Three Degrees of Knowledge According to St. Isaac the Syrian
Introduction
In the book, "In Search of True Wisdom", a character in the book
called Father Panteleimon, spoke of three degrees of knowledge
according to the teaching of St. Isaac the Syrian. These three
degrees of knowledge are in relation to growth in divine knowledge
of God according to the Orthodox spiritual tradition.
Profane knowledge
The first degree is called profane knowledge. This knowledge is
what we obtain as we pursue a university degree in the arts or
sciences. This knowledge is basic and very important because it
is the knowledge by which we can communicate with one another in
the world and learn to collaborate to build our families, homes,
communities and society.
Knowledge acquired through prayer
The second degree is the knowledge acquired through prayer,
watching, fasting, studying the Sacred Scriptures, and learning
from the Fathers of the Church. This knowledge awakens in us an
ever greater desire for things spiritual and divine. This second
degree involves a greater sense of detachment from the world and
its familiar activities.
Theoria
The third degree is what St. Isaac the Syrian calls theoria
- that divinely infused knowledge which is an experiential
connatural love-knowledge that only God can give. This third
degree of knowledge is a gift from God which we can receive and
have a glimpse of it, from its fullness, during a prolonged
retreat.
Conclusion
In today's global environment, made so because of our social
communications media technology, when people are busy working,
building families and homes, small businesses, or working at a
career, the teaching of St. Isaac the Syrian can in a way, still
be integrated with our life simply by following well the liturgy
and the liturgical calendar of the Church. In the weekdays, we
apply our profane knowledge to earn a living for the family and
ourselves, and to improve the quality of our lives and that of
others. During the weekends, we can take more time for prayer
and solitude - visiting the Blessed Sacrament and reading the
Bible as a spiritual exercise before retiring at night. And
finally, as the Lenten season arrives every year, we can take a
more serious prolonged retreat, where we can have the opportunity
to have that spiritual taste of "theoria" that St. Isaac the
Syrian teaches we can receive as a gift from God.
Labels: in search of true wisdom
posted by Dennis Emmanuel Cabrera @ 11:35 PM
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