ASCETISM - what is it in simple words. Types and reasons

Updated July 22, 2021
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We all understand that any religion, philosophy (how is that?) or a special way of life is a system of certain doctrines, laws, rules and regulations.

Some of them explain, resolve or recommend something, while others categorically refute or prohibit. If we turn to different spheres of social life, then in many there is such a concept as asceticism.

Today I propose to understand the meaning of this term and reveal not only its religious and philosophical meaning, but also the nuances of its use in a secular environment.

What is asceticism?

Asceticism is the way of life of a person who has embarked on the path of knowing himself and the Universe, and the tool of ascetics is conscious self-restraint with the goal of cultivating in oneself the desired qualities and getting as close as possible to the Divine principle. An ascetic person voluntarily deprives himself of a significant share of material wealth and develops the mindset of an ascetic.

Asceticism

Asceticism contains two components:

1. Material asceticism is the rejection of modern benefits of civilization and artificial needs created by society.
2. Spiritual asceticism is a limitation or complete renunciation of sensual pleasures and creating a family. Reflections on God, reading spiritual literature. At a deeper level, rejection of society and withdrawal into monasteries and monasteries.

Asceticism in philosophy

Ancient Greece was famous for various philosophical movements and schools, which the rest of the world was guided by. The Cynics were a school of philosophers from the time of Socrates, who preached a special way of life that consisted of refusing the benefits provided by society. A prominent representative of the Cynics, Diogenes of Sinope, wandered and became a beggar. Another Greek school, the Stoics, founded by Zeno of China, rejected the asocial path. Asceticism in philosophy is a direction formed under the influence of Stoic philosophers (Seneca, Marcus Aurelius), which is based on:

• liberation from the influence of the outside world through virtue and self-sufficiency;
• the power of the spirit over carnal instincts;
• high aesthetics in actions and thoughts;
• life in harmony with nature and the Universal Cosmic Mind;
• nonviolence.

Ascetics in Orthodoxy

Asceticism in Christianity is associated with Christ, whose image the Orthodox ascetic keeps in his soul and relies on him in everyday affairs, filling them with divine meaning. With the help of prayers, the ascetic tunes in with the divine and devotes all his ascetics to God to overcome temptations and passions. During the year, the Orthodox ascetic observes all fasts, prays, takes communion and confesses. Studying the lives of the saints strengthens the Christian in his intentions.

Christian saints who led an ascetic lifestyle (hermitage):

• John the Baptist;
• Onuphrius the Great;
• Seraphim of Sarov;
• Sergei Radonezhsky;
• Pavel Obnorsky;
• Tikhon Kaluzhsky.

Asceticism in Buddhism

When Prince Gautama Siddhartha turned 29 years old, he cut his hair, put on the modest clothes of a monk and left his parents' palace, saying goodbye to a luxurious life. Thus, Gautama became a seeker of enlightenment - the Buddha. For 6 years, Buddha lived as an ascetic: he mortified his flesh with severe austerities and once almost died of exhaustion, without coming closer to the truth even for a moment. The Buddha realized that self-mortification was a useless method for enlightenment and began to practice meditation and reflection. Buddhism is characterized by the following austerities leading to Nirvana:

1. Shamatha is the main and main internal asceticism of Buddhists - concentration and complete calmness of the mind and consciousness.
2. Vipashyana – cultivation of higher knowledge (meditation).
3. Moderation in food is following the Middle Path in asceticism. The body is kept in a state in which it does not distract the ascetic from concentrating on meditation. In Buddhism, physical austerity is not as important as the austerity of thought control.
4. The practice of Sati (awareness) mentally dividing the body into 32 elements (hair, teeth, skin, nails, etc.) helps to discipline thoughts so as not to succumb to worldly temptations.
5. Celibacy and poverty.

Etymology and

Asceticism is found in both non-theistic and theistic traditions of Indian religions. The origins of this practice are ancient and are a legacy of major Indian religions such as Buddhism, Hinduism and Jainism. Prokhor differed from his peers in his desire for solitude, reading scriptures and attending religious services. Gradually, through prayer, the unknown spiritual world opened up to him in all its beauty. Some explain, allow or recommend something, while others categorically deny or prohibit it. If we turn to various spheres of public life, we will find in many such a concept as asceticism. Ascetic Jewish sects existed in ancient and medieval times. era, primarily the Ezegei and Ebionites. According to Allan Nadler, the two most prominent examples of medieval Jewish asceticism were Havot ha-Levavot and Chasidei Ashkenaz. Pious restraint was part of the dualism and mysticism in these ascetic groups. This voluntary separation from the world was called Perishut, and Jewish society widely accepted this tradition in the late Middle Ages. Extreme forms of asceticism caused opposition or controversy within the Hasidic movement.

Types of asceticism

An ascetic lifestyle involves enormous internal work and should be done every day only from a blissful state. Ascetics practiced in anger, passion and pride have nothing to do with spirituality. Asceticism is conventionally divided into types that are closely interrelated:

1. Asceticism of language is a very important asceticism of speech. Idle talk and gossip are unacceptable among ascetics. Truthfulness and kind words create a favorable destiny for a person and his loved ones.
2. Asceticism of the body - wearing simple clothes made from natural materials, maintaining moderation in food, honoring and respecting parents and elders.
3. Asceticism of mind - sufficient attention is paid to purity and control of thoughts. Self-control helps to control feelings and direct them in the right direction. Contentment of the mind depends on the food taken and is associated with austerities for the body. Light food - positive thoughts, heavy food - fears, ignorance, loss of control over the mind.

History of the term “asceticism”

The current situation of post-industrial humanity tells us that excessive consumerism will inevitably lead this civilization to complete collapse, depleting the incredible reserves of our planet in just a hundred years. This is a direct consequence of the predominance of the external over the internal, mind over reason, permissiveness over humility, and it is time to turn to the experience of ascetics, adapting it to modern conditions of life. Asceticism in the Christian tradition is a set of certain disciplines practiced to save the immortal soul of the believer and spiritual enlightenment. Biblical examples of asceticism can be found in the lives of John the Baptist and Jesus, who fasted for 40 days each. Jesus told the disciples to fast and sell their possessions. Paul was a bachelor, and the original Judeo-Christian community in Jerusalem had no tradition of personal property. Some early Christians believed that asceticism was the only true path to salvation. This teaching was rejected by the Orthodox Church as heretical, but the ascetic life was preserved through the institution of monasticism.

How do ascetics live?

In modern society, an ascetic is a person who has decided to follow the path of liberation in order to rid himself of unnecessary consumerism and everything outdated: things, connections, thinking, old way of life. The word ascetic itself means stern, strict, Spartan. Today, people who have chosen the path of asceticism live by adhering to the following rules:

1. Contentment with little, without the feeling of inferiority imposed by marketers. Good books are better than expensive household appliances and furniture.
2. A minimum of things.
3. Great importance is attached to the development of inner peace.
4. Respect for nature (plastic bags and bottles are absent from the everyday life of ascetics due to the cluttering of the planet with these oil products).
5. Charity.

External links

According to Hajima Nakamura and other scholars, some early Buddhist texts indicate that asceticism was part of Buddhist practice in its early days. Moreover, in practice, records from around the beginning of our era until the 19th century CE indicate that asceticism was part of Buddhism in both the Theravada and Mahayana traditions. Since we live in a cultural space where our philosophy, psychology and worldview are closely intertwined with Orthodoxy, it is appropriate to conclude this article with a brief overview of the works of some modern priests and theologians of the not so distant past.

Asceticism - reasons

Why does modern man need asceticism? The main universal human values ​​have remained unchanged for many centuries: respect, health, knowledge of one’s capabilities, the belief that “I” is not only a body, but also a spiritual substance. The meaning of asceticism is unique for each person and carries its own semantic load. Reasons why a person begins to practice austerities:

• loss of health, incurable diseases;
• knowledge of one’s “I”;
• expanding the boundaries of consciousness;
• in women - infertility, lack of marriage;
• achieving superpowers;
• improvement of karma;
• the desire to strengthen the world with positive vibrations (non-violence, kindness).

Ushakov's Dictionary

In the Theravada tradition of Thailand, medieval texts report ascetic monks who wander and live alone in the forest or crematorium, performing ascetic practices, and they came to be called thudong. Buddhist ascetic monks were and are found in Myanmar and, as in Thailand, are known for adhering to their own version of Buddhism, resisting the hierarchical institutionalized structure of the Sangha monasteries in Buddhism. Hedonism (from Greek ἡδονή (hēdonē), pleasure; enjoyment, passion , lust) is a philosophical doctrine according to which the main goal of life is to obtain pleasure, pleasure, and satisfaction of one’s desires. Asceticism is not the lot of monks and hermits; this is a way of life, and not only of monks and hermits. Asceticism is a necessary Christian response to the calling that God has for every person. “...Be perfect, even as your Father in heaven is perfect.” (Matthew 5:48). This applies to all Christians. Ascetic terminology, like theological terminology, did not arise immediately. It grew out of the experience of an ascetic life, using many ancient terms, including military and athletic. The word “asceticism” itself comes from the Greek verb “askeo”, “to exercise”, which in classical Greek meant, among other things, exercise of the body. But in church scripture it came to mean, first of all, “to exercise (train) the soul,” “to practice (or achieve) virtue” and “to exalt oneself.”

Asceticism - benefits

Asceticism as a way of life has been adopted by today's generation of youth. People who have taken the path of self-restraint ask questions about the appropriateness of asceticism. Reasonable asceticism really brings tangible benefits to a person, corresponding to the meaning for which asceticism is performed. Practical results of asceticism:

• strengthening the connection with your Soul;
• strengthening the spirit and will;
• clarity of thinking and consciousness;
• improving the moral qualities of the individual;
• development of intuition, clairvoyance, foresight;
• getting rid of diseases;
• fulfillment of true desires;
• transformation of the personality as a whole.

Westminster Dictionary of Theological Terms

The basic prerequisite for reading is listening and listening. The practice of the Jesus Prayer is focused listening, not rote repetition. In some ways it resembles meditation, reading mantras and other spiritual exercises, but it has its own tasks and many features. When we talk about the types and forms of asceticism, as a rule, many divide it into spiritual and material asceticism. It goes without saying that by the word “spiritual” we mean the renunciation of various emotional pleasures and interaction with the world. Materiality, in turn, implies a rejection of certain material benefits of modern civilization. And yet, if you think about it, many aspects of these forms will work together, which is why asceticism can also be classified as follows: