The Philokalia and the Inner Life

The 'Philokalia', a collection of spiritual texts by fathers of the Eastern Church spanning the fourth to the fifteenth centuries, was first published in Venice in 1782. Significant in bringing about a renaissance of Orthodox spirituality since then, it shows deep psychological as well as spiritual awareness. 'The Philokalia and the Inner Life' critically examines the nature of mental and spiritual well-being as understood in the Philokalia. It identifies the passions as 'hostile pleasures', with a seductive and addictive quality, which are detrimental to human well-being, and explores the remedies for the passions that the 'Philokalia' prescribes. Like the 'Philokalia', contemporary psychotherapies seek to interpret human thoughts and restore well-being, although the 'talking cure' of secular psychotherapy contrasts significantly with the 'praying cure' of the 'Philokalia'.This book is for all who are interested in spirituality, theology and the life of prayer, as well as students of the 'Philokalia'. It is also for clinicians, counsellors and psychotherapists, especially those who wish to explore the relationship between psychological and spiritual well-being.Christopher C.H. Cook is a Professorial Research Fellow at Durham University, where he is Director of the Project for Spirituality, Theology & Health and lectures in spirituality and pastoral studies at St John's College, Durham. He is a consultant psychiatrist who has worked in the addictions field for twenty-five years. He is an Anglican priest and currently Chair of the Spirituality and Psychiatry Special Interest Group at the Royal College of Psychiatrists.'Professor Cook's study of the Philokalia from a psychological viewpoint offers a fresh and original approach. For those who already know the Philokalia it will open their eyes to unexpected dimensions of the work, while to those unfamiliar with the Philokalia it will serve as a valuable and much-needed introduction.'Metropolitan Kallistos (Ware) of Diokleia'Hitherto there has been little attempt to relate the understanding of the inner life found in the 'Philokalia' to the revolution in Western understanding of the psyche found in modern psychology. In this book, Chris Cook demonstrates the potentialities opened up by such an engagement.' Andrew Louth, Professor Emeritus of Patristic and Byzantine Studies, Durham University'An exceptional book, making accessible to the wider public the treasures of a spiritual classic. The author's innovative approach makes these ancient teachings of relevance to our predicament today.' Renos K. Papadopoulos, Professor of Analytical Psychology, University of Essex, Clinical Psychologist and Jungian Psychoanalyst