What is philokalia, and how do you practice it?

At the heart of Orthodox spirituality, the Philokalia is a collection of wisdom texts from the Desert Fathers and the Church Fathers that encourage peace, moderation, and vigilance. Etymologically, the word means“love of beauty.” Since all beauty emanates from God, these texts invite us to turn toward the source of beauty: God.

What is the Philokalia?

Its origins date back to the early centuries of Christianity, in the apothegms of the Desert Fathers, such as Evagrius the Pontic and Saint John Cassian. But these texts were subsequently expanded through the 15th century. The full title of this anthology is “The Philokalia of the Neptic Saints gathered from our Holy Theophoric Father, through which, by means of the philosophy of ascetic practice and contemplation, the intellect is purified, illumined, and made perfect.”

The most famous version is the one published in Venice in the 18th century. “The Philokalia is part of the quest for a more authentic Christian life, going back to the sources of the faith, particularly that expressed by the Desert Fathers,” explains Yvan Koenig, a specialist in Orthodox spirituality and theology.

Among the principal authors, aside from Evagrius Ponticus and other lesser-known Desert Fathers, are Maximus the Confessor, Gregory Palamas (14th century), and Symeon the New Theologian. They advocate hesychasm andprayer of the heart, as well as vigilance—which is akin toguarding the heart—and the mastery of the passions. The teaching of the Philokalia aims at perpetual prayer through the invocation of God’s name; it leads tohumility and a certain sensitivity in one’s awareness of things and beings. It is an invitation to live in the world with the divine presence in one’s heart. To attain this state, the believer must combat his passions, and the Philokalia is filled with practical advice on how to do so, for the goal is indeed that man may become God in Jesus, according to the saying of Saint Irenaeus: “God became man so that man might become God”.

How can one put the Philokalia into practice?

In an age dominated byimmediacy, hyperactivity, constantdistraction, and fragmented attention, and the cult of appearances, the Philokalia offers a way to rediscover one’s inner self by stepping away fromthe turmoil of a world that causes tension, anxiety, depression, burnout, and so on. “A monk once said that the source of all our ills stems from a lack of attention,” reports Bertrand Vergely.

The teachings of the Desert Fathers show us the importance of diligent and uncompromising self-observation in order to attain self-knowledge.

Here are some tips and practices promoted by the Philokalia:

• The Jesus Prayer: continually repeat this prayer of the heart to anchor one’s spirit in constant communion with God.
• Inner vigilance (nepsis): constantly monitor one’s thoughts and emotions by guarding the heart to avoid thoughts that lead one away from God. Practice discernment in one’s thoughts
• Silence and solitude: Create moments of silence and solitude to foster meditation and introspection and to develop mindfulness.
• Mastery of the passions: Control one’s desires and negative emotions through asceticism, which includes fasting, prayer, and other spiritual disciplines.
• Reading and study: Read and meditate on the texts of the Philokalia to integrate its teachings into daily life.
• Spiritual Guidance: Seeking guidance from a spiritual father can help navigate the challenges of spiritual practice.
• Icons: Meditating on icons opens the heart and mind to the transcendent and strengthens the spiritual connection with God.