St. Nilos of Soza's Teaching on How to Fight Evil Suggestions

Introduction

This blog post is based on the book, "In Search of True wisdom:
Visits to Eastern Spiritual Fathers", by Sergius Bolshakoff and
M. Basil Pennington, OSCO. The book is filled with the spiritual
wisdom of the Eastern Church Fathers - many of whom are from the
Greek and Russian Orthodox traditions.

One method which these Eastern Church Fathers teach is the Jesus
Prayer (a prayer which is based on Scripture, specifically found
in the gospel passage on the healing story of the Blind
Bartimaeus). St. Nilos of Soza, one of the Eastern Church
Fathers, teaches how the practice of the Jesus Prayer can be
combined with his teaching on how to fight evil suggestions (how
to distinguish good thoughts from dangerous ones).

prilog

St. Nilos of Soza teaches that in our spiritual life, an image or
idea may appear in our mind and our heart. This is prilog.
The idea or image can be a thought suggested by the devil, who
tempts us to do one thing or another.

connection

Connection is the next stage. In this stage, we begin to
discuss with the appearing thought or image. If we do not resist
prilog, and begin to dialogue with the sinful suggestion
or idea, a connection is made.

fusion

St. Nilos calls the third stage fusion. After a
connection with the sinful image or suggestion, the
person may finally decide to do what the thought urges him to do.
This is called fusion. And fusion is of two types.
The second type of fusion is when the person, who has
decided to follow the devilish suggestion, but does not have the
opportunity to act on the suggestion, will really truly act out
the suggestion when the opportunity presents itself.

imprisonment

Imprisonment is the next stage of fusion. This
stage has two degrees also - like fusion. The first degree
is when the person is really overpowered by the devilish
suggestion. In this first degree stage of imprisonment,
through divine assistance, the person can still turn away from
the devilish idea and suggestion, and return to his regular
business of prayer and good works. The second degree of
imprisonment is when the person's mind is overwhelmed as
by a tempest or storm. The person then finds it very difficult
and impossible to return to his former quiet and peace.

Degree of sinfulness

The degree of sinfulness is measured by the way the person is
overpowered by the evil idea or suggestion. The person already
becomes a slave of the devilish suggestion. He is led to, as an
example, to a drinking spree, an act of fornication or adultery,
an act of stealing, or any act that makes a person commit a
serious or mortal sin that will weaken or destroy his relationship
with God.

How to fight evil suggestions

The best method to fight an evil suggestion from the devil, is to
cut off the very first prilog and to practice unceasing
prayer. At the first sign of prilog, the person must
reject it at once, and not enter into dialogue with it. The
prilog distracts us from our regular way of prayer and
good works. We must reject the prilog and look into the
depths of our heart and say the Jesus Prayer:

"Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, have mercy on me, a sinner."

One wise advice from the Eastern Spiritual Fathers is to be
spiritually vigilant and alert. When an idea, thought, word, or
image presents itself to us, even if it appears to be a good one,
yet if we feel some uncertainty and hesitation about it, we must
reject the prilog at once. The key to overcome this
initial temptation is not to lose courage and persevere in the
Jesus Prayer. If the temptation persists, we are to continue not
to take notice of it, and pray and call on the Lord Jesus. If we
feel ourselves weakening or in despair, we must still call on
the Lord Jesus, asking for His help and never giving up prayer.
If we are firm in our prayer and our calling on the Lord, the
temptation will vanish.