Nepsis
Encyclopedia
Nepsis is an important idea in Orthodox Christian mystical theology. Nepsis is a state of watchfulness or sobriety that forms one dimension of the state of contemplative prayer. Perhaps most associated with Orthodox monasticism, numerable references to nepsis are made in The Philokalia
(the full title of The Philokalia being The Philokalia of the Niptic Fathers).
Parallels could likely be made between nepsis and Buddhist mindfulness, Islamic dhikr
, and Jewish devekut.
The term nous in the East is used to mean the vision of life, as consciousness. The soul (which is body and spirit together as one thing) vivifies or gives energy to the nous. Where as philosophical discourse (dialectic
) is very mechanical and attenuates reality into analytical
concepts. Thereby reducing man and nature to cold mechanical concepts, interpretations and symbols of reality not reality in and of itself. Eastern Christianity seeks to restore mankind to his pre-separation from God or Paradise condition of full communion with the Creator and Trinity. Since in the East, it was man's nous that was damaged by Adam's sin and fall and it was this damaged consciousness that each human by birth now receives.
The subject of mankind's soul as it learns to struggle against the world of passions and corruptions (illusions) is called asceticism
. Critical to Eastern Christianity, asceticism is the experience of the soul. In Eastern Christianity, Christianity becomes nothing more than a mechanical and empty ideology
, if it is stripped of its ascetic practices. So an ascetic-less Christianity has no way to deal with or cope with the challenges of life if it is devoid of its completeness, found in its traditions including ascetic practice (Orthopraxis
).
Liturgy
in the East is considered one of the ascetic practises a Christian must engage in, for Christianity to be complete and functional. Ascetic traditions provide ways of overcoming the various kinds of conflicts, experiences and thoughts that trouble the spirit or heart of mankind. These events are called the Unseen Warfare of the human heart (the human nous is the arena of spiritual struggle). Some of the concepts critical to addressing the needs of man such as sober introspection called nepsis
can be taught and learned as a means to overcome various spiritual sicknesses. Specific to this process is the watchfulness of the human heart. The proper way to address and resolve the conflicts of the human nous
, heart or mind are also at conflict between East and West. Since noetic understanding can not be circumvented nor satisfied by rationalizing or discursive thought (i.e. systemization as one can not talk or think themselves out of love or addiction).
Eastern Christianity finds a sharp departure with the West over the philosophical cornerstone that reason is the highest faculty in man. The East considers faith a far more critical component (and one more important than reason) in working out ones salvation that Salvation in the East is reconciliation with God, and it is God that satisfies the human heart or soul through the synergia of theosis
called the grace of God. So in Eastern Christianity
for example the Dark Night of the Soul
is not considered a normal or necessary phrase for the human heart to achieve a relationship with God, nor is it considered one that is good or healthy.
Philokalia
The Philokalia is a collection of texts written between the 4th and 15th centuries by spiritual masters of the Eastern Orthodox hesychast tradition. They were originally written for the guidance and instruction of monks in "the practise of the contemplative life". The collection was compiled in...
(the full title of The Philokalia being The Philokalia of the Niptic Fathers).
Parallels could likely be made between nepsis and Buddhist mindfulness, Islamic dhikr
Dhikr
Dhikr , plural ; ), is an Islamic devotional act, typically involving the repetition of the Names of God, supplications or formulas taken from hadith texts and verses of the Qur'an. Dhikr is usually done individually, but in some Sufi orders it is instituted as a ceremonial activity...
, and Jewish devekut.
The term nous in the East is used to mean the vision of life, as consciousness. The soul (which is body and spirit together as one thing) vivifies or gives energy to the nous. Where as philosophical discourse (dialectic
Dialectic
Dialectic is a method of argument for resolving disagreement that has been central to Indic and European philosophy since antiquity. The word dialectic originated in Ancient Greece, and was made popular by Plato in the Socratic dialogues...
) is very mechanical and attenuates reality into analytical
Reduction (philosophy)
In philosophy, reduction is the process by which one object, property, concept, theory, etc., is shown to be explicable in terms of another, lower level, entity...
concepts. Thereby reducing man and nature to cold mechanical concepts, interpretations and symbols of reality not reality in and of itself. Eastern Christianity seeks to restore mankind to his pre-separation from God or Paradise condition of full communion with the Creator and Trinity. Since in the East, it was man's nous that was damaged by Adam's sin and fall and it was this damaged consciousness that each human by birth now receives.
The subject of mankind's soul as it learns to struggle against the world of passions and corruptions (illusions) is called asceticism
Asceticism
Asceticism describes a lifestyle characterized by abstinence from various sorts of worldly pleasures often with the aim of pursuing religious and spiritual goals...
. Critical to Eastern Christianity, asceticism is the experience of the soul. In Eastern Christianity, Christianity becomes nothing more than a mechanical and empty ideology
Ideology
An ideology is a set of ideas that constitutes one's goals, expectations, and actions. An ideology can be thought of as a comprehensive vision, as a way of looking at things , as in common sense and several philosophical tendencies , or a set of ideas proposed by the dominant class of a society to...
, if it is stripped of its ascetic practices. So an ascetic-less Christianity has no way to deal with or cope with the challenges of life if it is devoid of its completeness, found in its traditions including ascetic practice (Orthopraxis
Orthopraxis
Orthopraxy is a term derived from Greek or an emphasis on conduct, both ethical and liturgical, as opposed to faith or grace etc...
).
Liturgy
Liturgy
Liturgy is either the customary public worship done by a specific religious group, according to its particular traditions or a more precise term that distinguishes between those religious groups who believe their ritual requires the "people" to do the "work" of responding to the priest, and those...
in the East is considered one of the ascetic practises a Christian must engage in, for Christianity to be complete and functional. Ascetic traditions provide ways of overcoming the various kinds of conflicts, experiences and thoughts that trouble the spirit or heart of mankind. These events are called the Unseen Warfare of the human heart (the human nous is the arena of spiritual struggle). Some of the concepts critical to addressing the needs of man such as sober introspection called nepsis
Introspection
Introspection is the self-observation and reporting of conscious inner thoughts, desires and sensations. It is a conscious and purposive process relying on thinking, reasoning, and examining one's own thoughts, feelings, and, in more spiritual cases, one's soul...
can be taught and learned as a means to overcome various spiritual sicknesses. Specific to this process is the watchfulness of the human heart. The proper way to address and resolve the conflicts of the human nous
Nous
Nous , also called intellect or intelligence, is a philosophical term for the faculty of the human mind which is described in classical philosophy as necessary for understanding what is true or real, very close in meaning to intuition...
, heart or mind are also at conflict between East and West. Since noetic understanding can not be circumvented nor satisfied by rationalizing or discursive thought (i.e. systemization as one can not talk or think themselves out of love or addiction).
Eastern Christianity finds a sharp departure with the West over the philosophical cornerstone that reason is the highest faculty in man. The East considers faith a far more critical component (and one more important than reason) in working out ones salvation that Salvation in the East is reconciliation with God, and it is God that satisfies the human heart or soul through the synergia of theosis
Theosis
In Christian theology, divinization, deification, making divine or theosis is the transforming effect of divine grace. This concept of salvation is historical and fundamental for Christian understanding that is prominent in the Eastern Orthodox Church and also in the Catholic Church, and is a...
called the grace of God. So in Eastern Christianity
Eastern Christianity
Eastern Christianity comprises the Christian traditions and churches that developed in the Balkans, Eastern Europe, Asia Minor, the Middle East, Northeastern Africa, India and parts of the Far East over several centuries of religious antiquity. The term is generally used in Western Christianity to...
for example the Dark Night of the Soul
Dark Night of the Soul
Dark Night of the Soul is a treatise by Saint John of the Cross containing a commentary explaining his poem of the same name.-Poem and treatise by Saint John of the Cross:...
is not considered a normal or necessary phrase for the human heart to achieve a relationship with God, nor is it considered one that is good or healthy.