St. Anthony's Greek Orthodox Monastery Part 3

[frsdonahue]

Don't tell me about the Orthodox. What a bunch! I converted to Orthodoxy, and had SO MANY bad experiences, I left, thank God. I haven't set foot in an Orthodox Church in decades, and hope to keep it that way. I don't know anything about this mushroom stuff. And those Orthodox monastics are stinkbombs.

[6972082600]

I feel sorry that you felt in this way for orthodox church...i wish to consider again your final sentence...hope to find again your belief Lucas. Try to find a priest of orthodox church in the place you live and talk about these things that changed you...tell me if you do it...have a nice day.

[happyshear]

No one but God can read the secrets of the Heart of this young man. If you people who call yourselves Christians should only help him and encourage him. Leave the judging of the souls to God.

[happyshear]

The post I believe it to be sincere. And the Abba is not perfect, do not forget that. He is an Abba, but before all he is a human. I want to believe that you're experience in the kitchen was from God. Maybe you just found God within you. God's favorite dwelling place is in our hearts. Our bodies are consecrated to be "the temple of the Holy Spirit". So why not? Even Abbas can be jealous. Do not forget: humans have often called of Satan something that could not explain. They did it with Jesus wh

[Pamelasoz]

Finally, as a Greek Orthodox Christian, I agree with those who think you seem like a member of a cult. You do--but it certainly is not Orthodoxy. I hope you find your way.

[Pamelasoz]

Dear mushroomjesus, please know that I do not mean this in a mean way, but seeing your videos, I find it quite reasonable that a monastery would not take you. Something is clearly off. While your desire to serve Christ may be sincere, there is something amiss in your tone, your explanations and especially the photos you have chosen to show in your videos. In addition, even a lay person knows that the devil has great powers to deceive us--how could you be surprised by this?

[murahkami]

Regardless, I wanted to share this with you b/c I had similar experiences like this & by a MIRACLE of God through the Blessed intercession of the Virgin Mary was able to discern the difference. Don't be fooled my friend--it's very manipulative, seductive & full of trickery. Stay centered in Christ as the center of your life & strive to serve Him everyday in every way living as pure & clean life as you can is all I can say.... Trust in Him & He will guide you b/c He loves you =)

[murahkami]

Therefore, the love, joy & peace of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ and His pureness would be more from God than just this overall amazing body sensation of joy, peace, and love. Real love is practiced when one commits to love all those around them every day. His love is felt in those moments when you selflessly love others in our every day life. It's HARD work and obedience is necessary for progression in that.

[murahkami]

I would like to first tell you that whatever you feel is very real. However, good feelings can come from from 2 diff. places. God or the devil. A question you may ask yourself is that if God did really "enlighten your heart & mind" after being in the monastery for some time, then why would you leave shorty after that experience? If a feeling that one experiences-supernaturally/mys­tically-gives one feelings of heightened joy, etc know that it's not from God. Remember God is holy and pure.

[murahkami]

Hey there, the Abba was completely right in what he said about the devil trying to mess with you... Those feelings don't come from God esp. if it affected your brain in such a way. Remember the fruits of the spirit: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Lean on his experience b/c he's seen a LOT & knows more b/c of his obedience to God. He just didn't want you to be misled.

[MrJmcc3]

I've been following the comments for a few years and always find it interesting when kosmoikoi explain monastic life. A lay person can read all the books in the world on monastic life & will still remain clueless until he/she actually lives it, there's a difference between theoretical & experiential knowledge. Luka went to the monastery during the "quantity over quality" stage, when there had to be a "force of presence" of monastics(1997), most of the monks from that time period have since left.

[AnnElizabethO]

Sorry to here you feel that way, the monastic life is way differnt than life in the world. Those of us living in the U.S.A have a hard time understanding the life of others form other countries, not to mention translation of languages. I think that "mushroomjesus" misunderstood the Aba when he said that he was jesus and that warm feeling was from the devil.

[AnnElizabethO]

First the Aba is a teacher, a repesentive of christ. That is why he (Aba) said to listen only to him (Aba), on what you had felt in your heart, in the life of the heart a person must guard his heart false visions that the devil can trick you and make you think well of yourself. Like that you are better than others. So if you truly had a touch from God it will bare fruit later on.

[AnnElizabethO]

I am sure you did feel something and the Aba would Agree, but because you were new to it (monastic) the Aba wanted you to guard you heart. If you came to the monastry for selfish reasons, do not fully understand the life of monstics or even orthodoxy. It will make your life most diffcult there. Monastics don't eat or sleep much because of prayer. When a man that was married spoke about his problems there (monastry).

[AnnElizabethO]

He did not understand the differnts between married life and monastic life. My guess is that the Aba only understood that the man wanted to be a married monastic. Sexual relationships are blessed in marrige, although some people take on a monastic like life living in the world. Monastic life is not for all, even though you may want it, its Gods will only. The monstic life is vary hard.

[N1k1mon]

To learn how far the church has fallen from true godliness, one only needs to read the comments in condemnation of this man. You people are frightening.

[eemc2203]

you are a good person with a simple heart.

One day you will mature and find the God who floods the heart with His peace without alteration to the brain of man.

You wanted to help God and you wanted to meet God-----not yet.

peace and love in Christ

[N1k1mon]

Look at the condemnation of apologist117, he speaks as if he is god, he knows what happened more than the one that it happened to, talk about delusion..and pride and judgement. Judging anothers heart and relationship to god, well isn't that the purest form of judgement? To tell somebody they can't be close to god because it hasn't been long enough "preventing others from entering the kingdom.." Also challenging the gift of grace, putting a time limit on it. Tsk tsk

[pianomanMcdade]

shame on you :(

[leafs2574]

oh please 'mushroomjesus' tell us more

hahahahhahah

[oudaram1]

only when a man can say "i know nothing" can he begin to recieve the knowlege that flows fron the heart of God.

if you pour clean water into dirty water, it is no longer clean.

[oudaram1]

love needs no words

[orthodoxusa]

Lord have mercy and deliver us from the institute of religion. Don't judge this brother. Some of you claim to be orthodox yet do what the wise desert fathers warned you against.

[OrthodoxyIsTruth]

This guy is a fake, when one falls due to his own weakness, he'll try to drag everyone down with him.

[drohegda]

how can anyone say they are spiritual and use vulgar language. falsehood.

[DangeloM27]

He made a mistake...It was God .

This guy was getting close to God in such a short time it astounded Fr Paisio this is why he came up with this conclusion.

He had a young innocent Heart full of faith,a Heart that will be ressurected again!

[Apologist117]

The devil wants us to think we are getting close to God in a short time. Pride goes before a fall, and it happened in this case.

[zebrasw7]

continue fervently with your youtube mission!

[MotherTheoliptie]

You're strange! Are you really a monk? Hard to believe it!

[dirtygreek101]

Its sad to see this poor boys apostasy, he has actually turned away from the past down word of God, and fabricated his own idol in the form of a mushroom, the evil one does indeed take great pride in tearing down the best of us.

[zezt]

Do you know Jan Irvin's work on this? He's just published a book called The Holy Mushroom

[ironmonkeypalm]

Divine love only comes through Christ. Truth comes from the Word of God (Holy Bible), not from human teaching. Jesus warned those who follow human teachings, tradition, religion will be lead astray. Jesus promised his Word would never pass away and that all scripture is profitable.

[frolicus]

Elder Paisios of Mt Athos: "Things are very simple, and there is no reason why we should complicate them. If we regard matters in this way, we will feel the Jesus Prayer as a necessity and we will not grow weary...Once we comprehend the need of God's mercy, the desire of this hunger will compel us, without pressuring ourselves in prayer,to open our mouth like a nursing infant, and we will feel, simultaneously, all the security and joy of a baby in its mother's embrace." Don't harden your heart!

[zezt]

part 3))What that 'Father' attempted to do was both deny you your experience of your depth in relation with reality, but also demonize that depth.

you should pulled long and hard on his long patriarchal beard LOL

[zezt]

continued)See, really and far more primal than these upstart patriarchal/malesupremacist authoritarian oppressive belief systems who created idea of 'Hell' and 'Heaven'.

For the much more ancient understanding and experience, the Underworld was the deep place of learning from which one regenerates.

[tortugo]

Perhaps that is why Jesus got to visit Hades for 3 days . . . Regeneration/Resurection

[zezt]

Yes your right. But the trouble with the myth overall, is it departs from its more Pagan roots be having the 'god' ascend AWAY from nature to some male deity in 'heaven', instead of eternal life death regeneration with, AS nature

[tortugo]

There are many troubles with the myth as it is known today, to be sure.

[OrthodoxTeen]

*revision

Continued {1}... Thought i was worthy...

[OrthodoxTeen]

Continued {5}.

...But Humans Are not...

May the GRACE of the Most Holy and life giving trinity enlighten all of us so that we may throw off our imperfect nature, and take on that which cannot fall, cannot be tempted, and can only be light... amen

[OrthodoxTeen]

Continues {4}. The gifts, after the consecration, loose their symbolism and by the GRACE of god, the same light that you saw, are now the ACTUAL BODY AND BLOOD of JESUS the Christ. GOD Himself descends and bestowes his gifts, not to the priest, who is certainly unworthy, but to the people who are worthy. Because of his love, he will continue to grant himself so long as there is one person actually believing in him. So dont doubt Him, my brother, He sees all and knos all, the religion is perfect

[OrthodoxTeen]

Continued {3}. As for the church having altered the Gospels, and the true church, there is huge debate. Even tho constatine probably did do many wrong things, he also did much good for christians. The removed books were retrieved and reviewed and denounced at the 2nd ecccumenical council, which defines orthodoxy and many saints proved the books as false. The Gifts, they are not bread and wine, but symbolic, as they were at the last supper. Continued

[OrthodoxTeen]

Continued {2}, with this little experience guides our whole lives. A wise man once explained how on our graves only our birthdate and our deathdate is rrecorded, all our lifes efforts and accomplishments are represented by a simple dash, what can make our dashes stand out? The flame of God certainly, but we can only attain such a flame with continuing trust in the lord, and He knows all, and we dont understand his ways or reasons, but are content that there is a reason. there was a reason,always

[OrthodoxTeen]

Continued {1}. So father paisios was probably trying to make sure that you stayed focussed, and didnt stray because of one divine message, which the devil can imitate. For example, I myself though myself worthy of the Gift of Foresight, but after some intense prayer and acquiring a spiritual father, the thought of even being worthy of such a girft was destroyed and so was my faith in whatever supplied it. I have experienced God, and many of us only experience a little piece, what we do Cont,

[OrthodoxTeen]

Look, mushroom, The thing you speek of "The mushroom" is called the Holy Light and is definately a real experience, it is one of the many graces of God... even the Educated Orthodox today know that. However I think that Father Paisios was merely being cautious, for example, you read for yourself in saint john's "The ladder" that the enemy has had millenias of experience, and he knows what can render us destroyed, so why fight yourself, except with God who can caonquer all things. Continued...

[jajohnson7809]

I wasn't raised in the faith, I converted in 2001.

[jajohnson7809]

I can relate a bit, Mushroom. I visited St. A's in 2000, then St. Gregory Palamas in Ohio twice. I wanted to be a monk so badly, and they told me I was welcome to join them. Then later they said they couldn't take me. I was so crushed. I've been questioning Orthodoxy for some time now, but that doesn't really have anything to do with the monastic experience, but with the nastiness of some of the people in the parishes and in the hierarchy, as well as certain other things...

[mushroomjesus]

Strange, I wonder why they couldn't take you. One lady who saw my video is trying to take legal action, accusing Elder Ephraim of running a cult--she wanted me to join a "St. A's support group" for recovering from a cult, which I thought was a bit overdone--I don't know of any molestation, and the practice goes back over a millenium, but it's true, there is something under the surface that isn't quite right... you should make a youtube about your experience!

[saraktash]

I pray that you one day find escape the delusioned state in which you find yourself, and find peace in the One, Holy, Catholic, & Apostolic Church (i.e. Orthodox) of Christ.

[mushroomjesus]

I like the church before the one you mentioned, before Constantine institutionalized the mushroom cult, taking many books out of the printed version "Bible"... he did so for his wife, and was only chrismated on his death bead--the church was changed, the true sacrament replaced with a piece of bread--and you're supposed to use your imagination and "faith" to feel the "mystical" so called transubstantiation... the mushroom experience needs no such faith--it works in mysterious ways, but is REAL!

[allsaintsmonastery]

There are two other matters I want to comment on: "Wet Dreams" are perfectly natural. When the vesicles become full, where does one imagine that the excess is supposed to go? It has to go out through the only opening available to it. It has nothing to do with masturbation, and is not necessarily connected with any sort of erotic fantasies. The excess build up simply has to be expelled in a natural way.

[shoumba]

that last comment about "awful words..." was meant to be in reply to someone else's comment saying "you chose hell"...not about the video, although Jesus is not a mushroom.

[shoumba]

Please go to mount Athos and visit some better monasteries...I made the same mistake as you_ going to the most famous orthodox monastery in the US (st Anthony's monastery) to seek guidance.

[jowed42920]

Father Paisios is not the Elder Ephraim. Paisios belongs to the devil and does things that not even Ephraim knows about.Yes I said not even Ephraim knows about! Ephraim is the servant of God. I could write a book about all the evils that go on in that arrogant pridful place that they hide from the Elder Ephriam. Shame on them for not doing more to serve the body of Christ-the americans not only the Greeks in this country. You were loved of Christ to be sent away.

[shoumba]

I believe that Fr. Paisios has good intentions, but I think that both him and Elder Ephraim are deluded.  I don't think that his clairvoyance is from God...

[jowed42920]

Look for closeness to Christ in feeding the hungary, clothing the poor, and having mercy on the sick. I promise you, if you do these things faithfully and properly in His Holy Name you will see the face of Christ. So maney people in nursing homes would love to just be visited to have the bible read to them and to make sure they are taken of. This country is a gold mine of opportunity to serve Christ to those who have the time. Read Mother Teresa's books for guidence.

[jexilem]

Fr. Paisios saw how your experience lead to pride and arrogance, which is why it is a delusion. To purify the heart requires much humility, that's why obedience to an experienced spiritual guide is mandatory if you are going to be serious about it. Once obedience was out the door, you expressed your desire to not be a part of the community. Without humility there is no salvation. These are the proven truths of Christianity. Remember - you chose the path of obedience.

[mushroomjesus]

So, if someone is in delusion, confused and in need of help--in your opinion, what should the Spiritual Father do? Father Paisios sent me away and out of obedience I left. Did Fr. Paisios make the right choice in sending me away? Am I in a good place now--I think so, but do you... remember, I'm here out of OBEDIENCE!

[jexilem]

Well, I don't know the details, but from what you allude to, it seems you protested his counsel. This is disobedience. Obedience for you would have been to respect his counsel humbly. Did you desire to stay after your experience? Did your experience humble your thoughts? Did it purify your heart and illumine your mind to a true knowledge of Christ? Obviously not since your teachings dont relate to Orthodoxy anymore (Jesus is not a mushroom,

[jexilem]

...and if your experience was similar to mushrooms then it wasn't compatible with the uncreated light of glory). From there on out Fr. Paisios loosed you of your obedience which would have condemned you further. Therefore, he loosed you out of love and your leaving has nothing to do with obedience. He couldn't be your spiritual father anymore, because you chose so not he. This is what I get from your videos.

[mushroomjesus]

If Fr. Paisios would have allowed me to stay--would have "Fathered" me... but he obviously couldn't, he was unfit for the job and knew it. A person who is posessed or deluded by the Devil is taken to a Priest... and if the Priest says "Go Away" well, the person isn't any worse off... it only speaks to the Spiritual maturity of the Priest. Jesus IS a Mushroom... Father Paisios--just a man who is fallible like the rest of us!

[jexilem]

Again, I don't know the details, just how you come across in your videos. Of course he's fallible. But also you can only father so much. Even the Apostle Paul taught that after three exhortations the deluded are to be let go. What protest did you put up? What danger did you present to the brotherhood? I'm guessing there is a lot more to this story if I talked to him. All in all, what are the fruits of your experience from an Orthodox perspective?

[mushroomjesus]

It was my literal interpretation of the Rule of Obedience: Confess EVERY thought, and when my mind started racing, so did my mouth... Fr. Paisios listened patiently for a while, but soon he grew weary of me babbling to him during 3am service. I wanted clarification on EVERY thought, but he insisted that I was to take it literally... in my manic state, he saw that I was to be let go.

[erihustla]

who are you? orthodox, muslim or are you anti-christ?

[mazzata66]

Well, there is always a reason why someone is asked to leave a monastery. However, it doesn't mean that you give up and think it's the end of your spiritual journey. This particular monastery was most likely not a good fit for you spiritually. Maybe a different monastery or time to reflect and then go back like a Prodigal Son. It's never too late for GOD.

[mushroomjesus]

The Prodigal Son was not sent away, but his father begged him to stay. Fr. Paisios sent me away because he saw that my spiritual crisis was beyond his ability to guide. This experience broke my faith in all that the Orthodox books teach... for it was through obedience that I ended up where I am today. I am happy to have found Jesus as a mushroom, and no man in between me and the divine.

[mazzata66]

Knowing Father Paisios he does not ask novices to leave unless there is a very good reason for it. There must be other instances that you have done that you never mentioned to us. It doesn't seem right getting thrown out because you had a spiritual feeling in a kitchen. Nevertheless, it would be interesting to hear Fr.Paisios side of the story to clear the air.

[blaxoi]

Fr. Paisios at that moment couldn't knew if your experience was from devil or God.

But if you look to wich it lead you, you will realize that it was from devil.

[mushroomjesus]

Well, Fr. Paisios sent me away from the monastery when i wanted to stay--so you could say that he led me where I am to day. You're not accusing him of being the Devil are you?

[orthodoxusa]

So glad to see the courage of mushroom. Your critics follow the religion of religion. You are very fortunate to get away from this cultic monastery. God is relationship, not religion. Abbot Paisios (in Florence) is not a spiritual father I would want to have. As far as your critics, they can condem me to hell too but they have no idea who I am or what my monastic background is.

[mushroomjesus]

Fr. Paisios is a kind man with his own spiritual life well in order, but when it comes to guiding a novice like myself, he wasn't ready. The main problem was the monastic rule to confess every thought other than the Jesus Prayer... I would be writing all day with one thought leading to another, and yet if I didn't write all day, I was disobedient--catch 22.

[punkers23]

All of this is very sad to hear. To be honest, Ephraim's monasteries scare me. I feel for you.

[pprhous]

father paisios died in 1994.

[mushroomjesus]

Not the Fr. Paisios of Mt. Athos, the Fr. Paisios of St. Anthony's Monastery in Florence Arizona, spiritual prodigy of the Elder Ephraim who was the spiritual child of Joseph the Hesychast. The Fr. Paisios I refer to was a plummer at the monastery of Philotheo on Mt. Athos for 20 years before he became abbot in the U.S... in Arizona where he is now.

[martinoantonio]

I can hear the apostasy in your voice. The fall of the greatest is the worst. When a monk [or in your case, a mere novice] falls he is going to try to bring everyone else down with him. Good luck on judgement day! You could have had spiritual paradise but you chose hell.

[mushroomjesus]

It's funny how you repeat the words you've heard, but you've never seen hell or heaven. If you want to take a look what's out beyond the material world... try the psilocybin cubensis mushroom, and although you are now blind, you might see... and if I'm wrong, will roast a marshmallow in the afterlife in the lake of fire and fry.

[Psalm130]

I wouldn't be surprised if Fr. Paisios of Arizona is the direct cause of his apostasy. I don't think Paisios is a good spiritual father. He has no love or concern for people. I bet he has never even bothered to check-up on Jaspers spiritual wellfare.

[mazzata66]

Do you know Fr. Paisios? He's a very good spiritual father and has many years living as a monk here in the U.S. and Mt.Athos. Father Paisios has love and concern for all people, because I know him well and I experienced his concern for me spiritually. Father Paisios is running a monastery not a counseling center for mentally ill patients. Listen you can lead a thirsty horse to the water, but you can't make him drink. The question is, What is Jasper doing for his spiritual welfare?

[shoumba]

These are awful words and not from God! Many monastics have fallen away from the faith and repented.

[chrisgt13]

Live by the mushroom die by the mushroom!

[ophuchew]

Death2TheWorld--has you pegged right. And you had an opportunity that I shall pray that one day I may have. To become a Monk and stay one.... forever. May God have Mercy on you.

[Death2TheWorld]

The fruit of your current deceptions about mushrooms, etc, are proof that your experience in the kitchen was demonic. One must never trust their thoughts as a monk. Obedience is the highest virtue.

[punkers23]

Never trusting one's own thoughts...so important, but, God help us, so hard.

[dimmavro]

How dare you make fun of such a holy entity of our Orthodox Church - You have no respect for the holy cloth of the Monastics and no respect for the holy Orthodox church. Look past the mushrooms, you're gravely mistaken.

[mushroomjesus]

You see, this is what I like, people like Dimmarvor who praise something they don't know about. I say my direct experience AS a Greek Orthodox Monk and he brings up RESPECT. Fuck Respect bro... I'm about the REAL! Walk a mile in my wheelchair!

[Death2TheWorld]

You should never have trusted your thoughts over your elder. Look at what has happened to you since then. I urge you to stop trusting your thoughts, and submit to the Church in obedience.

[mushroomjesus]

My obedience was leaving the monastery... They told me to go. I got back to the "world" and my parish Priest was angry that I encouraged ascetcism (Fr. John Pierce in Puyallup). He lied to me saying his name was after St. John Crysostom, when before he said it was St. John of the Ladder... The "Church" is just people, and people can become corrupt.

[mazzata66]

Interesting, I was there in 1996..left after 9 months...why did Father Paisos ask you to leave? Just curious :)

[UniversalLove146]

Hey Mush, Can you check your messages? Thank you