{"product_id":"2940171424398","title":"The Wisdom of the Desert with Nicholas Buxton: The origins, way of life and spiritual practice of Christian Monasticism, the spiritual teachings of Evagrius","description":"\u003cp\u003eThe course begins by looking at the origins of Christian monasticism during the third century CE, when thousands of men and women renounced the world and withdrew to the deserts of Egypt, Syria and Palestine to seek God in a life of solitude and prayer. What inspired them to do this? What were they trying to achieve? In seeking answers to these questions, we will examine the lives and sayings of the so-called `desert fathers¿, with a particular emphasis on the theological writings of Evagrius of Pontus (c. 345-399).\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cp\u003eEvagrius was described as being one `skilled in the discernment of spirits¿. In his ascetical treatises, he elaborates a detailed programme for aspirants to the holy life comprising a foundation of stillness (\u003cem\u003ehesychia\u003c\/em\u003e), the cultivation of equanimity (\u003cem\u003eapatheia\u003c\/em\u003e) and, ultimately, unitive knowledge of the divine reality (\u003cem\u003egnosis\u003c\/em\u003e). Particular attention will be given to his psycho-spiritual taxonomy of the `eight thoughts¿, and the practice of contemplative prayer, as expounded in texts such as the \u003cem\u003eFoundations\u003c\/em\u003e, \u003cem\u003ePraktikos\u003c\/em\u003e, \u003cem\u003eEight Thoughts\u003c\/em\u003e, and \u003cem\u003eOn Prayer\u003c\/em\u003e.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eSession One ¿ Monks of the Desert ¿ \u003c\/strong\u003eHistorical origins of Christian monasticism ¿ the story of the temptation of Jesus in the wilderness ¿ St Antony, the `first monk¿ ¿ fleeing the world to face the self ¿ life in the desert ¿ Pachomius and the beginnings of institutional monasticism.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eSession Two ¿ The Ascetic Rationale ¿ \u003c\/strong\u003eThe theology of Origen of Alexandria ¿ principles of monastic asceticism ¿ the importance of humility and purity of heart ¿ Evagrius of Pontus, theologian of the desert ¿ stages on the path of spiritual progress ¿ the cultivation of \u003cem\u003eapatheia\u003c\/em\u003e (equanimity).\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eSession Three ¿ The Eight Thoughts ¿ \u003c\/strong\u003eOn the subject of demons ¿ the eight categories of obsessive thoughts: gluttony, lust, avarice, sadness, anger, acedia, vanity and pride ¿ the practice of the discernment of thoughts.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eSession Four ¿ On Prayer ¿ \u003c\/strong\u003eTypes of prayer in the Christian tradition ¿ prayer in the Bible and the teachings of Jesus ¿ the nature of the mind ¿ the notion of `pure prayer¿ in Evagrius ¿ the legacy of the Desert Fathers.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eThe Reverend Dr Nicholas Buxton\u003c\/strong\u003e is a Church of England priest in the Northeast of England, and a founder of `Just Meditation¿. He has a PhD in Buddhist philosophy from the University of Cambridge and is an experienced meditation teacher and retreat leader. Publications include \u003cem\u003eThe Wilderness Within: Meditation and Modern Life \u003c\/em\u003e(Canterbury Press, 2014), and \u003cem\u003eTantalus and the Pelican: Exploring Monastic Spirituality Today \u003c\/em\u003e(Continuum, 2009).\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Koratious Press","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":47116198871280,"sku":"2940171424398","price":19.49,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0737\/7593\/9824\/files\/2940171424398_p0.jpg?v=1763727529","url":"https:\/\/shop-qa.barnesandnoble.com\/products\/2940171424398","provider":"Barnes \u0026 Noble (DEV)","version":"1.0","type":"link"}