The mind, the demons, and spiritual progress are the focus of this conference. When these three realities are properly understood, the nature of spiritual warfare is perceived with great clarity.
The mind and the will compose the side of human nature that is created in God's image. Since we are given free will, it is our task to constantly guard our minds. To be successful at this duty we must first avoid brash thinking for "it is a dangerous presumption to claim to understand the nature of anything hastily" (7.4.1). When we are presumptuous in our thinking, we are like a man who claims that no one can be upheld by water because he cannot swim. Nevertheless, his opinion is rendered false by the multitude of others who are easily upheld by water, because they can swim. If we want to avoid errors in our thinking, we must submit and learn from those who know how to swim--from the Holy Fathers and their Tradition.
The Fathers teach that it is not God's fault that the mind wanders, but that it is rather our own fault. The nous has the "power to set up in our hearts either ascents, which are thoughts that touch God, or descents, which sink down to earthly and carnal things" (7.4.3). As Elder Thaddeus taught, "Our thoughts determine our lives." We must become spiritual centurions admitting good thoughts and driving away bad ones. If we command evil suggestions of demons to flee from our minds by subjecting disturbances and vices to discretion, they will leave us (7.5.3). We must always carefully attend to what is happening in our minds, unless the enemy catches us in slothful negligence.
Since the mind is where our spiritual battles are fought, we must be equipped with the right tools to succeed. "If we want to fight the Lord's battles and serve among the gospel centurions, we too must always be armed when we march out" (7.5.5). We must always be armed with spiritual armor. Righteousness and love protect the inner man from the devil's attacks as a breastplate, and the hope of our salvation, which must be guarded above all else, protects the head as a helmet without which we could not survive even for a little while (7.5.7).
After discussing the mind and its thoughts Abba Serenus describes the demons and their role in this spiritual warfare. Although the demons have the power of suggestion, they cannot make us do anything. The demons suggest bad things, while God suggests good things for He is the patron and promoter of good. He suggests good things in such a way that He "sometimes draws us to salvation even involuntarily and unbeknownst to ourselves" (7.8.2). In suggesting bad thoughts the demons can be joined to another spirit in which they can have hidden persuasion, yet the demon cannot strictly unite to and contain a person's soul. Uniting to souls "is rightly attributed only to the Godhead, which alone is an incorporeal and simple nature" (7.10). God's command to Satan to spare Job's soul is a regulative principle between the demons and the soul. Satan cannot obscure the wisdom and understanding of a soul who resists him. Likewise demons are able to possess a person's internal organs that possess the soul's vigor, but they cannot directly harm the soul through direct union or possession (7.12.2).
Demons also cannot read our thoughts, but they are masters at perceiving our thoughts by externally observing gestures and words over a longer period of time (7.15.1). We must remember that spiritual beings "are indeed far more subtle and wise than human beings" (7.15.4). The fact that the demons are crafty in their attacks should compel us in prayer and humility to constantly seek angelic help.
Demons also specialize in particular vices by acquiring numerous skills in a particular vice. Thus, the fathers sometimes refer to the demons of pride, gluttony, etc (7.17). In a similar fashion demons associate and haunt particular spots (7.19.2). Upon entering a Hindu temple outside of Delhi one begins to experience the truth of this fact.
The power of demons to influence humans in certain ages can decrease depending on the amount of grace or negligence in our lives. While the gleaming grace of the cross repels demons, personal negligence makes them milder (7.23.2).
Demons also have various occupations. In fact "there are as many occupations among the unclean spirits as there are among human beings" (7.32.1). Abba Serenus further elaborates on the variety of demons in his second conference.
Although such analyses of demons can be disheartening, we should not become discouraged. We must keep our eyes focused on spiritual progress and maturity in Christ. Our Christian vocation is to constantly expel the vices (or demons) and replace them with virtues. "For no virtue is perfected without effort, nor is it possible for anyone to mount to the stability of mind that he desires without great contrition of heart.... But no one will arrive at the fullness of this measure in the world to come except the person who has reflected on it and been initiated into it in the present and who has tasted it while still living in this world; who, having been designated a most precious member of Christ, possesses in the flesh the pledge of that union through which he is able to be joined to Christ's body; who desires only one thing, thirsts for one thing, and always directs not only every deed but even every though to this one thing...that 'God may be all in all' to him" (7.6.4). If our struggles increase, we should enjoy more encouragement. "For the difficulty of struggles increases in direct proportion to a person's strength and progress" (7.20.1). Although struggles and temptations intensify as we mature in faith, Christ in His grace and love always provides a way out of difficulties.
As temptations arise, we must discern and choose the present way of escape. Abba Serenus commanded, "Stay in your cells, and eat and drink and sleep as much as you want, so long as you remain in them constantly" (7.23.3). Our cell is nothing more than Christ Himself. We must position ourselves to be overcome by Christ and not by demons for a "person is the slave of the one by whom he is overcome" (2 Peter 2:19).
When we are undergoing various trials, Holy Communion should not be withheld, but it should be taken more frequently (7.30.2). Since we are always tried with the permission of God and all things are ordained for our benefit, we must not despise or judge the brethren who are delivered over to various trials or demons (7.28). We must learn from the story and trials of Abba Paul that God is always working to bestow good upon us even when we are ignorant of His providential care. Comforted by this reality of good fortune we should always pray in our hearts that Christ might be all in all in us.
"Advance into battle without hesitation. Should you be visited by the
troubling thought of the hatred and undying malice, which the enemies harbor
against you, and of the innumerable hosts of the demons, think on the other hand
of the infinitely greater power of God and of His love for you, as well as of the
incomparably greater hosts of heavenly angels and the prayers of saints. They all
fight secretly for us and with us against our enemies...." - Lorenzo
Scupoli from Unseen Warfare
"Therefore, if we desire to be saved, we must cut off the first impulse of the thought and desire of every passion. Conquer small things so as not to fall into big ones. It is evident that God allows one to be overthrown in battle by the demons or some stubborn passion because of our pride and highmindedness, when one considers himself to be holy, or strong, and trusts in himself, and exalts himself above those who are weak. Let such a one acknowledge his own infirmity, acknowledge the Help of God, and be enlightened. Let him understand that without God's Help he can do nothing, and thus he will humble his thought. Or again, this is allowed as a chastisement for sins, so that we might repent and be more experienced in struggle. Or it is allowed for the sake of crowns of victory. However, in that in which you are conquered and from which you suffer, before all other passions you must arm yourself against it and for this use all your fervor. Every passion and suffering is conquered by undoubting faith, by labor of heart and tears, by warm fervor and quick striving to oppose the present passion. This is a high and praiseworthy struggle, as taught by the Holy Fathers. Every warfare of the demons against us comes from and is reinforced by four causes: from negligence and laziness, from self-love, from love of pleasure, and from the envy of the demons. May the Lord preserve us by His Grace from all nets of the enemy and passionate works, unto the ages of ages. Amen." - St. Paisy of Neamt
"For whatsoever is born of God overcometh the world: and this is the victory that overcometh the world, even our faith." - 1 John 5:4
"Even if an angel should indeed appear to you, do not receive him but humiliate yourself, saying, 'I am not worthy to see an angel, for I am a sinner.'" - St. Clement of Rome
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