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NOUS: “VIGILANT GATE-KEEPER.” (Part II)

As attentive and vigilant as the nous may be, without divine strength and the invocation of the name of the Lord Jesus, “the rotating sword,” it is unable to be guarded from harmful thoughts. The vigilance, therefore, or the watchfulness or attentiveness of the nous is accompanied by prayer. On its own, the nous does not have the power for pure prayer unless it uses the salt of watchfulness that drives away impure and wicked

NOUS: “VIGILANT GATE-KEEPER.” (Part I)

Two pilgrims asked an ascetic hagiorite:1 – To what extent are we responsible for the thoughts that attack our nous? The Elder replied with a beautiful allegory: – Aeroplanes pass above, here where I live. I cannot hinder the aeroplanes. I’m not responsible for that. I would be responsible if I began to build an airport. The acceptance of the attacks, which is consent, can be compared to the airport. In the first volume of