Discourse 47

On the Spiritual Stirrings: On the Formation of the Soul by Spiritual Means. From the divine provocations, the Father. Chapter 47. The first stirring that falls upon a human from divine mercy: it draws the soul towards life, upon the passing of this nature it falls upon the heart. To this thought, nature adheres: the simplicity concerning the world. And from here, in a human, begin those beautiful stirrings that draw him towards life. As a foundation, something places in a human that divine power that is attached to him, desiring that life be revealed in him. This stirring of which I spoke: if a human does not extinguish it by the strength of attachment to the things of this world and vain habit, and nurtures in himself this stirring by constant converse with himself and the contemplation within it, he draws near to that thing which cannot be expressed in speech. This thought, Satan, the great enemy, opposes with all his might, striving to remove it from the human. And if he could, he would give him the kingdom of the whole earth, so that through its pleasures he might be diverted from his intention regarding this thought; ultimately, he would not do so. For he knows that if this remembrance remains with him, his intention will no longer endure in this land of error. And his own provocations will not approach him.

The stirrings and movements toward the good are this vision. And again in the world: it is not taken away from any place that receives it. And toward the body: it does not remain. Truly, my beloved: if God were to leave this steadfast vision toward the living for a brief moment, the course of the world would be swept away from its flow. It is a bond: so that nature cannot stand before it. And that which is given this help by itself is a gift from God, which is hidden from all artificial works. By this middle path, it is found for those whose heart is straight, turning in repentance, which is given steadfastly to the one who knows God, who is worthy of a steadfast turning from the world toward the better life, because of the good will that is found in him. It grows and increases with him, by his dwelling in solitude with himself. For this: seek it through prayer. Instead of this: do harsh vigils. And like a gift that has no price, watch with tears at the door of our Lord, so that he may find us. And again: do not weary in the practice of this world. This is the beginning of the stirring of life, which is perfected in the whole human being, the completion of righteousness, concerning the working of the two toward the human being.

The other activity after this: when a person guides himself well in conduct, and reaches the point of ascending from the degree of repentance, and draws near to tasting from the vision of his labor, when the gift from above falls upon him—to taste the sensible perception of the knowledge of the spirit—this is its beginning from here. First, concerning the love of God toward humanity, which is confirmed, and concerning his love toward creation, which is made manifest: creation of rational beings, and his many discourses concerning these matters. For here that sweetness of God begins in him, and the flame of his love burns in the heart, and consumes all the passions of the body and of the flesh. And this power he perceives in all the senses of creation, and in every will that encounters him. And at times he becomes drunk with it, as with wine. And his limbs become relaxed, and his mind remains, and his heart is captivated after God. And thus it happens as I said: like a man drunk with wine. And the more his inner senses are strengthened, the more this vision is strengthened. And the more he is careful in conduct and vigilance, and labors in reading and prayer, the more the power of it is established and confirmed in him. Truly, my brothers: that at times he comes to such a state that he does not remember the existence of the evil body, nor does he know that he is in the world. This is the beginning of spiritual vision in a person.

And this is the beginning of all the revelations of the mind. Through it the mind is nurtured toward the hidden things and is instructed; through it it is advanced toward the final things, which are higher than natural knowledge. And as it is said in the brief sayings: Through it all the divine visions and revelations of the spirit that the saints receive in this world are brought to man. And there is a capacity to know the gift of revelations in this life. This is the root of the perception of our conduct. Blessed is he who preserves this good seed when it falls in his soul, and nurtures it, and is not frightened by the empty things and the negligence of the passersby.