Nonetheless the fundamental presupposition of the guarding of the nous is the laying aside of all worldly cares which cloud and drown the nous.
“When the nous is liberated from everything perceptible and rises from the flood created by the fuss over these things and sees clearly the inner man, firstly sees the “hideous mask” which is caused by its wandering, it then hastens to cleanse it with mourning. After taking off the ugly cloak, when the soul is no longer distracted with different and irrelevant matters, it progresses towards its inner treasure-house undisturbed and prays in secret to the Father”. (Philokalia Vol. 1 St Gregory Palamas)
Once Zacharias, a disciple of Abba Silouan, on his way to do a task, said to the Elder:
– Leave the water, Father, and water the garden.
The old man coming out covered his face with his hood so that he was only able to see where he was going, and that was how he was watering the garden. He came across another brother, who seeing him from a distance understood what he was doing. Coming towards him the brother asked him:
– Tell me Abba, why were you watering the garden with your face covered?
And the old man answered:
– So that my eyes do not see the trees and distract my mind from its work.
A compunctionate aposticha verse(5) from the 3rd tone is a prayer to the Lord for the gathering and return of our scattered mind from creation and the boisterous cares of this life:
Collect my scattered mind, Lord, and cleanse my barren heart.
Give me repentance as thou gavest Peter
Give me lamentation as thou gavest the publican
and tears as thou gavest the harlot
With a loud voice I cry unto Thee:
Save me O God for Thou art compassionate
and the only Lover of Mankind.
In a wonderful Theotokion of the 4th tone we beseech the Mother of God:
I beseech thee with fervour, all-hymned One,
cleanse my mind, stained from all forms of sin
and make me a beautiful dwelling place of the
Most Holy Trinity so that I may glorify
thine ineffable compassion.
Indeed, despite all the attempts of man to collect his scattered mind from the seed which “fell by the wayside”(6), “among thorns”(7) of this life, “upon stony places”(8), it is not possible to bear fruit without help from above. That is why Saints Ignatius and Kallistos say: “It is not possible to raise the nous without the Holy Spirit”.
~ The Nous, Themes from the Philokalia, Number 2, 2nd Edition, Publications of the Holy Monastery of St Gregory Palamas, Koufalia, Thessaloniki, Hellas
5. Term given to the verses chanted during the service of Vespers after the prayer” Vouchsafe O Lord…. “.
6. Matt. 13:4
7. Matt. 13:5
8. Matt. 13:6
