St. Ignatius Brianchaninov
He whose mind is often distracted
and wanders here and there is, as a rule, inconsistent. His emotions have
neither depth nor stability. He flits like a butterfly from flower to flower
and spends his time from one amusement to another, one vanity succeeding the
other.
The man who is frequently
distracted cannot easily love his fellow man. He passes over the misfortunes of
others with indifference and usually burdens others with loads they cannot
bear.
Afflictions affect him deeply,
precisely because he does not expect them. The only thing he desires and seeks
is joy. If the affliction is very serious but temporary, he forgets it easily,
as soon as he surrenders himself to the noise of some amusement. But when that
affliction lasts long, then it crushes him, leading him to despair.
Distraction punishes by itself
the one who has surrendered to it. As time goes by, everything annoys him. He
resembles one who never acquired sound knowledge and firm foundations. He gives
himself over to endless and tormenting despair. Distraction in general is evil.
Yet it becomes especially harmful in the work of God and our salvation, which
requires constant vigilance and attention. “Watch and pray, that ye enter not
into temptation” (Matt. 26:41), said our Savior to His disciples. “What I say
unto you I say unto all: Watch” (Mark 13:47). Our Lord and Savior addresses
these words to all Christians, and therefore also to us, the people of our
time.
Whoever lives his life given over
to various distractions directly transgresses, by his way of life, the
commandments of the Lord Jesus Christ. All the saints strove in every way to be
freed from distractions. They endeavored to remain continually recollected, or
at least as much as possible. All their attention was given to the mind, to its
movements, as well as to the heart. Their concern was to guide both—mind and
heart—according to the commandments of the Gospel. When one becomes accustomed
to recollection, he is safeguarded from distraction, even if temptations
surround him on all sides and are bothersome. The man who keeps watch and is
vigilant is as though dwelling in the desert, even if he lives in the midst of
a multitude of people.
A certain great Father, who had
learned through experience the benefit that arises from recollection and
attentiveness, as well as the harm caused by distraction, used to say that
without intense vigilance and attention to ourselves, it is impossible to make
progress even in a single virtue.
Our brief earthly life was given
to us as a time of preparation for eternity. And it is a pity to spend it
solely on earthly cares, on the satisfaction of petty pleasures and unlawful
desires. Thus, we become like the wind that blows in every direction, running
from one sensual pleasure to another. We forget—or rarely remember—and then
only superficially and carelessly—our final destination, the inevitable
judgment, the eternity that inescapably awaits us…
The man who gives himself over to
distractions is like a house without doors and windows. In such a house, no
treasure can be safeguarded. It is vulnerable and open to robbers, thieves, and
harlots. A turbulent life, full of distractions and worldly cares, burdens man
just as gluttony and overindulgence do. And then man becomes attached to the
earth. The only thing that concerns him is the fleeting life, vanity. The
service of God becomes indifferent to him, irrelevant…
The recollected life weakens the
effects of bodily senses, while it sharpens, strengthens, and enkindles the
senses of the soul. Distraction, on the contrary, dulls the spiritual senses.
Distraction is sustained by the
constant stimulation of the bodily senses. Those who are vulnerable to
distractions vainly justify and attribute innocence to their troubled life. By
this, they achieve nothing more than to cover up the evil sickness that has
taken them captive. This sickness is so great and has so deeply dulled the
spiritual senses that the soul afflicted by it is unable even to conceive of
its painful condition.
Those who wish to live with
vigilance must first forbid themselves from occupying themselves with vain
things. Fulfilling one’s personal and social obligations does not necessarily
mean entering into a state of distractions. Distraction is always connected
either with sloth or with occupations so empty that they undoubtedly border on
sloth. A beneficial occupation, such as offering one’s service with a sense of
responsibility, does not hinder a person from maintaining vigilance. On the
contrary, it helps him to acquire it or to preserve it. The obediences help a
person to gain vigilance when they are carried out consciously and with
consistency.
The active and industrious life
is the essential path that leads to vigilance. This path is described and
recommended by the holy fathers to every person who desires to live with
recollection… In daily life, others also help a person to acquire vigilance.
When one is in a lower position, he learns much better to be watchful. No
teacher instructs a person in recollection better than a strict and prudent
superior. When you work with others, do not waste your time in idle
conversations and foolish joking. And when you work alone, do not permit
yourself to drift into daydreams and idle musings. In this way, your conscience
will soon be purified and sharpened. And later it will make clear to you that
every movement toward distraction is a transgression of the Gospel commandments
and a deviation from common sense.
Source: Η Βασιλεία του Θεού και ο Αντίχριστος [The
Kingdom of God and the Antichrist], St. Ignatius Brianchaninov, Botsis
Publications, Athens, 2008, pp. 29–34 (excerpts).
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