Our Thoughts Determine Our Lives: The Life and Teachings of Elder Thaddeus of Vitovnica - Ana Smiljanic Review & Synopsis

 Synopsis

Elder Thaddeus of Vitovnica was one of the most renowned spiritual guides of Serbia in the twentieth century. As a novice he lived in obedience to Elder Ambrose of Miljkovo Monastery, a disciple of the Optina Elders. From him Fr. Thaddeus learned the Prayer of the Heart and the selfless love that came to characterize his whole ministry to the suffering Serbian people. Born in 1914, Elder Thaddeus lived through all the suffering endured by Serbia in the twentieth century. Over the course of two World Wars, during the Communist takeover, and through the NATO bombings of 1999, he co-suffered with his people. He taught, counseled, and prayed for all who came to him in pain and sorrow. His words of love and hope provided spiritual balm for people from all classes of society. In 2002 Elder Thaddeus reposed, leaving behind a large collection of his teachings, preserved by his faithful spiritual children. His life, teachings, and spiritual conversations are here presented for the first time in English.

Review

The Human Icon

Despite the history that divides them, Hinduism and Orthodox Christianity have much in common. In The Human Icon, Christine Mangala Frost explores how both religions seek to realise the divine potential of every human being, and the differences in their approach. Frost, who has experienced both the extraordinary riches and the all-too-human failings of Hinduism and Orthodox Christianity from the inside, is perfectly placed to examine the convergences and divergences between the two faiths. Inspired by a desire to clear up the misunderstandings that exist between the two, The Human Icon is a study in how two faiths, superficially dissimilar, can nevertheless find meeting points everywhere. The powerful intellectual and spiritual patristic traditions of Orthodox Christianity offer a rare tool for revitalising too-often stalled dialogue with Hinduism and present the chance for a broader and more diverse understanding of the oldest religion in the world. Tracing the long history of Orthodox Christianity in India, from the Thomas Christians of ancient times to the distinctive theology of Paulos Mar Gregorios and the Kottayam School, Frost explores the impact of Hindu thought on Indian Christianity and considers the potential for confluence. With a breadth of interest that spans Hindu bhakti, Orthodox devotional theology, Vedanta and theosis, as well as meditational Yoga and hesychastic prayer, Frost offers a fresh perspective on how the devotees of both faiths approach the ideal of divinisation, and presents a thoughtful, modern methodology for a dialogue of life.

         Elder Thaddeus , Our Thoughts Determine Our Lives : The Life and Teachings of Elder Thaddeus of Vitovnica (compiled by the St Herman of Alaska Brotherhood, translated by Ana Smiljanic (California: Saint Herman Brotherhood, 2009; 2012), p."

Divine Eros

Divine Eros draws on the latest scientific evidence, including genetics, endocrinology, and psychology, to debunk many key myths about homosexuality and offer alternatives for healing. Following the loss of a friend who was compelled to take his life because of his father's hatred of homosexuals, author Joy E. Corey's pain inspired her to explore the topic. Combining pastoral sensitivity with academic precision, she explores alternatives to simplistic solutions that often characterize discussions of this controversial and provocative topic. Written for those struggling with their own sexuality and their family members, it offers true stories of struggle and victory, pain and healing. "What is fresh about this perspective is its

        Amazing how my life got completely turned around — thanks to the mercy of God! ... Elder Thaddeus of Vitovnica , Our Thoughts Determine Our Lives , The Life & Teachings of Elder Thaddeus of Vitronica, translated Ana Smiljanic (St. Herman ..."

Being with God

All fruitful doing must begin with being. For many Christians, it's easy to be swept up into the fast pace of modern life, desiring to do much for God. But we struggle to slow down and be with God. According to pastor, Enneagram teacher, and author AJ Sherrill, being with God is what empowers doing for God. Sherrill shares his own journey from "busy" Christianity to the ancient paths of contemplative practices. He equips readers to integrate rhythms of stillness, silence, and solitude, offering step-by-step guidance and examples of finding solitude both personally and on retreats. Sherrill warns that making these changes appears absurd in a society where time is money, productivity is central, and hurry is a way of life. He guides readers gently through the beginning and often confusing stages of contemplative practice. Citing timely insights from the world of neurology and mental health, he shows that solitude is crucial not only for Christian growth but also for holistic flourishing. Foreword by Rich Villodas. Readers will emerge, centered in Christ, well on their way to this goal: slow down, pay attention, be still, and be loved.

        The Influential Mind: What the Brain Reveals about Our Power to Change Others. New York: Henry Holt, 2018. ... Our Thoughts Determine Our Lives : The Life and Teachings of Elder Thaddeus of Vitovnica . Translated by Ana Smiljanic ."

Manifesting Peace

#ADSHERE#

"'Peace, peace' they say, but there is no peace!" Today, as in the days of the prophet Ezekiel, peace is elusive. Stress, strife, and worries drain our abilities when we need them most. Here are twelve principles to cultivate peace in your life. An essential ingredient of physical and mental health, peace does not fall from the sky. "Blessed are the peacemakers!" means that peace is made. Peace takes work and effort. Each chapter offers tangible ways to nurture peace in your everyday life. Inputs from psychology, counseling theory, and wisdom from world religions are followed by prayer and meditation exercises to come closer to God, forgive others, and discern what to do in a particular situation. Try them! Find out which ones work best for you. Peace brings healing, wholeness, and balance.

        Thomas Merton: My Brother: His Journey to Freedom, Compassion and Final Integration. New York: New City, 1996. ... Our Thoughts Determine Our Lives : The Life and Teachings of Elder Thaddeus of Vitovnica . Translated by Ana Smiljanic ."

An Ocean of Light

For people drawn to a life of contemplation, the dawning of luminous awareness in a mind full of clutter is deeply liberating. In the third of his best-selling books on Christian contemplative life, Martin Laird turns his attention to those who are well settled in their contemplative practice. An Ocean of Light speaks both to those just entering the contemplative path and to those with a maturing practice of contemplation. Gradually, the practice of contemplation lifts the soul, freeing it from the blockages that introduce confusion into our identity and thus confusion about the mystery we call God. In the course of a lifetime of inner silencing, the flower of awareness emerges: a living realization that we have never been separate from God or from the rest of humanity while we each fully become what each of us is created to be. In contemplation we become so silent before God that the "before" drops away. Those whose lives have led them deeply into the silent land realize this, but not in the way that we realize that the square root of 144 is 12. Laird draws from a wide and diverse range of writers--from St. Augustine, Evagrius Ponticus, and St. Teresa of Avila to David Foster Wallace, Flannery O'Connor, Virginia Woolf, and Franz Wright--to ground his insight in an ancient practice and give it a voice in contemporary language. With his characteristic lyricism and gentleness, Laird guides readers through new challenges of contemplative life, such as making ourselves the focus of our own contemplative project; dealing with old pain; transforming the isolation of loneliness and depression into a liberating solidarity with all who suffer; and the danger of using a spiritual practice as a strategy to acquire and control.

        Anne England Nash (Washington, DC: ICS Publications, 1995), 360. Our Thoughts Determine Our Lives : The Life and Teachings of Elder Thaddeus Vitovnica , compiled by the St. Herman of Alaska Brotherhood, trans. Ana Smiljanic (Platina ..."

Christian Contemplation

Spiritual practitioners and experts across religious traditions are convinced that contemplation cultivates an awareness of the deeper desires of the human heart. But many will ask: does contemplation still exist? If one has been led to believe that there indeed exists the art of contemplation, one will still perhaps wonder what it is and whether or not it is still relevant and applicable today. For many, the term “contemplation” itself perhaps connotes a sense of an exotic practice from a distant past unrelated and impractical to the contemporary life. In this book the author explores the nature and functions of Christian contemplation and offers the reader a wide variety of contemplative prayer methods that can help cultivate an awareness of the spiritual dimension of the human life. The author argues that Christian contemplation is the work of the Holy Spirit. While drawing upon a variety of Christian traditions, the author bases his discussion on the Jesuit tradition of prayer, discernment, and spiritual growth as revealed in the Spiritual Exercises of St. Ignatius.

         Smiljanic , Ana , trans. Our Thoughts Determine Our Lives : The Life and Teachings of Elder Thaddeus of Vitovnica . Saint Herman of Alaska Brotherhood, 2014. Steiner, Rudolf. How to Know Higher Worlds. Translated by Christopher ..."