On Spiritual Learning

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Home / Library / Spiritual=20 Life and Christian Practices / On Spiritual Learning=20

On Spiritual Learning=20

By I.M. Kontzevitch=20

At the basis of every construction one must lay the = correct=20 foundation. The high quality and durability of what has been = created=20 depends on this.=20

This is true whether it be the construction of a house in = the=20 material world, or an acquisition in the sphere of = intellectual=20 knowledge, or inward activity in the spiritual life. In a = word, in=20 everything where creation takes place, everything depends on = the=20 base, the foundation on which it is built. A house may be = built on=20 rock or on sand; in the latter case its fall will be great, = as we=20 are told in the Gospel (cf. Matt. 7:27).=20

Our intention is to study the works of the Holy Fathers = and, in=20 the most recent epoch, the letters of Elder Macarius, = organically=20 linked with the Patristic works.=20

What must we place at the foundation of our study?=20

First of all, we must provide ourselves with a clear = realization=20 of what the writings of the Holy Fathers are. Besides being=20 canonical and liturgical treasures, they encompass the = grace-filled=20 psychological experience of many centuries of Orthodox = ascetics.=20 Over the centuries the Easter ascetics, with the aid of the = grace of=20 the Holy Spirit, perfected their knowledge concerning the = soul of=20 man, the laws governing the life of the soul, and the path = of her=20 spiritual ascent. Their writings analyze and point out the = correct=20 and only path to the lofty perfection of holiness and the = visiton of=20 God, for all times and for all peoples.=20

Their works show a wondrous oneness of mind, and = everyhting=20 organically flows from one thing to another. The Holy = Fathers, in=20 the grace of the Holy Spirit, spoke only the truth, and = tehrefore=20 their authority for us must be absolute.=20

Now let us investigate with what attitude we must = approach the=20 present task.=20

The Lord says: Blessed are those who hunger and thirst = after=20 righteousness, for they shall be filled (Matt 5:6). Here = the law=20 of knowledge of higher spiritual truths is made known to us: = the=20 goal of knowledge must be truth and for truth's sake, for = the sake=20 of God's righteousness contained in it. Knowledge must come = out of a=20 desire for truth and out of love for it. Then and only then = will it=20 be revealed to us.=20

But there can also be another approach, when truth = becomes no=20 longer a goal in and of itself but a means of achieving = other goals.=20

In this case there can be many various motives: an honest = yearning to achieve success in life; or else simple = vainglory - to=20 make a brilliant display of the wealth of one's knowledge; = or=20 perhaps even plain curiosity - to get a greater smattering = of all=20 kinds of information. There can be yet other motivations.=20

In all these cases knowledge remains superficial, = external - it=20 does not penetrate to the depth of the soul and, like the = seed in=20 the Gospel parable (cf. Matt. 13: 20-21) that fell into = stony=20 ground, it does not bear fruit and can cause only harm. True = knowledge of God's righteousness - of the Gospel = commandments -=20 unfailingly draws one to the fulfillment of the Gospel = commandments,=20 but mere theoretical knowledge puffs up a man (St. = Mark the=20 Ascetic).=20

No matter what his station in life, such a superficial=20 understanding of truth cannot save a man, be he an educated=20 theologican, a rector of a theological academy, a asenior = hierarch=20 of the Church, an ascetic in a monastery, and so forth - not = to=20 mention those who live an entirely worldly life.=20

Taking this into consideration, we do not marvel at the = fact that=20 theologicans and hierarchs have fallen into heresy and = initiated=20 schisms and disturbances in the Church, and that renowned = ascetics=20 have fallen into delusion and perished.=20

All of this occurs because "t he builders have rejected = the stone=20 which must be at the head of the corner" (cf. Ps. 117:22). = This Rock=20 is Christ and His commandments! Neglect of the commandments = of God=20 leads to an increase of passionateness; and every passion, = like=20 smoke, obscures our mental gaze, so that it can no longer = see the=20 truth.=20

The most striking example of this is given to us in the = Gospel in=20 the person of Judas the betrayer: even his exclusive = proximity to=20 the Savior, his apostolic calling, did not save him from = perdition.=20 Judas like the other apostles was given authority to work = miracles,=20 to cast out demons; he was an eyewitness of numberless = miracles and=20 the miraculous deeds of the Lord Himself. As an apostle, = Judas knew=20 the mystical meaning of the parables and teaching of Christ, = to him=20 the Mysteries of God had been revealed. And, in spite of all = this,=20 the passion of avarice remained untreated. But that is not = all, it=20 grew to such horrendous proportions that it even moved Judas = to=20 betray his Teacher.=20

St. Vladimir's Russian = Orthodox=20 Cathedral
6824 128 Ave. NW Edmonton, Alberta, Canada.=20
Phone: (780) 476-2381

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