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'Be still' and know that I am God
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~Anastasia~
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I didn't see anything wrong in glancing over the link, but "GotQuestions" is not an Orthodox site. Since you're asking in TAW, I'm guessing you want a fuller answer.
The Fathers teach much about stilling the MIND and having watchfulness over thoughts - a guard in fact to prevent the barrage of thoughts that can arise from within or without. I suspect Orthodoxy would focus more not only on stilling outward activity and trusting God (nothing wrong with that) ... but also on the richness that comes from stilling the mind and being quiet in and aware of God's presence.
I will say though that this isn't without danger, since it involves going into deeper spiritual waters. Normally we would be sure to have oversight before pursuing too much.
The Fathers teach much about stilling the MIND and having watchfulness over thoughts - a guard in fact to prevent the barrage of thoughts that can arise from within or without. I suspect Orthodoxy would focus more not only on stilling outward activity and trusting God (nothing wrong with that) ... but also on the richness that comes from stilling the mind and being quiet in and aware of God's presence.
I will say though that this isn't without danger, since it involves going into deeper spiritual waters. Normally we would be sure to have oversight before pursuing too much.
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Not David
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LMAO, I remember I used to read GotQuestions a lot but I cannot take them seriously anymore with statements like this for the Orthodox Church:
"While the Eastern Orthodox Church has claimed some of the church's great voices, and while there are many in the Orthodox tradition that have a genuine salvation relationship with Jesus Christ, the Orthodox church itself does not speak with a clear message that can be harmonized with the biblical gospel of Christ. The call of the Reformers for “Scripture alone, faith alone, grace alone, and Christ alone” is missing in the Eastern Orthodox Church, and that is too precious a treasure to do without."
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HTacianas
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The closest analogy you will likely find is meditation. The psalms are filled with examples of being "still" and contemplating God. The hesychasts of Orthodoxy spend hours in quiet contemplation of God to reach Him and experience Him. You hear it referred to as "the contemplative life", the life of quietness and stillness.
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This is a great explanation and aligns with my own (which I frequently fail to achieve). Stillness and dispassion are not easy to gain and live.
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JohnTh
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Stillness mentioned here isn't to stay put in an (arm)chair, even if one can say that implies (somewhat) this thing.
Stillness it is a complex of actions(!), involving the behavior of body which have as aim to make the evil inoperative - because evil is existential distortion - hence is a force which attracts us away from God.
Of course, the most important action in stillness is pure prayer and the control of the aspects of the soul that is "guarding the heart".
Perhaps here we should mention that there are some types of pleasures which cannot be fought - only avoided. That's why this very active state of vigilance appears externally as "doing nothing" and it is named as such.
Only in this way, one can really know God and thus became God-like.
PS:
We humbly and lovingly recommend the one which posted this, to read St. Gregory Palamas - "In Defence of Those who Devoutly Practise a Life of Stillness" from Philokalia, vol. 4
Stillness it is a complex of actions(!), involving the behavior of body which have as aim to make the evil inoperative - because evil is existential distortion - hence is a force which attracts us away from God.
Of course, the most important action in stillness is pure prayer and the control of the aspects of the soul that is "guarding the heart".
Perhaps here we should mention that there are some types of pleasures which cannot be fought - only avoided. That's why this very active state of vigilance appears externally as "doing nothing" and it is named as such.
Only in this way, one can really know God and thus became God-like.
PS:
We humbly and lovingly recommend the one which posted this, to read St. Gregory Palamas - "In Defence of Those who Devoutly Practise a Life of Stillness" from Philokalia, vol. 4
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