married priest who works too be like a monk who lives a very different lifestyle. You can be a lay person and practice aescetic disciplines but talk to your spiritual father and he will guide you by the Holy Spirit.
Exactly - you must be Orthodox to practice Hesychasm.
As a Greek Orthodox, I think this was a very nice presentation
Very educational and informative on theological issues...🙏
I want to thank you so much for being so polite and respectful with the way you explain religions.
Very good again Filip! Although I'm more familiar with Catholic mysticism the Eastern Orthodox tradition is very deep and their emphasis on negative theology is always profound, even I - as a non-Christian - was very moved by St. John Climacus' "The Ladder of Divine Ascent". The "Essence-Energies" distinction seems to me very similair to Meister Eckhart's "Godhead-God" distinction. All things considered Hesychasm seems almost a form of Christian Jāpa meditation, although we must be careful with broad comparisons, there are certainly parallels!
Video was incredible helpful, thank you dearly ❤
very informative, i had never heard of this before. thank you!
I have personally experienced this using the Jesus prayer. There are no words to describe what happened but I tried to with two priests more to validate it but realized I didn’t need to. This prayer and it’s proper practice is miraculous. I am not in the clergy but was raised in the Eastern Orthodox religion. Thank you for sharing.
Can you explain what the Jesus prayer is exactly?
@@dedezee11 It’s a prayer that has been used by Christian monks that is almost 2000 years old. If you repeat it over and over ( I used to say it about 100 times for many days), miracles will happen. It’s not like they might happen. They will. But any version of the prayer will work. “Lord Jesus Christ, son of God, have mercy on me, a sinner.” Or “Lord Jesus Christ, have mercy on me.” Or “Have mercy on me”. I have personally experienced profound miracles that I cannot attribute to anything else. The priests I spoke with about them validated them and gave great reverence to the prayer.
@ManifestReality thanks. So you say this phrase outloud 100 times a day? Does it need to be said outloud? Miracles WILL happen is a big promise! Curious to know what kind of miracles you've experienced?
@@dedezee11 I said it in my head while meditating. I also used prayer beads to help count. There’s no harm saying it aloud. I had no way to heal at one point in my life. After praying many days, I saw a miraculous vision. When I came out of it, I was healed.
@@JRIVOT1222 physically healed?? That's what I need.
This is the first time I've heard of Hesychasm, and I'm so glad to have learned it. Now I see why the modern denominations of western Christianity seem to be peopled by nutbags (not to say every single one is, but as with all groups the few tend to shout louder than the masse). I've never understood them, and after seeing this and learning at least the educational basics, they don't know what they're doing because they're missing a vital piece of their faith. I've always been fascinated by mysticism traditions, and I'm definitely going to be losing myself down this rabbit hole lol. Sorry if any part of my comment offended anyone; I just never thought to actually stumble across a still-living tradition of precisely why western Christianity makes no sense in the way it's practiced and taught.
Only those weird large churches of the US.
Western old Christians from Europe have great philosophy.
I have always been told and matches with bible, that having a relationship with God is a personal thing, as someone who was changed for good, by a very spiritual experience 40 yrs ago. Man, however long words he uses can never ever over ride that personal time when God, Jesus, pierced my heart. Love ❤️
What Must I Do To Be Saved? m.ua-cam.com/video/DmiH89xWZ0Q/v-deo.html
The mystical aspect is overblown. Eastern Orthodoxy still hugely emphasises repentance and abstaining from sin, and oppose everything the West loves. It's not something like Buddhism where people take what they want from it and go on their way. Orthodox Christians are huge on staying faithful to God/Jesus.
So you judge a whole society. You are not god. Go pray more.
So beautifully explicated - thank you! I am Roman Catholic and will remain so I pray…having had mystical experience and having read the desert fathers and mothers, this makes so much sense and has also helped me understand orthodox tradition better.
This tradition is big in traditional Catholicism, but now set aside in favour of rationalism, moralism, and social engineering
orthodox LOVE to say the papacy is a medieval invention.. until you cite dozens of pre schism fathers, theologians, saints, and monks that taught roman authority and cited Matthew 16. God built the Catholic Church! I will pray for you
@christophersalinas2722 90% of the time it's just out of context or anachronistic quotes.
I've watched this particular video more than once because it was so good, in truth I'd watch it again and again because it contains so much information.
Hesychasm seeks to achieve the stillness that knows God
This really much reminds me of Buddhism in a way. Like Pure Land or Zen/Chan Buddhism. Same goals very much.
bRAgadino
Yes, yes and YES. The STILLNESS is the key. This IS bestowed upon one by the Grace of God and is a rare and precious spiritual state to experience. 'Stillness' is more, much, more than simply having a quiet (thinking) mind and feeling (emotions). Stillness is oh, so problematic to define intellectually yet, the 'intellect' is the major tool us humans use to TRY to understand that which cannot be understood by the thinking mind. The state of 'STILLNESS' is a spiritual gift bestowed by God. Wishing to experience this state does not guarantee we will or that state will be given and/or granted. STILLNESS is an experience.
@@Ptah-Tatenen It gets even more complicated in traditions that revere Mahavairocana Buddha
Dr Manhattan from "Watchmen" is an ideal hesychast?
I grew up Catholic. I might go to Midnight Mass on Christmas. However I have still great reverence for Saint John of the Cross and his writings of The Dark Night of the Soul, The Living Flame of Love, etc.
By the way a new subscriber, and thank you.
Hello! I know it’s been a year since this was posted but it’s the first I’ve seen it. I practice my love of the Trinity and way to salvation through the Roman Catholic Church and have since birth. I love our traditions and the Church fathers and their teachings. I would be remiss if I didn’t also learn about and study the Greek Orthodox theology as well and get to know our brothers and sisters in Christ who practice it. This video was awesome at explaining a fundamental pillar of the Orthodox practice…and it led me to research much more so that I can understand its premise. Thank you so much. Such a well done video and to the point! Glad that I found your channel. May the God of the Universe, the one who created us in His image, bless you and keep you all the days of your life.
Brilliant explanation. Very informative and inspiring.
Great video today keep it up your doing amazing job
There are many Christians who believe that Jesus pbuh was only a human
Great video. Good introduction in such a short space.
An interesting point is that the difference in emphasis on certain Church Fathers and certain theological points is very much related to which language they wrote in. During the first 5 centuries (and perhaps later) the vast majority of Christian literature, including the New Testament, was written in Greek. St. Augustine took such a central role in the West because he was the first person to write significantly Latin. It was at this same time that St. Jerome created the first good Latin translation of the Bible (c.A.D. 400).
Also, many of the earliest writings on Hesychasm were also in Greek, which could be a reason it didn't get transmitted as strongly (though it was transmitted) to the Latin West.
It is also worth noting that the two halves were very connected in some ways in spite of the language barrier. Many of the Pope's came from the East up until Rome declared political independence from the Byzantines and the Papal States were formed in the 750s.
What a breath of fresh air. What a fact filled video. Fantastic. I will watch more.
Love the ancient art in your videos .
I just discovered your channel and am really enjoying it. Thank you for the work you're sharing. Someone suggested below... and I SECOND it... if you want to do longer videos, I'll hang with you all the way through to the end. I'm wondering, who else would like a deeper dive into the subjects you address?
Great summary.Can you consider more episodes on Orthodoxy
G-d bless you! Thank you for your work over this one!
I really appreciate this video. Thank you for sharing.
"Oh Lord let me experience that I Am not separate from thee as I now feel I am separate ( sin- separate from )".
this is a very rare example of a video about Orthodoxy, from a non-Orthodox, that is actually accurate and very well put together, really nice.
i will only add that the book "The Way of a Pilgrim" deserves a mention, specially in philoslavic churches it has gained the status of essencial introductory book to hesychastic practice and the Philokalia.
Yessss. The Way of a Pilgrim. Awesome book. Eye opener
Thank you for an excellent summary. Blessings 🙏
Excellent information, thank you!
Great video as usual. So fascinating
I just realized what I'm doing on a Sunday morning, I thought I was done with church
lol that's why I do this every morning. I start my day by contemplating diverse religious ideas presented in content like this. It helps refine my character and behavior in a way that church always tried to and failed because it was only once a week and, in truth, rather stagnant due to the profound lack of spiritual inertia that Fundamentalism inevitably brings about.
Daniel, church is different than spiritually. Each has it's place and function in our individual as well as collective lives. Look to the spiritual; it's much more rewarding than a bunch of 'rules'. Blessings to you, Danella
@@andythedishwasher1117 what UA-cam channels do you suggest?
@@mirabletest I think Philip would agree Esoterica is excellent. I also frequent Angela's Symposium and Religion For Breakfast. Together, they seem to be doing an excellent job of contextualizing the history of religion and mysticism in light of the current archaeology and pertinent philosophical models.
@@mirabletest I'm sure there are plenty of others I've left out. I hear good things about The Modern Hermeticist, but I have yet to dive deep over there. I'm trying to break out of my Hermetic bubble these days.
I know the remark about the length of the introduction was a joke but I genuinely am grateful for all the context; I don’t know if I can speak for everybody, but I find the best way that I personally learn best is from a chronological perspective
Understandingg where root concepts come from and develop over time gives a much clearer understanding than just jumping right into a general description of the topic, and it does the explanation a great service to put in that extra work at the beginning so thank you
So awesome! I wish could join you in a presentation. I love Church/Religious history. They were my favorite classes in seminary.
Anyone else often just click to see how the topic he's covering is pronounced?
heh yep
You got me
Yes but then I stay to hear what he has to say
@@ruthanneperry1623 Oh absolutely.
No.
The more I hear about the orthodox church the more I like it. western christianity and American protestant society is very lacking in lots of aspects
orthodox LOVE to say the papacy is a medieval invention.. until you cite dozens of pre schism fathers, theologians, saints, and monks that taught roman authority and cited Matthew 16.
Fantastic video keep it up your doing amazing job
Excellent. Throws much light on the subject.