384
edits
Changes
→Kinds: new subsection "False silence of thoughts"
In addition, St. John Climacus names carelessness as one of the reasons for the demon attacks as well as one the reasons why God may not fulfill the prayers of a man: "Every demonic upheaval within us arises from the following three related causes namely, carelessness, pride, or the envy of demons. The first is pitiable, the second deplorable, but the third is blessed"<ref>St. John Climacus. The Ladder of Divine Ascent. Word 26.</ref>; "When requests are made to God and are not immediately answered, the reason may be one of the following: either that the petition is premature, or because it has been made unworthily or vaingloriously, or because if granted, it would lead to conceit, or because negligence and carelessness would result."<ref>St. John Climacus. The Ladder of Divine Ascent. Word 26.</ref>
=== False silence of thoughts ("demonic silence")===
Internal silence and lack of thoughts do not necessarily indicate the high spiritual condition of the particular person. According to St. John Climacus, demons can deliberately leave a person - either to lead him into carelessness and then suddenly attack him, or if a person has already established himself in sinful skills, or if a person has one main passion that replaces all the others.<ref> St. John Climacus. The Ladder of Divine Ascent. Step. 26. Ch. 61-65.</ref> According to the experience of Father John (Adlivankin), who works in the St. John of Kronstadt rehabilitation center assisting former sectarians and occultists, he repeatedly heard people’s confessions of how they often observed a state of complete "dispassion", i.e. the absence of any sinful thoughts. This was when they were sectarians and occultists. After turning to Orthodoxy, they no longer had such a long calm state. According to Fr. John, such condition (he calls it "demonic silence") is very dangerous - complete thoughtlessness and comfort, and it inevitably causes the thoughts about the person’s exclusiveness, i.e. pride.<ref>{{Ru icon}}[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8YVrTxI_yxI Monk John’s conversations with the priests of Optina Monastery. Part 1.] "Demonic silence" is mentioned at the time of 1h 40 min 25 sec.</ref>
==Prelest and Jesus prayer==