Customer Reviews

Way of the Ascetics: The Ancient Tradition of Discipline and Inner Growth

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This little gem has found its way into the lives of thousands and bears a great return in communion with the Holy Trinity. Kierkegaard said that purity of heart is to will one thing. Through the grace of God it is a realisitc hope to purify the heart. Liturgy, Eucharist, almsgiving,etc are all means to this end. Colliander's book helps the seeker tune the inner life to the will of God though the groundwork of prayer and practical asceticism. One thing that is so winsome about it is that he doesn't hold spiritual carrots out to the reader without giving real guidance in how to grow in holiness. As with any book on such a serious topic, DO NOT read it for spiritual titulation. Take it seriously in the love of God. This is reality.

Check out "Encountering the Depths" by Mother Mary Clare and "The Orthodox Way" by Bishop Kallistos Ware. They've been a great help to many!

This is a convicting look into the heart of the animal called "man." Colliander gives us a model of self examination and discipline which has been useful to me in my several years of preaching and teaching. There are goals of holiness here that are so solid, that if attained, heaven would start to shine through.

I would recommend this book to anyone who desires a more holy heart.

I would list this among the top 10 spiritual works written during the 20th Century.

As a Protestant encountering Eastern Christianity's unique ascetic tradition for the first time, this book provided invaluable insight into the meaning of the Gospel for our daily life.

By the time I finished it I was a Catechumen (one preparing for reception into the Orthodox Church).

If you decide to read it, first, open your mind to a different perspective on topics like fasting, prayer, alms giving, and worship. You'll find yourself continually revisiting New Testament passages like the Sermon on the Mount (Matt 5 - 7) and even Leviticus shows up in a new light... Even if you never set foot in an Orthodox Church this book can provide a tremendous depth to your spiritual life.

The style is very direct and hard hitting, but not in an angry, argumentative way. It's extremely humble, while being up front and honest about what it is that we face in our battle against the oppression of death and sin in our life.

This book provides a basic roadmap, an outline, for how to free oneself from this oppression, both in act and mind.

At the same time, the author presents an asceticism that isn't extreme (no running off and locking yourself in a box for 20 years, or refusing to sleep ever again). Instead, it is extremely practical and straightforward - designed for people living in the world.

The last chapter even states that we are expected to live, more or less, like normal people - going to work, paying bills, eating and drinking, laughing and loving. Instead, however, by purifying ourselves of our attachment to all these things - by being free of the need for them - we free our mind and heart to be devoted to God. When that happens - and it's a process that spans a lifetime - everything becomes an act of love for God, which means that even the "normal" actions of life become pure and holy things.

I'm not nearly as articulate as the author - so please pick up and read this wonderful book. If you let it, it can change your life for the better.

Orthodox Christians who recognize that they are functioning at far too basic a level to hope to profit from exposure to the Philocalia and similar authorities, will rejoice in this straightforward discussion of "the one thing needful." The author achieves great clarity without a hint of condescension. This book is an invaluable invitation to "the life in Christ!"

Here is a 20th century writer giving us a window to theosis. Something to read every day for the rest of your life.

Asceticism as a philosophy is only referenced as fitting for the purpose of humbling the heart; indeed, this is a great reason for asceticism, but the philosophy itself is only scantily explained. This makes the title quite misleading, as the purpose I bought this book was a spiritually-informed study of asceticism (as opposed to secular asceticism); the focus actually is spirituality informed by asceticism.

That said, the book is a great guide to lessening one's attachment to the material world (obviously the ideal of asceticism) and is practical in it's suggestions to doing so - and doing so humbly. As opposed to the philosopher and psychologist William James' recommendation, "To change one's life...Do it flamboyantly," Tito Colliander suggests that changes be made in a way that others will hardly notice, which is consistent with the humble focus of spirituality.

I recommend this book for spiritual growth (and even bought two for my friends - a thing I do rarely!), but not at all for philosophy.

This small book is one I will read slowly and repeatedly. I've read about 4 chapters so far and feel some deep breaking of ground. Perhaps I was ready for it, but I am grateful for this compilation of the wisdom of these early Christian sages. Thankfully, the chapters are brief so that you can pause and allow the truths to steep within one's heart before rushing to another gem. If you are serious and ripe for spiritual growth, if you want God to increase and your own self to decrease, this book could be for you. It is not a band-aid solution. Be prepared to work, or allow God to work within you. It is spiritual surgery. It is a helping hand to get you on the humbling path of becoming more like Jesus. I am so glad to have found it and recommend it highly.

Walk in to any book store in the U.S. or Canada and you will be deluged with a plethora of books and magazines on almost every spiritual path known to humanity; there are so many great titles on subjects ranging from Tibetan Buddhism, yoga and the Kabbalah. But one area of our collective spiritual heritage that is often conspicuously absent is writings on and from the western, specifically Christian, monastic tradition. There are a number of good books out there, but this one is truly excellent and is written in a clear, straightforward, and dare I say even simple style that is accessible to even novice mystics. Since the sexual revolution in the 1960's, asceticism has definitely fallen out of vogue in western Europe and North America, but in this small and readable book, Tito Colliander makes it clear why and how we should take up the "path of the acscetic". If you are looking for more than just the latest spirituality of the month from Oprah, and want to begin understanding the path of mystical Christianity and your own human nature then read this book, and even more so- put its advice into practice in your life. Colliander covers such important topics as fasting, the passions, prayer, and the reality of evil in our lives. I love puling it out on the subway, and reading a paragraph or two at a time; here is some simple yet dense food for the soul. Highly recommended!

This book was recommended to me by an orthodox friend, and I have read and re-read it. The words are direct and the path of the believer as a disciple depicted as "The Narrow Way" described in Scripture. The path described by the ascetics, howeveer, is one desired by a believer who seeks a closer, obedient walk with God over a lifelong process.

Colliander's layout of Orthodox Asceticism is almost a step by step how to do it. A "must have" for somebody who (upon the consent of their spiritual father) is looking into the possibility of leading an ascetic lifestyle.

This book seems to be a good introduction and might be most beneficial if it is used as a "course outline" for discussions between the aspirant and the spiritual guide.

I am glad that I read it all the way through before doing anything. There is an often repeated rule that does not show up until Chapter 4. If you go off half-cocked without knowing about it, you might very well set yourself up for major difficulties further down the road!

This is the first book that I have found that gives any details on the mechanics of asceticism in a concise format. Most of the other resources that I have found are written for monastics. This appears to be a workable method for people living in the non-cloistered community.