The goal of a Hesychast

"So, the goal is to gain love and achieve a state of watchfulness.  Love, because God is love, and watchfulness, so that we are spiritually proactive and not ruled by the passions.  We are called to enter into the Church's therapeutic process, and in fact to take an active role in healing ourselves.  In the Christian life, in the hospital of the Church, we begin to experience eternal life; we do not simply expect the life to come, we enter into it now.  The Kingdom of God is communion with God, and it begins here and now.  The depth of our participation in it is a function of our spiritual healing.  The process has three stages: purification, illumination and communion (or theosis).  Purification is centered in repentance, a disregard of physical things, discipline of the flesh through fasting and prayer, avoidance of those things which excite the passions, remorse for past events and shedding of tears, and purification of the nous.  It is the classic definition of the ascetic life.  It is not a way of life or a life style that requires isolation in a monastery.  On the contrary, most believers in the early centuries were working class people as they are now, and this is an undertaking prescribed by all.

Illumination is the stage following purification, and is characterized by true spiritual knowledge, theoria or vision of God and participation in the Holy Spirit.  The person has overcome the control of the passions and is entering into unceasing prayer and communion with God.  Spiritual communion, or theosis, is the final spiritual stage, characterized by deep and abiding communion with God, approaching the uncreated Light, and the revelation of the depths of God through the Spirit."

Note: The above is the best consise definition/description of the goal/path of a Hesychast.

illusions.....

"The illusion which exalts us is dearer to us then ten-thousand truths."

- Alexander Puskin

May we seek truth, rather than illusions.

Peace - Hesychast

Sometimes I cruise Xanga

Sometimes I get the urge to cruise the xanga.  Sometimes I will click my comments and click boxes of those who responded afterwards.  Sometimes I will do a search on different topics.  For example, after my "I Dream of Jeannie" post yesterday, I did a xanga and was "very" surprised on the amount of posts in regards to it and the number of people who watch it.  Sometimes I will remember a person who responded to my xanga, left comments, wonder how they are doing and check out their site.  I have also corresponded with some "xangaites" via email.  I appreciate the diversity that we have out there.  Some of the stuff I read/see on xanga in some ways surprises me.  It is also interesting to view those who are considered the "most popular".  What do they do in order to get that "acclaimed" spot?  My previous marketing consultant background doesn't help matters, as it intrigues me.  I also should mention, that I have learned some things from reading certain xanga sites.  They help me to look deeper into myself and continue to strive to be "reality-based" and not reside in the world of lemmings.  You get the drift.

Everyone have a great weekend!!

I Dream of Jeannie and making one wish

When I was a kid, I used to watch the T.V. Show, I Dream of Jeannie.

Link: http://www.idreamofjeannie.com/

It's about a captain who finds a Genie (Jeannie) in a bottle, lets her out and she becomes his Genie.

My question to my readers is this.......

Let's assume you too are walking along a beach and you come across a bottle and a Genie pops out, but grants you only one wish.....what would that wish be?

If I Was Not a........I would

Have you ever posed this type of question to yourself?  What was/were the answers?

If I was not a ......then I would......?

In Religion:

If I was not an Eastern Orthodox Christian (advocate of Hesychasm) Link: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hesychasm

then I would be either a Sufi, Link: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sufism

or I would be a Hasidic Jew. Link: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hasidic_Judaism

If I was not a wealth management strategist, and was still married, I would be either a realtor, or a counselor, maybe even go back to being a marketing consultant.

If I was not a wealth management strategist, and was not married, I would either be a monk, or a guy who would be more of a thrill seeker and would take more risks in life due to having no family responsibilities.  It's a good thing I am married! :)

If I was not living where I currently do, I would live either in Florida, or the Caribbean Islands.

How about you? 

Edit Note: You don't have to use my examples, you can say whatever you want. ;)