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WEB 4 - ARCHIVE
Commentary 17 - Page 2 |
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St. Theophan’s description of the experience of Magnetic Centre Saint Theophan the Recluse, compiler and editor of the final Russian Philokalia, describes all this very differently. "The aim is to strive towards God; but at first this is done only in intention. It must be made into our actual way of] life - a natural gravitation that is sweet, voluntary and permanent. This is the kind of attitude that shows us when we are on the right track; that God accepts us and that we are moving towards Him. When iron clings to a magnet it is because the power of the magnet draws it. In spiritual matters the same thing is true; it is only clear that God is touching us when we experience this living aspiration; when our spirit turns its back on everything else and is fixed on Him and carried away. "At first this will not happen; the zealous person is still turned wholly to himself. Even though he has `decided' for God this is only in his mind. The Lord does not yet let Himself be tasted, nor is the man yet capable of it, being impure. All he can do is to serve God without tasting Him, so to speak. Then as his heart begins to be purified and set right, he begins to feel the sweetness of a life pleasing to God, so that he begins to walk in His ways gladly and with love. It becomes his natural element, in which he delights. Then the soul starts to withdraw from everything else as from the cold, and to gravitate towards God, Who warms it. "This principle of gravitation is implanted in the fervent soul by divine grace. By its inspiration and guidance the attraction grows in natural progression, inwardly nourished even without the knowledge of the person concerned. The sign of this birth is that where the spirit in someone previously acted compulsively, it now begins to abide in God's presence willingly and quietly without strain, with feelings of reverence, fear and joy. Once the spirit was cramped within him, but now it is settled and stays there permanently. Now it is bliss for him to be alone with God, away from others and oblivious of external things. He acquires the kingdom of God within himself, which is peace and joy in the Holy Spirit. This immersion in God is called `silence of the mind' or `rapture in God'. "It may be very fleeting at first, but the ultimate aim is that in time it should become permanent."
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