Quote by St. Abba Dorotheos ~ Falsehood

   In the Scriptures it is written that falsehood is from the evil one, and that He is the "Father of Lies" (John 8:44), while God is truth, for He Himself says, "I am the way, the truth and the life." (John 14:6). Thus you see from whom we estranged ourselves and to whom we are united by a lie. So then, if we really want to be saved, we must love truth with our whole hearts and guard ourselves from all falsehood. There are three different types of lies: in thought, in word, and in life itself. A man lies in thought when he accepts as true his own imaginations, that is his vain despite of his neighbor. Such a one, when he sees that someone is conversing with his neighbor, makes his own estimation and says, "They are talking about me." If someone say a word, he considers that it was said to grieve him. Never believe your own guesses and interpretations, for a crooked measurement makes even the straight to be crooked. Human opinion is false and harms those who are given to it. The one who sins in word is one who, for example, when out of despondency he has not gotten up for the service, does not say, "Forgive me, I was too lazy to get up," but says, "I had a fever, I had too much work, I hadn't the strength to get up, I was sick," and says ten false statements, rather than make a single prostration and be humbled. And if he should be rebuke is such a situation, he changes his words and argues, in order not to be rebuked. One who lies by his life is one who, if he is defiled, pretends to be chaste, or if he is avaricious, praises almsgiving, or if he is proud praises humility. Thus, in order to escape falsehood and be delivered from the part of the evil one, let us strive to appropriate truth, in order to have union with God.


(St. Abba Dorotheos, Soul-profiting Teachings, 9)

Source:

http://orthodox.cn/patristics/300sayings_en.htm

Quote by St. Gennadius of Constantinople,Ancient Patericon & St. John of the Ladder ~ Vainglory

   Do not seek earthly glory in any matter, for it is extinguished for him who loves it. In its time it blows on a man like a strong wind, and then quickly, taking from him the fruits of his good works, it goes away from him, laughing at his foolishness.

(St. Gennadius of Constantinople, The Golden Chain, 35)


   Abba Pimen said, he who fervently desires the love of men is deprived of the love of God. In is not good to be liked by everyone, for it is said, "Woe to you, when all men speak well of you." (Luke 6:26)

(Ancient Patericon, 8:16)


   Often the Lord heals vainglory by dishonor.

(St. John of the Ladder, Ladder, 22.38)



[It is possible to struggle against love of honor and vainglory in this way:] When you hear that your neighbor or friend has reproached you in your absence or presence, then show love and praise him.
 
(St. John of the Ladder, 22:15)


Source:

http://orthodox.cn/patristics/300sayings_en.htm

Quote by St. Silouan the Athonite,St. John of the Ladder,St. Mark the Ascetic & St. Photius the Great ~ The Snares of the Devil

   Love for that which is earthly makes the soul empty, and then there she is sad, and grows wild, and does not want to pray to God. The enemy then, seeing that the soul is not in God, shakes her and freely places in the mind whatever he wants, and he drives the soul from one thought to another, and thus the whole day the soul remains in such disorder and cannot purely gaze at the Lord.

(St. Silouan the Athonite, Writings, IV.5)

   Our inhuman enemy [the devil, in drawing a Christian to defilement] inspires the thought that God loves mankind, and that He quickly forgives this sin. But when we observe the guile of demons, then we see that after the commission of the sin, they suggest to us that God is a righteous and implacable Judge. The first they say in order to lead us to sin, the second, in order to weigh us down in despair.

(St. John of the Ladder, Ladder, 15:33) 


   The devil makes small sins seem smaller in our eyes, for otherwise he can't lead us to greater evil.

(St. Mark the Ascetic, Homilies, 2:94)

   When anyone goes into sin, his thoughts are is it were enchained and his vision is changed for the worse through that by means of which the evil one, instigating and flattering, weakens and darkens us. But after the sin has been committed he sets before our eyes what we have done and cruelly reveals that to which he has drawn us with much guile and, condeming the severity of the deed, endeavours by the same to draw the sinner into despair.

(St. Photius the Great, Amphilochius, 14)


Source:

http://orthodox.cn/patristics/300sayings_en.htm

Quote by Gautama Buddha ~ Happiness minus "Ego" & "Desire"

“A man asked Gautama Buddha, "I want happiness."
Buddha said, "First remove "I," that's Ego, then remove "want," that's Desire.
See now you are left with only "Happiness.”


Gautama Buddha


Source:

http://www.goodreads.com/quotes/718299-a-man-asked-gautama-buddha-i-want-happiness-buddha-said



    

Ancient Patericon, St. Isaac the Syrian, St. Mark the Ascetic,St. Silouan the Athonite ~ Sinful Thoughts

   A certain monk asked one of the elders, "Why are my thoughts always inclined to defilement, so that they give me no rest even for an hour, and my soul is troubled?" The elder said to him, "If the demons inspire thoughts in you, do not give in to them." It is their nature to tempt constantly. And even though they never leave off this temptation, they cannot force you to sin. It depends on your will to listen to them or not to listen." The brother said to the elder, "What should I do? I am weak and the passion is conquering me." The elder answered, "Guard against them, and when they begin to speak to you, do not answer them, but pray to God: Son of God, have mercy on me!"

(Ancient Patericon, 5.35)


  If a man does not argue with the thoughts that the enemy secretly sows in us, but by prayer to God uproots conversation with them, this is a sign that his mind has attained wisdom, and that he has found a short path.

(St. Isaac the Syrian, Homilies, 30)

  A man who is enticed by sinful thoughts is blinded by them, and he sees the action of sin in himself, but he can not see the cause of this action.

(St. Mark the Ascetic, Homilies, 1.168)

  It is impossible to keep spiritual peace if we do not take care of the mind, that is if we do not drive out thoughts that are displeasing to God and, on the contrary, keep thoughts which are pleasing to God. It is necessary to look into the heart with mind and see what is done there. Is it peaceful or not? If not, then find out in what you have sinned.

(St. Silouan the Athonite, Writings, XIV.8)

 
   When bad thoughts are planted in you, then cry to God: "Lord, my Maker and Creator. You see that my soul is in agony from bad thoughts. Have mercy on me." Teach yourself to root out thoughts immediately. But when you forget and don't root them out immediately, then offer repentance. Work on this, so that you get a habit.
(St. Silouan the Athonite, Writings, XVII.4,6)


Source:

http://orthodox.cn/patristics/300sayings_en.htm

Jesus Prayer ~ Romanian

Doamne Iisus Hristos, ai milă de mine!

Jesus Prayer ~ Arabic

alrb yusue almasih rahmatan li!