Monakhos

I decided this afternoon that I would start the new year out right. Daily meditation and the study of sacred texts are two things that need to play a more prominent role in my life. I started the habit off with a selection from The Philokalia—a collection of writings by mystical Orthodox priests and monks compiled by St Nikodimos and St Makarios. I plan to continue reading through the entire work, posting about various selections I have read (probably with some breaks in between – the entire work is split into four volumes!)

The first section of The Philokalia is a collection of excerpts from a writing by St Isaiah, who lived in the deserts of Egypt and Palestine around the 5^th century, on guarding the intellect. The mind is a battlefield and unless if one is mindful and keeps it guarded, an individual cannot have communion with God.

Unless a man hates all the activity of this world, he cannot worship God. (v13)

The first virtue is detachment, that is, death in relation to every person or thing. This produces the desire for God, and this in turn gives rise to the anger that is in accordance with nature, and that flares up against all the tricks of the enemy. Then the fear of God will establish itself within us, and through this fear love will be made manifest. (v25)

We have practiced virtue and done what is right, turning our desire towards God and His will, and directing our incensive power, or wrath, against the devil and sin. What then do we still lack? Inward meditation. (v26)

This whole reading reminded me of the Dhammapada and other Buddhist scriptures. The mind is constantly being attacked by evil and the flesh is a distraction from unity with God. Only once we understand that we are not our minds (thoughts) and achieve detachment from our bodies can we really fix anything. Once we do realize this detachment; however, a whole new world is uncovered. We manifest an “anger in accordance with nature” (to put it the way St Isaiah put it) against evil. We are able to truly love. We are one with God (theosis.)

Julie wrote a little on my previous post introducing choice in a post entitled “Why Should I Care?” I think (if I took her post the right way) that she did bring up a good point. You can get so lost in all these ideas that sometimes it is best to simply step back and be. Don’t worry about whether or not you can actual make a choice, just live.

I really think that is the answer to the questions too. Somehow we make decisions and somehow we don’t make decisions at all. Predestination/karmic influences/dependent arising happen somewhere and yet we still control our own destinies. It is fatalistic and yet it isn’t. If that doesn’t make your head spin, what will?

So sorry to those of you who were expecting me to know the answer. Then again, I’m not sorry. I know the answer. The answer is: yes.

Some of you may remember a few posts I had a few months back on existence, the universe and so on (here are the links if you missed them: Part I, Part II, Part II-2, and Part III.) I forget exactly why this one was never published (other than it obviously being incomplete.) There aren’t any answers, just questions. I thought I would post the questions today and maybe follow up with some answers (or ideas about answers rather) later this week.

It may seem that with all the interdependent arising going on with all the karmic influences everywhere there is not really any room for an individual to make his or her own choices. How does the whole ‘free will’ business play into this projection of the universe? Can we really make a decision, or is everything predetermined?

… To be continued

The Christian Science Monitor has an article on the rise of Buddhism in America. It both describes why Buddhism is appeals to Americans and its state in America.

“People feel that Buddhist figures like the Dalai Lama and Thich Nhat Hanh of Vietnam are contributing something, not trying to convert people,” … “They are not building big temples, but offering wisdom and ways of reconciliation and peacemaking, which are so much needed.”

Sitting—
Shaking off body and mind—
I am.