Spiritual Life & Practices
Nepsis (Watchfulness)
Spiritual vigilance: the practice of guarding the mind and heart against sinful thoughts (logismoi). Central to Orthodox ascetical theology. The nous (spiritual intellect) must be kept free from distractions and directed toward God. 'Attention is the calling of the soul back to itself' (St. Hesychios).
Sources
- St. Hesychios the Priest, On Watchfulness (Philokalia) the English Philokalia
- St. Mark the Ascetic, On the Spiritual Law
- St. Philotheos of Sinai, On Watchfulness