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Whoever Loves Himself Cannot Love God: St. Diadochos of Photiki on Love and Spiritual Knowledge
What the video says
The foundation of spiritual life is love, which unites the soul with God's virtues. Man is not naturally good but can become good through participation in God, using freedom to turn the will toward the good. Wisdom and spiritual knowledge strengthen the desire for good and help distinguish good from evil, which has no existence of its own but arises from human desires.
Fervent love for God makes the remembrance of His glory life's deepest purpose, causing one to count personal glory as nothing and abandon worldly pleasures. Such love produces good works, makes one known by God, and leads to deeper communion. Faith is joined to love and works, but one must avoid arrogant speculation about divine mysteries, which darkens the mind.
After Adam's sin, human interests divided between heaven and world, and perception split between understanding and senses. The soul that withdraws to prayer sees God more clearly, while worldly attachment clouds vision. The Holy Spirit purifies the nous, but demons offer false consolation during sleep that leaves doubt, unlike true consolation which comes awake and brings serenity and sweet love for God.
Obedience leads to love of God, but self-control of body and soul is the supreme virtue for perfection. Food should be taken in proper measure for the body's needs, avoiding excessive pleasure; fasting must be joined to humility and love. Wine in moderation helps the spiritual seed, but other alcohol should be avoided.
Baths and medicines are permitted if hope remains in the Lord. Life is fleeting, so one must become indifferent to worldly attractions to resist evil.
Signs of distancing from the world include forgiving wrongs, avoiding disputes and courts, distributing possessions, and embracing poverty, which frees the soul for dispassion, love, and joy. Progress comes through theology, understanding God that moves the heart to love His beauty, and spiritual knowledge of right conduct. Prayer of the heart is superior to spoken prayer and brings a warmth from the Holy Spirit.
Two powers act on the soul, spiritual and demonic, and man chooses which to follow because the fall divided the will. The Incarnation entered wounded human nature, opening the way for rebirth though the will's duality remains. Grace dwells in the soul from baptism while demons act from outside; their ongoing struggle can become a means of perfection like martyrdom.
True dispassion means not being overcome by attacks, which continue even at advanced stages. Those who persevere taste God's sweetness and, by grace overcoming evil, are numbered among the saints.
Key moments
- Foundation of spiritual life is love; man becomes good through participation in God by using freedom rightly.
- Wisdom and spiritual knowledge strengthen desire for good; evil has no existence but comes from human heart; fervent love for God makes His glory life's purpose.
- Love bears fruits: good works, known by God, becomes His friend; follows holy fear and leads to deeper communion; faith joined to love but avoid arrogant speculation.
- After Adam's sin interests divided; must labor to distinguish spiritual truth from evil spirits; withdrawal to prayer clears vision; Holy Spirit purifies nous; false vs true consolation distinguished.
- Obedience leads to love; self-control of body and soul is supreme virtue; food in measure, fasting with humility; wine in moderation, other alcohol avoided; baths and medicines permitted with hope in Lord.
- Life fleeting; become indifferent to world; demon of despondency driven away by remembrance of God and Jesus' name; signs of distancing: forgive wrongs, avoid disputes, distribute possessions, embrace poverty.
- Progress through theology (understanding God moving heart to love) and spiritual knowledge (right conduct); prayer of heart superior to spoken prayer; warmth from Holy Spirit.
- Two powers act on soul; fall divided will; Incarnation entered wounded nature; grace from baptism dwells in soul while demons act from outside; struggle purifies like martyrdom; true dispassion means not overcome by attacks; perseverance leads to sainthood.
The post presents a reading from St. Diadochos of Photiki's 'One Hundred Chapters on Spiritual Knowledge,' set to acoustic sound. The teaching centers on love as the foundation of the spiritual life. Man is not naturally good but becomes good through participation in God, using freedom to turn the will toward the good.
Wisdom and spiritual knowledge strengthen the desire for good and distinguish good from evil, which has no existence of its own but arises from human desires.
Fervent love for God makes the remembrance of His glory life's deepest purpose, so that one counts personal glory as nothing and abandons worldly pleasures. This love produces good works, makes one known by God, and leads to deeper communion. Faith is joined to love and works, but the saint warns against arrogant speculation about divine mysteries, which darkens the mind.
After Adam's sin, human interests divided between heaven and the world, and perception split between understanding and the senses. The soul that withdraws to prayer sees God more clearly, while worldly attachment clouds vision. The Holy Spirit purifies the nous, but demons offer false consolation during sleep that leaves doubt; true consolation comes awake and brings serenity and sweet love for God.
Obedience leads to love of God, and self-control of body and soul is the supreme virtue for perfection. Food should be taken in measure, fasting joined to humility and love, wine in moderation, other alcohol avoided. Baths and medicines are permitted if hope remains in the Lord.
Signs of distancing from the world include forgiving wrongs, avoiding disputes and courts, distributing possessions, and embracing poverty, which frees the soul for dispassion, love, and joy. Prayer of the heart is superior to spoken prayer and brings warmth from the Holy Spirit. Grace dwells in the soul from baptism while demons act from outside; their struggle can become a means of perfection like martyrdom. Those who persevere taste God's sweetness and are numbered among the saints.
Main points
- Love is the foundation of spiritual life; man becomes good through participation in God by using freedom rightly.
- Evil has no existence of its own but arises from human desires; fervent love for God makes His glory life's purpose.
- After Adam's sin the will divided; the Holy Spirit purifies the nous, while demons offer false consolation during sleep that leaves doubt.
- Self-control of body and soul is the supreme virtue; fasting must be joined to humility and love, and baths and medicines are permitted with hope in the Lord.
- Grace dwells in the soul from baptism while demons act from outside; perseverance in the struggle leads to tasting God's sweetness and sainthood.