Nicodemos of the Holy Mountain

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Nicodemos of the Holy Mountain
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True Wisdom

• This is a nonverbal wisdom, akin to what in Zen
  is called direct seeing, beyond words and ideas.

3
Perspective

• It seems so important today to not only be a
  specialist, but to also have that wide context
  and deep view that allows us to see things in
  their proper perspective.

4
Mount Athos

• There is nothing like Athos in the West, and the
  only comparison I can think of is some of the
  great monastic communities in Tibet.

5
The Philokalia

• The word Philokalia derives from the two Greek
  words philos and kalos, and means the love and
  attraction toward the spiritually beautiful and
  the virtuous.

6
The Jesus Prayer

• This mental prayer, recited while controlling the
  breath, is composed of the words Lord Jesus
  Christ, Son of God, have mercy upon me.

7
On Saint Symeon

• Nicodemos makes the point that as the love
  became warmer in Symeons heart, his theology
  increased, and as his theology increased, his
  love also increased.

8
On Repentance

• Inner sorrow and pain of the heart are
  substantial and necessary components of the
  sacrament of confession and repentance.

9
Human Macrocosm

• Only humans bridge the physical and spiritual
  worlds and that is what makes us a macrocosm.

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The Need For Practice

• Nicodemos is saying that if you want the full
  Orthodox understanding then you must be as
  serious about your practice as other people are
  serious about their specialties.