The Doors of Silence

by Anonymous Caarthusian Monk

THE DOORS OF SILENCE
KEY POINTS OF EXAMINATION TO FIND INNER PEACE AND FOSTER UNION WITH GOD.

THESE BRIEF WORDS OF ADVICE ARE A SUMMATION OF THE LESSONS LEARNED BY AN ANONYMOUS CARTHUSIAN MONK OVER THE COURSE OF HIS MONASTIC LIFE. THE ADVICE IS PRECISE, PROFOUND AND ETERNALLY VALUABLE. IF YOU'VE BEEN LOOKING FOR A WAY TO QUICKLY REMOVE INNER TURMOIL, FIND PEACE OF MIND AND SOUL, AND DEVELOP
RELIANCE ON GOD THIS SMALL TEXT WILL BE A PROFOUND AID.

"CONSENT TO FORGET THE WORLD, THE UNIVERSE, AND YOURSELF. IF YOU HESITATE TO LOSE YOUR LIFE IN HIM AND FOR HIM, GO NO FURTHER. AS MUCH AS IT IS POSSIBLE FOR YOU, IN EXACT OBEDIENCE AND PERFECT CHARITY, YOU MUST AVOID FOUR THINGS WHICH ARE MAJOR OBSTACLES TO INTERIOR SILENCE, AND WHICH RENDER HABITUAL CONTEMPLATION IMPOSSIBLE: INTERIOR NOISE, INTERIOR DISCUSSIONS, OBSESSION, AND WORRIES ABOUT YOURSELF. THIS BEING DONE, YOU WILL HAVE PASSED THROUGH THE DOORS OF SILENCE."

58 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2007

Reviews

[booklady · Rating 5 out of 5]

Profound and Brief Meditations is what it says under the Title, and that is no exaggeration, although I might add the adjective 'DEEP'. It seems to me that anonymous works are either scorious inflammatory rants meant to cause trouble, or they are the insightful writings of someone of true humility who knows the real source of the information relayed therein, the Holy Spirit. This book is the latter.

I was reminded of Brother Lawrence's The Practice of the Presence of God and Searching for and Maintaining Peace: A Small Treatise on Peace of Heart by Jacques Philippe and other books of such ilk.

This book will not go on any 'read' shelf, but on my 'books-i-will-be-reading-until-i-die' shelf. I am putting into practice things I learned from it today! Thank you, Holy Spirit, it is an answer to prayer!

[Angela · Rating 5 out of 5]

Most impactful book of my year. I have been reading it very slowly as it offers an admonition at the beginning “Consent to forget the world, the universe, and yourself. If you hesitate to lose your life in Him and for Him, go no further. What follows will not enlighten you”. Each little section was so impactful and taught me so much by just letting it settle it my soul and pondering it there. I am grateful for the timing of this book in my life and will be keeping it close by for the remainder of my life.

[Tyler Dueck · Rating 4 out of 5]

First off, I am not Catholic, but Baptist. I became interested in this subject after another book mentioned the lifestyle of Benedictine monks.
Despite our differences in belief systems, I found that I agree with the majority of the advice in this book.

The author is simply trying to live a life for God the best way he knows how, and share what he has learned.
A lot of his advice is practical, and at times it reminded me of similar stoic sayings by Epictetus and Marcus Aurelius.

[Kristine · Rating 5 out of 5]

Tiny book with giant lessons.