Asceticism of the Mind: Forms of Attention and Self-transformation in Late Antique Monasticism

249 Pages·2018·1.067 MB·English

by  Inbar Graiver

Asceticism of the Mind
Asceticism is founded on the possibility that human beings can profoundly trans-
form themselves through training and discipline. In particular, asceticism in the
Eastern monastic tradition is based on the assumption that individuals are not
slaves to the habitual and automatic but can be improved by ascetic practice and,
with the cooperation of divine grace, transform their entire character and culti-
vate special powers and skills. Asceticism of the Mindexplores the strategies that
enabled Christian ascetics in the Egyptian, Gazan, and Sinaitic monastic tradi-
tions of late antiquity to cultivate a new form of existence. At the book’s center
is a particular model of ascetic discipline that involves a systematic effort to train
the mind and purify attention. Drawing on contemporary cognitive and neuro-
scientific research, this study underscores the beneficial potential and self-for-
mative role of the monastic system of mental training, thereby confuting older
views that emphasized the negative and repressive aspects of asceticism. At the
same time, it sheds new light on the challenges that Christian ascetics encoun-
tered in their attempts to transform themselves, thereby lending insight into
aspects of their daily lives that would otherwise remain inaccessible. Asceticism of
the Mindbrings rigorously historical and cognitive perspectives into conjunction
across a range of themes, and in so doing opens up new ways of exploring ascet-
icism and Christian monasticism. By working across the traditional divide
between the humanities and the cognitive sciences, it offers new possibilities for
a constructive dialogue across these fields.
ii | Preface
Preface | iii
studies and texts 213
Asceticism of the Mind
Forms of Attention and Self-Transformation
in Late Antique Monasticism
INBAR GRAIVER
Translated by hugh mcdonald
with the collaborati of the author
pontifical institute of mediaeval studies
iv | Preface
Acknowledgments
The publication of this volume was made possible by funds generously provided by the Basilian
Fathers of the University of St Michael’s College.
Library and Archives Canada Cataloguing in Publication
Graiver, Inbar, author
Asceticism of the mind : forms of attention and self-transformation in late antique monasti-
cism / Inbar Graiver.
(Studies and texts ; 213)
Includes bibliographical references and index.
Issued in print and electronic formats.
ISBN 978-0-88844-213-0(hardcover).– ISBN 978-1-77110-394-7(PDF)
1. Asceticism– History– Early church, ca. 30–600. 2. Monastic and religious life– History
– Early church, ca. 30–600. 3. Attention– Religious aspects– Christianity. 4. Awareness– Reli-
gious aspects– Christianity. 5. Self-control– Religious aspects– Christianity. 6. Self– Religious
aspects– Christianity. 7. Discipline– Religious aspects– Christianity. 8. Ascetics– Psychology.
9. Egypt– Church history– Primitive and early church, ca. 30–600. 10. Palestine– Church his-
tory– Primitive and early church, ca. 30–600. I.Pontifical Institute of Mediaeval Studies, issuing
body II.Title. III.Series:Studies and texts (Pontifical Institute of Mediaeval Studies) ; 213
BV5023.G732018 248.4'7 C2018-902653-7 C2018-902654-5
© 2018
Pontifical Institute of Mediaeval Studies
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Preface | v
Contents
Acknowledgments vii
Abbreviations ix
Introduction 1
CHAPTERONE
The Ascetic Self 30
CHAPTERTWO
Control of the Self 72
CHAPTERTHREE
The Challenges of Attentiveness 96
CHAPTERFOUR
The Besieged Mind 129
CHAPTERFIVE
Removing the Blockage 163
Conclusion 188
Bibliography 198
Index 233
vi | Contents
Preface | vii
Acknowledgments
This book is the product of several years of research and dialogue with my
colleagues, teachers, and friends at Tel Aviv University. Of these, my greatest
debt is to Youval Rotman, who served as an advisor for the dissertation on which
this book is based. Without his criticism and encouragement, this book would
not have been possible; without his seminar on asceticism, it would never have
been conceived. I also owe an enormous debt of gratitude to Brian Stock, both
for his belief in the importance of my research and for contributing to my
intellectual development through his own publications. I am deeply grateful to
Aryeh Kofsky for his wise advice and never-ending willingness to help. Many
thanks go also to Aviad Kleinberg, not only for his help and support as head of
The Zvi Yavetz School of Historical Studies at Tel Aviv University, but also for
his unforgettable seminar on Augustine.
I would also like to thank professors Benjamin Isaac, David Brakke, Andrew
Crislip, Luther H. Martin, Yulia Ustinova, Lennard J. Davis, Jonathan Huppert,
Gadi Algazi, Yosef Schwartz, Caroline Walker Bynum, Peregrine Horden, Yoram
Bilu, Vered Saydon, Keren Arbel, and Rupert Dörflinger, all of whom helped me
orient myself in the early stages of the work on this project. In addition, I would
like to express my gratitude to the anonymous readers appointed by the Pontifi-
cal Institute of Mediaeval Studies and to Fred Unwalla, Editor in Chief, for their
priceless advice, from which this book benefited considerably.I also thank Ian
Drummond for editing the manuscript for publication and Megan Jones for her
diligent work on the index. Finally, I thank the Nathan Rotenstreich Foundation,
whose financial support facilitated the research for this book.
I am deeply thankful to my family, whose love and willingness to support
me in whatever choice I make never ceases to amaze me.
viii | Acknowledgments
Acknowledgments | ix
Abbreviations
ANF Ante-Nicene Fathers
Apophth. patr. Apophthegmata patrum (Sayings of the Desert Fathers)
Apophth. patr. alph. Apophthegmata patrum, alphabetical collection
Apophth. patr. sys. Apophthegmata patrum, systematic collection
Apophth. patr. N Apophthegmata patrum, anonymous collection
Coll. John Cassian, Collationes (Conferences)
CS Cistercian Studies
CSEL Corpus Scriptorum Ecclesiasticorum Latinorum
CCL Corpus Christianorum, Series Latina
CSCO Corpus Scriptorum Christianorum Orientalium
DSAM Dictionnaire de spiritualité ascétique et mystique, doctrine et
histoire, ed. Marcel Viller et al., 17vols (Paris: Beauch-
esne, 1937–1995)
GCS Griechischen christlichen Schriftsteller
HL Palladius, Historia Lausiaca (The Lausiac History)
HM Historia monachorum in Aegypto(History of the Monks in
Egypt)
Inst. John Cassian, Institutes
JAAR Journal of the American Academy of Religion
JAP Journal of Abnormal Psychology
JECS Journal of Early Christian Studies
JPSP Journal of Personality and Social Psychology
JRS Journal of Roman Studies
JTS Journal of Theological Studies
KG Evagrius, Kephalaia gnostica
NPNF Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers
PG Patrologiae Cursus Completus, Series Graeca
PL Patrologiae Cursus Completus, Series Latina
PO Patrologia Orientalis
Prat. John Moschus, Pratum spirituale (The Spiritual Meadow)
Princ. Origen, De principiis (On First Principles)