The Wisdom of the Desert with Nicholas Buxton
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Narrated by:
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Nicholas Buxton
About this listen
The course begins by looking at the origins of Christian monasticism during the third century CE, when thousands of men and women renounced the world and withdrew to the deserts of Egypt, Syria, and Palestine to seek God in a life of solitude and prayer. What inspired them to do this? What were they trying to achieve? In seeking answers to these questions, we will examine the lives and sayings of the so-called "desert fathers", with a particular emphasis on the theological writings of Evagrius of Pontus (c. 345-399).
Evagrius was described as being one "skilled in the discernment of spirits". In his ascetical treatises, he elaborates a detailed programme for aspirants to the holy life comprising a foundation of stillness (hesychia), the cultivation of equanimity (apatheia), and, ultimately, unitive knowledge of the divine reality (gnosis). Particular attention will be given to his psycho-spiritual taxonomy of the "eight thoughts" and the practice of contemplative prayer, as expounded in texts, such as the Foundations, Praktikos, Eight Thoughts, and On Prayer.
- Session One - Monks of the Desert: Historical origins of Christian monasticism; the story of the temptation of Jesus in the wilderness; St Antony, the "first monk"; fleeing the world to face the self; life in the desert; Pachomius and the beginnings of institutional monasticism
- Session Two - The Ascetic Rationale: The theology of Origen of Alexandria; principles of monastic asceticism; the importance of humility and purity of heart; Evagrius of Pontus, theologian of the desert; stages on the path of spiritual progress; the cultivation of apatheia (equanimity)
- Session Three - The Eight Thoughts: On the subject of demons; the eight categories of obsessive thoughts: gluttony, lust, avarice, sadness, anger, acedia, vanity, and pride; the practice of the discernment of thoughts
- Session Four - On Prayer: Types of prayer in the Christian tradition; prayer in the Bible and the teachings of Jesus; the nature of the mind; the notion of "pure prayer" in Evagrius; the legacy of the Desert Fathers
The Reverend Dr Nicholas Buxton is a Church of England priest in the Northeast of England and a founder of Just Meditation. He has a PhD in Buddhist philosophy from the University of Cambridge and is an experienced meditation teacher and retreat leader. Publications include The Wilderness Within: Meditation and Modern Life (Canterbury Press, 2014) and Tantalus and the Pelican: Exploring Monastic Spirituality Today (Continuum, 2009).
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The Dark Night of the Soul
- A Psychiatrist Explores the Connection Between Darkness and Spiritual Growth
- By: Gerald G. May MD
- Narrated by: Sean Runnette
- Length: 4 hrs and 17 mins
- Unabridged
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Gerald G. May, MD, one of the great spiritual teachers and writers of our time, argues that the dark "shadow" side of the true spiritual life has been trivialized and neglected to our serious detriment. Superficial and naively upbeat spirituality does not heal and enrich the soul. Nor does the other tendency to relegate deep spiritual growth to only mystics and saints. Only the honest, sometimes difficult encounters with what Christian spirituality has called and described in helpful detail as "the dark night of the soul" can lead to true spiritual wholeness.
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Answered many questions I had
- By Nina on 02-08-21
By: Gerald G. May MD
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The Holy Longing
- The Search for a Christian Spirituality
- By: Ronald Rolheiser
- Narrated by: Bill Loran
- Length: 9 hrs and 34 mins
- Unabridged
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Listeners will be fully engaged in a unique and altogether fascinating discussion of Christian spirituality. Rolheiser seeks to reconcile the rift between a smorgasbord of spiritual voices and an authentic Christian discipleship by the use of anecdotes, personal examples and a wide range of literary and cultural references. His starting point is the desire within us that longs irresistibly for fulfillment.
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Great content
- By Allison Winter on 11-07-23
By: Ronald Rolheiser
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The Illumined Heart: Capture the Vibrant Faith of the Ancient Christians
- By: Frederica Mathewes-Green
- Narrated by: Frederica Mathewes-Green
- Length: 2 hrs and 1 min
- Unabridged
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Why are modern Christians so indistinguishable from everyone else? How come Christians who lived in times of bloody persecution were so heroic, while we who live in safety are not? How could the first Christians fast valiantly, but we feel deprived without dessert? How did New Testament believers pray without ceasing? How could the early Christian martyrs actually forgive their torturers? What did the Christians of the first centuries know that we don't? This book explores these questions.
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Illuminating wisdom! Thank you!
- By James A. Coles Jr. on 06-17-16
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The Middle Way
- The Story of Buddhism
- By: Jinananda
- Narrated by: David Timson, Anton Lesser
- Length: 3 hrs and 55 mins
- Original Recording
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General interest in Buddhism has never been higher. The story and teachings of a man who lived 2,500 years ago have a special resonance for us today, perhaps because he taught a way of life that was not based on belief in a creator god but rather on personal experience. "Test my words for yourself," he said. But what lies behind those distinctive images of the Buddha, seated with unshakeable poise, with eyes half-closed and a slight smile? Jinananda, a Western-born Buddhist, divides the subject into the Three Jewels....
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Rocking...
- By LeperSmurf on 11-16-04
By: Jinananda
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Breathing Under Water
- Spirituality and the Twelve Steps
- By: Father Richard Rohr OFM, Anne Lamott - foreword
- Narrated by: John Quigley OFM
- Length: 4 hrs and 35 mins
- Unabridged
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We all suffer from unhealthy dependencies that we continually return to in hopes of having a better life. But after yet another TV show is streamed or another drink is swallowed, we find we once again feel worse, not better, than we did before. Where is the hope for that fully awakened life we long to live?
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NOT JUST FOE 12-STEPPERS!!!!!
- By Musical Theatre Fan on 04-16-23
By: Father Richard Rohr OFM, and others
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In God's Holy Light
- Wisdom from the Desert Monastics
- By: Joan Chittister OSB
- Narrated by: Joan Chittister OSB
- Length: 3 hrs and 54 mins
- Unabridged
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The Desert Monastics, thousands of monks and nuns who lived in the Egyptian wastelands between the third and fifth centuries, have come to be seen as the Olympians of the spiritual life. Renowned spiritual writer Joan Chittister explores the sayings of the Desert Mothers and Fathers, finding wisdom from that ancient tradition that speaks to your life today. With a selection for every week of the year, this popular introduction to a powerful source of Christian wisdom can be a companion to your own spiritual journey.
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Stop, Think, Pray, and Replay
- By Peter Z. on 05-19-16
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Dangerous Mystic
- Meister Eckhart's Path to the God Within
- By: Joel F. Harrington
- Narrated by: Mark Bramhall
- Length: 13 hrs and 35 mins
- Unabridged
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Meister Eckhart was a medieval Christian mystic whose wisdom powerfully appeals to seekers seven centuries after his death. In the modern era, Eckhart's writings have struck a chord with thinkers as diverse as Heidegger, Merton, Sartre, John Paul II, and the current Dalai Lama. He is the inspiration for the best-selling New Age author Eckhart Tolle's pen name, and his 14th-century quotes have become an online sensation. Today, a variety of Christians, as well as many Zen Buddhists, Sufi Muslims, Jewish Cabbalists, and various spiritual seekers, all claim Eckhart as their own.
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Meister Ekhart foisting his sexuality....
- By Kindle Customer on 08-08-19
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Buddha's Noble Eightfold Path
- By: Urgyen Sangharaskhita
- Narrated by: Kulananda
- Length: 5 hrs and 34 mins
- Unabridged
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The Eightfold Path is the most widely known formulation of the Buddha's teaching. It is ancient, reaching back to the Buddha's very first discourse, and it is highly venerated as a unique treasury of wisdom and practical guidance. The teaching of the Eightfold Path challenges us to grasp the implications of that vision, and asks us to transform ourselves in its light. Like the teaching itself, this work covers every aspect of life.
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Excellent
- By Anthony on 06-22-07
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Buddha is as Buddha Does
- The 10 Original Practices for Enlightened Living
- By: Lama Surya Das
- Length: 5 hrs and 8 mins
- Original Recording
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Of all the Buddha's teachings, perhaps his greatest gift can be found in "the Bodhisattva ideal", a template for living in the world as an "Awakener", a servant of the highest good for all. With his previous best-sellers including Awakening the Buddha Within, American-born Tibetan Buddhist teacher Lama Surya Das has made the helpful, healing insights of the Buddha accessible to millions.
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Puts the heart into mindfulness meditation
- By Steven on 01-18-18
By: Lama Surya Das
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The Meaning of Happiness
- The Quest for Freedom of the Spirit in Modern Psychology and the Wisdom of the East
- By: Alan Watts
- Narrated by: Kern Schmidt
- Length: 7 hrs and 1 min
- Unabridged
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Deep down, most people think that happiness comes from having or doing something. Here, in Alan Watts’s groundbreaking third book (originally published in 1940), he offers a more challenging thesis: authentic happiness comes from embracing life as a whole in all its contradictions and paradoxes, an attitude that Watts calls the “way of acceptance.” Drawing on Eastern philosophy, Western mysticism, and analytic psychology, Watts demonstrates that happiness comes from accepting both the outer world around us and the inner world inside us,
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Good Concepts Hard to Follow Along
- By Ryan on 04-13-20
By: Alan Watts
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Counsels from My Heart
- By: Dudjom Rinpoche
- Narrated by: Simon Callow
- Length: 2 hrs and 25 mins
- Unabridged
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Counsels from My Heart is one of the few volumes of teachings by Dudjom Rinpoche, a legendary meditation master of the Nyingma lineage of Tibetan Buddhism, to become available in English. It features talks to students presented in Dudjom Rinpoche's characteristically incisive and direct style, bringing the timeless heart-counsels of this great teacher vividly to life.
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Content is exceptional, narration is absurd.
- By JDKC on 09-01-21
By: Dudjom Rinpoche
What listeners say about The Wisdom of the Desert with Nicholas Buxton
Average customer ratingsReviews - Please select the tabs below to change the source of reviews.
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- Douglas Scott Miller
- 12-10-21
When the Student is Ready
Studying Thomas Merton's book "The Wisdom of the Desert" led to a deeper thirst for the wisdom of the desert mothers and fathers. I took a chance on this book and have found it to be extremely helpful and insightful. I facilitate Enneagram workshops and recently studied Richard Rohr's video series on Discerning Spirits and this book has shed added light on both Rohr's discussions and the value of discerning spirits or thoughts in our journey along our spiritual path. There is harmony among the teachings of these few that I have mentioned (as well as others) which indicates to me a shared wisdom valuable for others.
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- Amazon Customer
- 03-31-23
shine a light and filled in some gaps
An academic explanation of monastic life of early Christians. often stays in modern view over contemporary.
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- Jim
- 08-07-20
What an impressive collection of monastic beliefs and practices
“You want to know God, first know yourself”
Evagrius
I will be listening and relistening to this book for a great many years. I was thirsting for more information on Evagrius Ponticus and the life of the desert fathers and mothers and found this gem on Audible. Nicholas Buxton utilizes his PhD in Buddhism from Cambridge with his Anglican Priest profession and offers a compelling, gripping look at the many misgivings and misperceptions about monastic life. The book also details much in the way of spiritual disciplines around discernment of spirits (thoughts) and what we might call contemplative prayer today. A real life guide to how to live today in the presence of God in the midst of world which lives murmuring through text messages and TikTok.
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- Partha
- 03-25-20
Above and beyond
Highly competent author, he is a true scholar. I did not realize it but the speaker=author, but that makes sense now because the performance was lively and came out as authentic 🤪
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- Christopher J. Decicco
- 04-13-22
Not what I was hoping for
I thought this would be more of an historical and academic study of the day-to-day lives of 4th century monks. Instead it’s a dreary mind loop of Christian thought processes with a brutally slow and painful performance delivery. It felt like the narrator was reading each word or clause separately, as if it was totally disconnected from the previous word or phrase. So many stilted gaps and pauses were torturous to listen to. This could’ve been 20% shorter if the sentences were performed as if they actually flowed together.
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