THE PHILOKALIA, VOLUME 2
various authors, compiled by St. Nikodimos of the Holy Mountain
A collection of texts written between the fourth and the fifteenth centuries by spiritual masters of the Orthodox Christian tradition.
|
|
1 |
"God is…a unity embracing a diversity of principles, each of which is an aspect of the Logos. Thus he who speaks about the truth…speaks always about the one." St. Maximos the Confessor, 'Second Century on Theology'
|
|
2 |
"God Himself is the way, the door, the key and the kingdom….He enters by participation into all things." St. Maximos the Confessor, 'Second Century on Theology'
|
|
3 |
"Truth admits of no plurality, and reveals itself as single and unique." St. Maximos the Confessor, 'Third Century of Various Texts'
|
|
4 |
"The will of the Maker, in His goodness, wills beings always to exist and always to receive His blessings." St. Maximos the Confessor, 'Third Century on Love'
|
|
5 |
"God by nature is always one and alone, substantively and absolutely, containing in Himself all-inclusively the totality of substantive being." St. Maximos the Confessor, 'First Century on Theology'
|
|
6 |
"Heart (kardia): not simply the physical organ but the spiritual centre of man's being, man as made in the image of God, his deepest and truest self, or the inner shrine…in which the mystery of the union between the divine and the human is consummated."
|
|
7 |
"Concerning love the beloved disciple said, 'God is love, and he who dwells in love dwells in God, and God in him' (1 John 4:16)." St. Theodoros the Great Ascetic, 'A Century of Spiritual Texts'
|
|
8 |
"The Holy Spirit is present unconditionally in all things, in that He embraces all things, provides for all, and vivifies the natural seeds within them." St. Maximos the Confessor, 'First Century of Various Texts'
|
|
9 |
"The person who listens to Christ fills himself with light; and if he imitates Christ, he reclaims himself." St. Thalassios the Libyan, 'Third Century'
|
|
10 |
"God, who gave being to all that is, at the same time unites all things together in His providence." St. Thalassios the Libyan, 'First Century'
|
|
11 |
"God, who is by nature good…loves all men equally as His handiwork." St. Maximos the Confesor, 'First Century on Love'
|
|
12 |
"It is God's will that moves all things, brings all things into existence, sustains them." St. Maximos the Confessor, 'Fifth Century of Various Texts'
|
|
13 |
"St. John says: 'My children, let us love not in word or tongue, but in action and truth. And by this we know that we belong to the truth.' (1 John 3:18-19)" St. Theodoros the Great Ascetic, 'A Century of Spiritual Texts'
|
|
14 |
"It is God who gives prayer to him who prays and who teaches man spiritual knowledge." St. Theodoros, the Great Ascetic, 'A Century of Spiritual Texts'
|
|
15 |
"We should care for ourselves and each other in the way that Christ Himself…has already shown us in His own person." St. Maximos the Confessor, 'First Century of Various Texts'
|
|
16 |
"Every man possesses that which is according to the image of God, 'for the gifts of God are irrevocable' (cf. Romans 11:29)." St. John of Damaskos, 'On the Virtues and the Vices'
|
|
17 |
"Love unites those who have been divided and is able to create a single identity of will and purpose, free from faction, among many or among all; for the property of love is to produce a single will and purpose in those who seek what pertains to it." St. Maximos the Confessor, 'First Century of Various Texts'
|
|
18 |
"Love restores the soul to health." 'A Discourse on Abba Philimon'
|
|
19 |
"Intellect (nous): the highest faculty in man, through which – provided he is purified – he knows God or the inner essences or principles of created things by means of direct apprehension or spiritual perception….it understands divine truth by means of immediate experience, intuition, or simple cognition. The intellect dwells in the depths of the soul; it constitutes the innermost aspect of the heart."
|
|
20 |
"Our spiritual lamp is lit by pure prayer and perfect love." St. Theodoros the Great Ascetic, 'A Century of Spiritual Texts'
|
|
21 |
"The way of truth is love." St. Maximos the Confessor, 'First Century of Various Texts'
|
|
22 |
"All beauty, miracle, magnificence reflects what is supremely beautiful, miraculous and magnificent – reflects, rather, the Source that is above beauty, miracle and magnificence." St. Theodoros the Great Ascetic, 'Theoretikon'
|
|
23 |
"As the unitary cosmic principle, the Logos contains in Himself the multiple logoi (inner principles or inner essences, thoughts of God) in accordance with which all things come into existence at the times and places, and in the forms, appointed for them, each single thing thereby containing in itself the principle of its own development."
|
|
24 |
"There is one Divinity:…without parts, indivisible." St. Maximos the Confessor, 'Second Century on Theology'
|
|
25 |
"The disposition which makes us capable of receiving divine blessings depends on ourselves." St. Maximos the Confessor, 'Third Century of Various Texts'
|
|
|
Randomize this reference |
New random category
Add a comment
Reference and bibliography |
All quotes, by category
We are gathering together the primary insights of spirituality and bringing them together into one place.
This archive contains 11,754 quotes, taken from 635 references,
organized in terms of 39 primary categories. Quotes are randomized and appear in a different way at every click.
Explore the navigation options to review these insights.
We include
- All major spiritual and religious traditions, from all cultures, and all historical epochs
- Major psychologists, philosophers, writers, scholars and leading religious personalities
- Sources in classical religion as well as voices from new consciousness, esotericism and mysticism
- Choices are guided by the spirit of oneness, love, kindness, inclusion and community
|
|
|