Quotes by Vladimir Antonov

Some important ideas from the book of early Christians which is called Philokalia:

Only when we rid ourselves of passions and lust and put the desires of flesh under the control of Spi­rit, only then we accept the cross and follow Christ.

And “withdrawal from the world” is nothing but the destruction of passions and manifestation of the innermost life in Christ.

Some important ideas from the book of early Christians which is called Philokalia:

From Spiritual Directions of Isaac of Syria

The one who wants to love God has to take care about the purity of the soul, first of all.

This purity is attained through conquering the passions.

(The one who has not conquered the passions cannot enter) the chaste and pure region of the heart.

Do not hate a sinner, for we all are to be res­pon­sible.

Some important ideas from the book of early Christians which is called Philokalia:

If you want to conquer lust for wealth, love selflessness and sparing way of life.

If you want to conquer anger, develop meekness and generosity.

Grieve only if you have committed a sin, but even in this case do not grieve too much, otherwise you may become desperate.

If you want to conquer conceit, do not desire praise, laurels, nice garments, respect, favor, but like to be blamed and slandered by people…

If you want to conquer pride, do not say that your deed was done by your hands and might; say that with God’s help and guidance it was done, not by my power and efforts.

Some important ideas from the book of early Christians which is called Philokalia:

The acme of faith is… immersion of the mind in God.

The acme of freedom from wealth is to desire to be possessionless even as others desire to possess.

The acme of humbleness is to forget unfalteringly good deeds of oneself.

The acme of love is to enhance your friendly attitude to those who insult and revile you.

110. The one who cognized the Truth is free. The free one does not commit sin: because he who commits sin becomes a slave of sin (i.e. first of all, burdens his destiny).

The true knowledge is like mother and father (i.e. like wise teachers, advisers, and guardians of their child).

Those who are not capable of sinning are said that they have attained freedom. The knowledge of the Truth raises them even more. This makes them both free and above this world.

But only Love creates. He who became free thanks to knowledge, because of Love remains a slave of those who have not managed to attain the Freedom of knowledge yet. He brings the knowledge to them and this develops the latter because it calls them to the Freedom.

Love takes nothing: how can it take something? Everything belongs to it. It does not say, “This is mine! And this is mine!” But it says: “This is yours!”

45. Faith receives. Love gives.

One must not receive without faith. One must not give without love.

Therefore, in order to receive, we believe, and in order to give truly, we love.

But if one gives without love, he does not benefit from such giving.

48. A pearl, even if it is cast down into the mud, is not despised. And if one covers it with balsam, it does not

become more valuable. But it is always valuable to its owner.

It is the same with the Sons of God: wherever They may be, They are still of value to Their Father.

Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, and have not love, I have become as sounding brass… And though I have prophecies, and understand all mysteries and all knowledge; and though I have all faith, so as to move mountains, and do not have love, I am nothing. And though I give out all my goods to feed the poor, and though I deliver my body to be burned, and have not love, I am profited nothing.

Love has patience, is kind; love is not envious, is not vain, is not puffed up; does not behave indecently, does not seek her own, is not easily provoked, thinks no evil. Love does not rejoice in unrighteousness, but rejoices in the truth. Love quietly covers all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. Love never fails, though prophecies will be abolished and tongues will cease… 

There are many possibilities that people can choose from. There are bad and there are good ones. So, look carefully to choose for yourself the noble path...

... Do not let the deeds and thoughts of other people confuse you; let them not prompt you to do or say anything evil!

Listen to others’ advice and deliberate yourself. Only fools acts thoughtlessly, without consideration!

Hear and understand: the Flame is the source of all things, all things are its manifestation!

Seek to be One with the Divine Sun!

Hold your thought on uniting the Light with your human body.

Light is the Source of all the life; for without the Great Light nothing can ever exist!

Know, Light is the basis of all formed matter.

Know, O man, that all space is filled by worlds within worlds.

And one more: always remember that in this world nothing but your love to Me belongs to you! This is your treasure, and it is yours by right! All your riches are — your love! Nobody ever will be able to take it away from you! It is impossible to steal, to take love by force; it can not be sold and inherited. One only can give love — sincerely and gratis!

Love has an amazing characteristic: the more you give it, give to others, the more of it you have.

But love is a ‘free bird’: it lives and grows on freedom. Such human notions as ‘I want’ and ‘my’ are opposite to love, because they constrain its freedom. All attempts to appropriate love are doomed to be failed. One can only accept it with gratitude, carefully and gently, as a great gift of the one who gives it.

Love enters only one gates — the spiritual heart opened towards! And then the reciprocal wave of love arises in it, streaming outside. In that way love lives and grows.