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The Wisdom of the Desert with Nicholas Buxton: The origins, way of life and spiritual practice of Christian Monasticism, the spiritual teachings of Evagrius
Over four lectures, Nicholas introduces us to the lives and sayings of the desert fathers, with a particular focus on the fascinating writings of Evagrius of Pontus (c. 345-399). In doing so, he makes the wisdom of the desert relevant to contemporary spiritual practice.
The course begins by looking at the origins of Christian monasticism during the third century CE, when thousands of men and women renounced the world and withdrew to the deserts of Egypt, Syria and Palestine to seek God in a life of solitude and prayer. What inspired them to do this? What were they trying to achieve? In seeking answers to these questions, we will examine the lives and sayings of the so-called ‘desert fathers’, with a particular emphasis on the theological writings of Evagrius of Pontus (c. 345-399).
Evagrius was described as being one ‘skilled in the discernment of spirits’. In his ascetical treatises, he elaborates a detailed programme for aspirants to the holy life comprising a foundation of stillness (hesychia), the cultivation of equanimity (apatheia) and, ultimately, unitive knowledge of the divine reality (gnosis). Particular attention will be given to his psycho-spiritual taxonomy of the ‘eight thoughts’, and the practice of contemplative prayer, as expounded in texts such as the Foundations, Praktikos, Eight Thoughts, and On Prayer.
Session One – Monks of the Desert – Historical origins of Christian monasticism • the story of the temptation of Jesus in the wilderness • St Antony, the ‘first monk’ • fleeing the world to face the self • life in the desert • Pachomius and the beginnings of institutional monasticism.
Session Two – The Ascetic Rationale – The theology of Origen of Alexandria • principles of monastic asceticism • the importance of humility and purity of heart • Evagrius of Pontus, theologian of the desert • stages on the path of spiritual progress • the cultivation of apatheia (equanimity).
Session Three – The Eight Thoughts – On the subject of demons • the eight categories of obsessive gluttony, lust, avarice, sadness, anger, acedia, vanity and pride • the practice of the discernment of thoughts.
Session Four – On Prayer – Types of prayer in the Christian tradition • prayer in the Bible and the teachings of Jesus • the nature of the mind • the notion of ‘pure prayer’ in Evagrius • the legacy of the Desert Fathers.
The Reverend Dr Nicholas Buxton is the Director of St Antony’s Priory, in Durham, and founder of ‘Just Meditation’ and the Newcastle Meditation Centre. He has a PhD in Buddhist philosophy from the University of Cambridge and is an experienced meditation teacher and retreat leader. Publications include The Wilderness Meditation and Modern Life (Canterbury Press, 2014), and Tantalus and the Exploring Monastic Spirituality Today (Continuum, 2009).
The course begins by looking at the origins of Christian monasticism during the third century CE, when thousands of men and women renounced the world and withdrew to the deserts of Egypt, Syria and Palestine to seek God in a life of solitude and prayer. What inspired them to do this? What were they trying to achieve? In seeking answers to these questions, we will examine the lives and sayings of the so-called ‘desert fathers’, with a particular emphasis on the theological writings of Evagrius of Pontus (c. 345-399).
Evagrius was described as being one ‘skilled in the discernment of spirits’. In his ascetical treatises, he elaborates a detailed programme for aspirants to the holy life comprising a foundation of stillness (hesychia), the cultivation of equanimity (apatheia) and, ultimately, unitive knowledge of the divine reality (gnosis). Particular attention will be given to his psycho-spiritual taxonomy of the ‘eight thoughts’, and the practice of contemplative prayer, as expounded in texts such as the Foundations, Praktikos, Eight Thoughts, and On Prayer.
Session One – Monks of the Desert – Historical origins of Christian monasticism • the story of the temptation of Jesus in the wilderness • St Antony, the ‘first monk’ • fleeing the world to face the self • life in the desert • Pachomius and the beginnings of institutional monasticism.
Session Two – The Ascetic Rationale – The theology of Origen of Alexandria • principles of monastic asceticism • the importance of humility and purity of heart • Evagrius of Pontus, theologian of the desert • stages on the path of spiritual progress • the cultivation of apatheia (equanimity).
Session Three – The Eight Thoughts – On the subject of demons • the eight categories of obsessive gluttony, lust, avarice, sadness, anger, acedia, vanity and pride • the practice of the discernment of thoughts.
Session Four – On Prayer – Types of prayer in the Christian tradition • prayer in the Bible and the teachings of Jesus • the nature of the mind • the notion of ‘pure prayer’ in Evagrius • the legacy of the Desert Fathers.
The Reverend Dr Nicholas Buxton is the Director of St Antony’s Priory, in Durham, and founder of ‘Just Meditation’ and the Newcastle Meditation Centre. He has a PhD in Buddhist philosophy from the University of Cambridge and is an experienced meditation teacher and retreat leader. Publications include The Wilderness Meditation and Modern Life (Canterbury Press, 2014), and Tantalus and the Exploring Monastic Spirituality Today (Continuum, 2009).
158 pages, Kindle Edition
Published February 10, 2020
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Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews
February 9, 2026
3.5⭐️
sort of introduction to early monactisim. Interesting that the earliest christians thought the monatic life was the closest, purest, most obvious way of following Christ. Not something for a certain group, but a way of life for all Christians. The section about the way some of the desert fathers viewed demons and how it’s over lapping with modern day psycology was intriguing. The section about diffrent types of prayer was also uplifting.
sort of introduction to early monactisim. Interesting that the earliest christians thought the monatic life was the closest, purest, most obvious way of following Christ. Not something for a certain group, but a way of life for all Christians. The section about the way some of the desert fathers viewed demons and how it’s over lapping with modern day psycology was intriguing. The section about diffrent types of prayer was also uplifting.
December 13, 2024
A quick and easy read all about the desert fathers. I liked how the book gave a number of reasons why people became monks as well as how the author gave an in depth description of what a monk did day to day.
Lastly the teachings of Evagris were fascinating and his approach to sin, silence, solitude and thoughts was interesting.
Two quotes that stuck out to me
“To know God, you must know yourself”
“Dash your sinful thoughts against Christ.”
Lastly the teachings of Evagris were fascinating and his approach to sin, silence, solitude and thoughts was interesting.
Two quotes that stuck out to me
“To know God, you must know yourself”
“Dash your sinful thoughts against Christ.”
March 28, 2026
Osittain mielenkiintoinen kirja kristillisen luostariperinteen varhaisista vaiheista 300-luvulla. Kirjoittaja on kuitenkin anglikaanipappi, joten osa käsiteltävästä aineistosta on ennemminkin saarnan tuntuista kuin tutkimusta tai tietokirjallisuutta.
Mutta historiallinen kuva siitä, miksi valtavirtaistuneen kristillisyyden myötä moni koko tarpeelliseksi poistua erämaahan, oli hyvä. Mielenkiintoista oli myös se, miten nykyään psykologian kautta selitettäviä ilmiöitä personoitiin eri mielihaluja edustaviksi demoneiksi.
Mutta historiallinen kuva siitä, miksi valtavirtaistuneen kristillisyyden myötä moni koko tarpeelliseksi poistua erämaahan, oli hyvä. Mielenkiintoista oli myös se, miten nykyään psykologian kautta selitettäviä ilmiöitä personoitiin eri mielihaluja edustaviksi demoneiksi.
November 3, 2021
Great intro in practice of desert fathers and mothers.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
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September 27, 2024While I find myself drawn to Christian desert mysticism, I am uncomfortable with the Platonic elements that shine through in its worldview.
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July 25, 2025I listened to about one and a half of these lectures. They were helpful and thought-provoking! But I canceled my Spotify subscription, so it's now unavailable to me.
Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews