Vainglory - sel. texts


13. THE thought of vainglory is especially subtle and it easily infiltrates those whose lives are going well,	ιγ' (13) Ὁ τῆς κενοδοξίας λογισμὸς λεπτότατός τίς ἐστι καὶ παρυφίσταται τοῖς κατορθοῦσι ῥᾳδίως
[A] wanting to publish their efforts [B] and go hunting for glory among men;	δημοσιεύειν αὐτῶν τοὺς ἀγῶνας βουλόμενος καὶ τὰς παρὰ τῶν ἀνθρώπων δόξας θηρώμενος͵
[1] it raises up a fantasy of demons shouting, [2] and women being healed, [3] and a crowd of people wanting to touch the monk’s clothes. [4] It prophesies priesthood for him, and sets the stage with people thronging at his door, calling for him, and even though he resists he will be carried off under constraint.	δαίμονάς τε κράζοντας ἀναπλάττων καὶ θεραπευόμενα γύναια καὶ ὄχλον τινὰ τῶν ἱματίων ἐφαπτόμενον· μαντεύεται δὲ αὐτῷ καὶ ἱερωσύνην λοιπὸν καὶ τοὺς ζητοῦντας αὐτὸν ταῖς θύραις ἐφίστησι· καὶ ὡς εἰ μὴ βούλοιτο δέσμιος ἀπαχθήσεται.
Then, having raised him up with empty hopes like this, it suddenly leaps away and leaves him, abandoning him to be tempted either by the demon of pride or by the demon of gloominess, which brings on thoughts contrary to the previous hopes	Καὶ οὕτως αὐτὸν μετέωρον ταῖς κεναῖς ἐλπίσι ποιήσας ἀφίπταται καταλιπὼν ἢ τῷ τῆς ὑπερηφανίας δαίμονι πειράζειν αὐτὸν ἢ τῷ τῆς λύπης͵ ὅστις ἐπάγει καὶ λογισμοὺς αὐτῷ ταῖς ἐλπίσιν ἐναντιουμένους·
Sometimes it also hands over to the demon of sexual immorality the man who, a moment before, was being carried off forcibly to be made a holy priest.	ἔστι δὲ ὅτε καὶ τῷ τῆς πορνείας δαίμονι παραδίδωσι τὸν πρὸ ὀλίγου δέσμιον καὶ ἅγιον ἱερέα.

30. IT is difficult to escape the [tempting-]thought [logismos] of vainglory, because whatever you do to subjugate it becomes the occasion for renewed vainglory. Our proper thoughts (logismoi) are not all opposed by the demons; some of them are opposed by our own individual vices.	λ' Χαλεπὸν διαυγεῖν τὸν τῆς κενοδοξίας λογισμόν· ὃ γὰρ ποιεῖς εἰς καθαίρεσιν αὐτοῦ τοῦτο ἀρχή σοι κενοδοξίας ἑτέρας καθίσταται. Οὐ παντὶ δὲ λογισμῷ ἡμῶν ὀρθῷ ἐναντιοῦνται οἱ δαίμονες ἀλλά τισι καὶ αἱ κακίαι αὗται καθ' ἃς πεποιώμεθα.

31. I HAVE known the demon of vainglory chased away by almost all the other demons; but then when its pursuers failed, it shamelessly approached, proclaiming to the monk how great [the monk’s] virtues are.	λα' Ἔγνων τὸν τῆς κενοδοξίας δαίμονα σχεδὸν ὑπὸ πάντων διωκόμενον τῶν δαιμόνων καὶ ἐπὶ τοῖς τῶν διωκόντων πτώμασιν ἀναιδῶς παριστάενον καὶ τῷ μοναχῷ μέγεθος ἀρετῶν ἐμφανίζοντα.

32. ONE who has reached knowledge and harvested the pleasure it brings will no longer be persuaded by the demon of vainglory offering him all the pleasures of the world. What could it promise him that would be better than spiritual contemplation? But to the degree that we have not tasted the savor of knowledge, we should eagerly engage in the ascetical life [praktikē], demonstrating to God our goal: namely, that we do everything for the sake of knowledge of him.	λβ' Ὁ γνώσεως ἐφαψάμενος και τὴν ἀπ' αὐτης καρπούμενος ἡδονὴν οὐκέτι τῷ τῆς κενοδοξίας πεισθήσεται δαίμονι, πάσας αὐτῷ τὰς ἡδονὰς τοῦ κόσμου προσάγοντι· τί γὰρ ἂν καὶ ὑπόσχοιτο μεῖζον πνευματικῆς θεωρίας; Ἐν ὅσῳ δέ ἐσμεν γνώσεως ἄγευστοι, τὴν πρακτικὴν προθύμως κατεργαζώμεθα, τὸν σκοπὸν ἡμῶν δεικνύντες Θεῷ ὅτι πάντα πράττομεν τῆς αὐτοῦ γνώσεως ἕνεκεν.

33. RECALL your former life and your old transgressions, and how when you were subject to passions you crossed over to apatheia by the mercy of Christ; and how you then left the world that had humiliated you so often and in so many ways.	λγ' Μέμνησο τοῦ προτέρου σου βίου καὶ ἀρχαίων παραπτωμάτων, καὶ πῶς ἐμπαθὴς ὢν ἐλέει Χριστοῦ πρὸς τὴν ἀπάθειαν μεταβέβηκας, καὶ πῶς πάλιν ἐξῆλθες τοῦ κόσμου τοῦ πολλὰ καὶ πολλάκις σε ταπεινώσαντος.

57. TWO in number are the soul’s peaceful states:	νζʹ Δύο τῆς ψυχῆς εἰρηνικαὶ καταστάσεις εἰσί͵
[A] the first grows from natural seeds; [B] while the other is engendered by the withdrawal of the demons	μία μὲν ἡ ἀπὸ τῶν φυσικῶν σπερμάτων ἀναδιδομένη͵ ἑτέρα δὲ ἡ ἐξ ὑποχωρήσεως τῶν δαιμόνων ἐπιγινομένη·
[A] From the first there follow:	καὶ τῇ μὲν προτέρᾳ ἀκολουθεῖ
[1] humility, with [2] compunction, and [3] tears, and [4] limitless longing (pothos) for God, and [5] immeasurable eagerness for [our assigned] task.	ταπεινοφροσύνη μετὰ κατανύξεως͵ καὶ δάκρυον καὶ πόθος πρὸς τὸ θεῖον ἄπειρος͵ καὶ σπουδὴ περὶ τὸ ἔργον ἀμέτρητος·
[B] From the second [arise]	τῇ δὲ δευτέρᾳ
[1] vainglory with [2] pride,	κενοδοξία μετὰ ὑπερηφανίας
which capture the monk when the other demons go away.	ἐν ἀναιρέσει τῶν λοιπῶν δαιμόνων τὸν μοναχὸν ὑποσύρουσα.
One who perceives the beginnings of the first [peaceful] state will be even more sharply aware of the attacks of the demons	Ὁ τοίνυν τηρῶν τὰ ὅρια τῆς προτέρας καταστάσεως͵ τὰς ἐπιδρομὰς τῶν δαιμόνων ὀξύτερον ἐπιγνώσεται.

58. THE demon of vainglory opposes the demon of sexual impurity; and it is impossible for them both to attack the soul at the same time; for the former promises honor while the latter produces disgrace So whichever of them comes and oppresses you, form within yourself the [tempting-]thoughts of the opposing demon. If you are able, as they say, to use a nail to drive out a nail, you can know that you are near to the borders of apatheia, because your nous is strong enough to employ human thoughts to obliterate demonic thoughts.	νη' Ὁ τῆς κενοδοξίας δαίμων ἀντίκειται τῷ δαίμονι τῆς πορνείας͵ καὶ τούτους ἅμα προσβαλεῖν ψυχῇ τῶν οὐκ ἐνδεχομένων ἐστίν· εἴπερ ὁ μὲν τιμὰς ἐπαγγέλλεται͵ ὁ δὲ ἀτιμίας πρόξενος γίνεται· ὁπότερος τοίνυν τούτων ἐὰν προσεγγίσας πιέζῃ σε͵ τοὺς τοῦ ἀντικειμένου δαίμονος πλάττε δῆθεν ἐν σεαυτῷ λογισμούς· κἂν δυνηθῇς τὸ δὴ λεγόμενον ἥλῳ τὸν ἧλον ἐκκρούειν͵ γίνωσκε σεαυτὸν πλησίον ὄντα τῶν ὅρων τῆς ἀπαθείας· ἴσχυσε γάρ σου ὁ νοῦς λογισμοῖς ἀνθρωπίνοις λογισμοὺς ἀφανίσαι δαιμόνων.
But to employ humility to drive away the [tempting-]thought of vainglory, or chastity [to drive away] the [tempting-]thought of sexual immorality with would be a sign of the most profound apatheia.	Τὸ δὲ διὰ ταπεινοφροσύνης ἀπώσασθαι τὸν τῆς κενοδοξίας λογισμόν͵ ἢ διὰ σωφροσύνης τὸν τῆς πορνείας͵ βαθυτάτης ἂν εἴη τεκμήριον ἀπαθείας.
Attempt to practice this with all the demons that are opposed to each other, and you will, at the same time, come to know which passion affects you the most.	Καὶ τοῦτο ἐπὶ πάντων τῶν ἀντικειμένων ἀλλήλοις δαιμόνων πράττειν πειράθητι· ἅμα γὰρ καὶ γνώσῃ ποίῳ πάθει μᾶλλον πεποίωσαι.
But with all your power beseech God for the ability to fight off your enemies in this second way.	Πλὴν ὅση δύναμις αἴτει παρὰ Θεοῦ τῷ δευτέρῳ τρόπῳ τοὺς πολεμίους ἀμύνασθαι.

14. ALONE of all the [tempting-]thoughts, vainglory has unlimited resources, encompassing nearly the whole inhabited world; and it opens the gates to all the demons like some evil traitor in a city.	^{[79.1216d] [p.198]} 14. Μόνος τῶν λογισμῶν ὁ τῆς κενοδοξίας ἐστὶ πολύυλος, καὶ ὅλην σχεδὸν περιλαμβάνων τὴν οἰκουμένην, καὶ πᾶσι τοῖς δαίμοσιν ὑπανοίγων τὰς θύρας, ὥσπερ tις προδότης πονηρὸς ἀγαθῆς γενόμενος πόλεως.
Thus it completely humiliates the nous of the solitary, filling it with many words and concerns, and destroying the prayers through which he tries to heal all the wounds of his soul.	Διὸ καὶ πάνυ ταπεινοῖ τοῦ ἀναχωροῦντος τὸν νοῦν, πολλῶν λόγων αὐτὸν καὶ πραγμάτων πληρῶν, καὶ τὰς προσευχὰς αὐτοῦ λυμαινόμενος δι’ ὧν πάντα τὰ τῆς ψυχῆς αὐτοῦ τραύματα θεραπεύειν σπουδάζει.
This [tempting-]thought is enhanced through the defeat of all the other demons; and with it[s help] they all regain entry into the soul, thus truly making his last state worse than his first. (cf. Mt 12:45).	Τοῦτον τὸν λογισμὸν συναύξουσι πάντες ἡττηθέντες οἱ δαίμονες, καὶ πάλιν δι’ αὐτοῦ πάντες εἰς τὰς ψυχὰς λαμβάνουσιν εἴσοδον, ποιοῦντες ὄντως τὰ ἔσχατα, χείρονα τῶν πρώτων.
Through this [tempting-]thought is begotten pride, which cast down the seal of [divine] likeness and the crown of all beauty (Prov. 9:18) from heaven to earth. But turn quickly away from it and do not dally (Prov. 9:18), lest you surrender your life to others and your substance to the merciless (cf. Prov. 5:9). This demon is put to flight by intense prayer and by neither doing nor saying anything that contributes to accursed [self-]glorification.	̓Εκ τούτου δὲ γεννᾶται τοῦ λογισμοῦ, καὶ ὁ τῆς ὑπερηφανίας ἐκεῖνος, ὁ τὸ ἀποσφράγισμα τῆς ὁμοιώσεως, καὶ τὸν στέφανον τοῦ κάλλους ἀπ' οὐρανῶν εἰς γῆν κατασείσας. Ἀλλ' ἀποπήδησον τούτου, καὶ μὴ χρονίσῃς, ἵνα μὴ προδῶμεν ἄλλοις τὴν ζωὴν ἡμῶν, καὶ τὸν ἡμέτερον βίον ἀνελεήμοσι. Τοῦτον δὲ τὸν δαίμονα φυγαδεύει^[p.202] ἐκτενὴς προσευχὴ, ^[79.1217b] καὶ τὸ μηδὲν ἑκόντα ποιεῖν, τῶν συνελούντων πρὸς τὴν ἐπάρατον δόξαν.

15. WHEN the nous of the solitary achieves some small degree of apatheia, it mounts the horse of vainglory and immediately rides off into [imaginary] cities, taking its fill of the lavish praise its reputation merits.	[p.202] 15. Ὅταν ὀλίγης ἀπαθείας τῶν ἀναχωρούντων ὁ νοῦς ἐπιλάβηται, τότε κενοδοξίας ἵππον κτησάμενος, εὐθέως ἐλαύνει κατὰ τὰς πόλεις ἄκρατον ἐκ τῆς δόξης ἐμφορούμενος ἔπαινον,
But in [God’s] salvific plan the spirit of sexual immorality [suddenly] confronts it, locking it in a pig-sty (cf. Luke 15:15-16), thus teaching it not to leave the [sick]bed until it is completely healed nor to imitate disobedient patients who, while their disease is still active, begin walking and bathing, and so relapse into illness.	ᾧ, κατ' οἰκονομίαν, τὸ πνεῦμα τῆς πορνείας ἀπαντῆσαν, καὶ εἰς ἕνα τῶν συφεῶν ἀποκλεῖσαν τοῦτον, παιδεύει αὐτὸν μηκέτι πρὸ τῆς τελείας ὑγείας καταλιμπάνειν τὴν κλίνην, μηδὲ τοὺς ἀτάκτους τῶν ἀῤῥώστων μιεῖσθαι, οἵτινες, ἔτι λείψανα τῆς ἀσθενείας ἐν ἑαυτοῖς περιφέροντες, ὁδοῖς ἑαυτοὺς, καὶ λουτροῖς ἀκαίροις ἐπιδιδόασι, καὶ τοῖς ἐξ ὑποστροφῆς νοσήμασι περιπίπτουσι.
Therefore let us remain [quitely] seated and give more heed to ourselves: thus progressing in virtue and less easily inclining towards vice we will be renewed in [spiritual] knowledge and will receive richly-varied contemplative insights; and ascending once again into prayer we will behold even more clearly the light of our Savior.	Διόπερ καθεζόμενοι μᾶλλον προσέχωμεν ἑαυτοῖς, ὡς, προκόπτοντες μὲν ἐν ἀρετῇ, [79.1217c] δυσκίνητοι πρὸς κακίαν γινόμεθα, ἀνακαινούμενοι δὲ ἐν τῇ γνώσει, ποικίλων προσλαμβάνομεν πλῆθος θεωρημάτων, ὑψούμενοι δὲ πάλιν κατὰ τὴν προσευχὴν φανερώτερον τὸ τοῦ Σωτῆρος ἡμῶν ἐποπτεύσομεν φῶς.


7.1. For the demon of vainglory that advises us that the time has come when we should go forth into the world to teach brothers and sisters encouraging them concerning the monastic way of life	γενες. 1. προς λογισμον κενοδοξιας συμβουλευοντα ημιν καιρωι ου προσηκοντι εκπορευεσθαι εις τον κοσμον ως μαθητευειν αδελφους και αδελφας και εις την μοναστικην αναστροφην προτρεπειν
+ Gen 19:17. And when they had brought them forth, they said, “Flee for your life; do not look back or stop anywhere in the valley; flee to the hills, lest you be consumed”	+ Γεν 19·17 καὶ ἐγένετο ἡνίκα ἐξήγαγον αὐτοὺς ἔξω. καὶ εἶπαν Σῴζων σῷζε τὴν σεαυτοῦ ψυχήν· μὴ περιβλέψῃς εἰς τὰ ὀπίσω μηδὲ στῇς ἐν πάσῃ τῇ περι χώρῳ· εἰς τὸ ὄρος σῴζου͵ μήποτε συμπαραλημφθῇς.

7.2. For the [tempting-]thought inspired by vainglory that arouses within me jealousy of the gift of knowledge the brethren receive from God:	αριθμ. 2. προς κενοδοξιας λογισμον επεγειροντα εν εμοι φθονον κατ’ αδελφων παρα θεου χαρισμα γνωσεως δεξαμενον
+ Num 11:29 But Moses said to him, ‘Are you jealous for my sake? Would that all the Lord’s people were prophets, that the Lord would put his spirit upon them!’	+ Νυμ 11·29 καὶ εἶπεν αὐτῷ Μωυσῆς Μὴ ζηλοῖς σύ μοι; καὶ τίς δῴη πάντα τὸν λαὸν κυρίου προ φήτας͵ ὅταν δῷ κύριος τὸ πνεῦμα αὐτοῦ ἐπ΄ αὐτούς;

7.3. For the soul that welcomes unclean thoughts and, clinging to vainglory, yearns for the priesthood without reflecting on the peril that goes with it:	3. προς ψυχην ακαθαρτους λογισμους υποδεξαμενην και ιερωσυνης επιθυμουσαν απο κενοδοξιας αυτην κατεχουσης και ου λογιζομενην τον κινδυνον τον μετ’ αψτην ερχομενον
+ Num 16:39-40 So Eleazar the priest took the bronze censers, which those who were burned had offered; and they were hammered out as a covering for the altar, to be a reminder to the people of Israel, so that no one who is not a priest, who is not of the descendants of Aaron, should draw near to burn incense before the Lord, lest he become as Korah and as his company.	+ Νυμ 16·39 [17:4-5] καὶ ἔλαβεν Ελεαζαρ υἱὸς Ααρων τοῦ ἱερέως τὰ πυρεῖα τὰ χαλκᾶ͵ ὅσα προσήνεγκαν οἱ κατακεκαυ μένοι͵ καὶ προσέθηκαν αὐτὰ περίθεμα τῷ θυσιαστηρίῳ͵ ^17.5μνημόσυ νον τοῖς υἱοῖς Ισραηλ͵ ὅπως ἂν μὴ προσέλθῃ μηθεὶς ἀλλογενής͵ ὃς οὐκ ἔστιν ἐκ τοῦ σπέρματος Ααρων͵ ἐπιθεῖναι θυμίαμα ἔναντι κυρίου καὶ οὐκ ἔσται ὥσπερ Κορε καὶ ἡ ἐπισύστασις αὐτοῦ͵ καθὰ ἐλάλησεν κύριος ἐν χειρὶ Μωυσῆ.

7.4. Against the [tempting-]thought of vainglory that seeks justice on account of men:	δευτερον. 4. προς λογισμον κενοδοξιας δι’ ανθρωπους ποιουντα δικαιοσυνην
+ Deu 16:20 Justice and only justice shall you follow, that you may live and inherit the land which the Lord your God gives you.	+ Δευτ 16·20 δικαίως τὸ δίκαιον διώξῃ͵ ἵνα ζῆτε καὶ εἰσελθόντες κληρονομήσητε τὴν γῆν͵ ἣν κύριος ὁ θεός σου δίδωσίν σοι.

7.5. Against the thought of vainglory yoked together with the word of obstinacy, plowing furrlows of vainglory:	5. προς λογισμον ·69ββ κενοδιξιας εζευγμενον τωι περι των κατορθωματων λογωι και αυλακα κενοδοξιας ελκοντα
+ Deu 22:10 You shall not plow with an ox and an ass together.	+ Δευτ 22·10 οὐκ ἀροτριάσεις ἐν μόσχῳ καὶ ὄνῳ ἐπὶ τὸ αὐτό.

7.8 For the soul that through vainglory clings to the notion that there really are those eagerly summoning it to accept the priesthood.	δαυιδ. 8. προς ψυχην απο κενοδιξιας αυτην κατεχουσης οιομενην οτι αληθευουσιν οι αιμονες εν επαγγελιαι ιερατειας ην αυτηι υπισχνουνται
+ Ps 5:10. For there is no truth in their mouth; their heart is vain, their throat is an open grave; they have used their tongues to deceive.	+ ψ 5,10. ὅτι οὐκ ἔστιν ἐν τῷ στόματι αὐτῶν ἀλήθεια, ἡ καρδία αὐτῶν ματαία· τάφος ἀνεῳγμένος ὁ λάρυγξ αὐτῶν, ταῖς γλώσσαις αὐτῶν ἐδολιοῦσαν.

7.9 for a [tempting-]thought of vainglory encouraging us to teach the brethren or those living in the world, no longer having gained for ourselves the health of the soul.	^ͅ70αα 9. προς λογισμον κενοδοξιας προτρεποντα ημας διδαζαι αδελφους η κοσμικους ουκετι την ψυχης υγειαν κεκτημενους
+ Ps 83:4. Blessed are they that dwell in your house; they will praise you forevermore..	+ ψ 83·4 [5]. μακάριοι οἱ κατοικοῦντες ἐν τῷ οἴκῳ σου͵ εἰς τοὺς αἰῶνας τῶν αἰώνων αἰνέσουσίν σε.

7.10 For a [tempting-]thought of vainglory distracting the nous with manifold noemata: which now making him manager of the posessions of God; and then establishing him as overseer of the brethren	10. προς λογισμον κενοδοξιας τον νουν παντοιοις νοημασι περισπωντας τοτε μεν αυτον οικονομον των θεου κτηματων ποιουντας τοτε δε εποπτην των αδελφων αυτον καθιστωντας
+ Ps 118:115 Depart from me, you evil-doers; and I will examine the commandments of my God.	+ Πσ 118·115. 115 ἐκκλίνατε ἀπ’ ἐμοῦ, πονηρευόμενοι, καὶ ἐξερευνήσω τὰς ἐντολὰς τοῦ θεοῦ μου.

7.37. For the soul struggling with vainglory that yearns for the empty philosophy of the Greeks:	κορινθ. α. 37. προς ψυχην υπο κενοδοξιας θλιβομενην και σοφιαν των ελληνων μαθειν επιθυμουσαν
+ 1Cor 3:19 For the wisdom of this world is folly with God. For it is written, ‘He catches the wise in their craftiness’ and again, ‘The Lord knows that the thoughts of the wise are futile.’	+ 1Ξορ 3·19 ἡ γὰρ σοφία τοῦ κόσμου τούτου μωρία παρὰ τῷ θεῷ ἐστιν· γέγραπται γάρ͵ Ὁ δρασσόμενος τοὺς σοφοὺς ἐν τῇ πανουργίᾳ αὐτῶν

7.41. For the [tempting-]thought inspired by vainglory that encourages us to teach about the soul’s purification or about understanding truth, without our having achieved either one:	ιακωβ. 41. προς λογ. κενοδ. προτρεποντα ημας διδαξαι υγιειαν ψυχης η επιγνωσιν αληθειας ου κεκτημενους
+ Ja 3:1, ff. Let not many of you become teachers my brethren, for you know that we who teach shall be judged with greated strictness, 2for we all make many mistakes,	+ ϑα 3·1 ff Μὴ πολλοὶ διδάσκαλοι γίνεσθε͵ ἀδελφοί μου͵ εἰδότες ὅτι μεῖζον κρίμα λημψόμεθα. 3.2 πολλὰ γὰρ πταίομεν ἅπαντες.

7.42 For the [tempting-]thought inspired by vainglory that yearns for the gift of healing or the knowledge of God:	^·72βα 42. προς λογισμον κενοδ. χαρισματα ιασεως η γνωσεως θεου επιζητουντας
+ James 4:3 You ask and do not receive, because you ask wrongly, to spend it on your passions.	+ ϑα 4·3 αἰτεῖτε καὶ οὐ λαμβάνετε͵ διότι κακῶς αἰτεῖσθε͵ ἵνα ἐν ταῖς ἡδοναῖς ὑμῶν δαπανήσητε.

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