OS (Text) -- 23

127 The mind (nous) is darkened and remains barren when it speaks worldly words or, having accepted [them], converses with them in the intellect (dianoia), or the body along with the mind (nous) occupies itself with certain sensible things, or the monk gives himself over to vanities. For directly and on account of these things, the mind (nous) loses warmth, contrition, and both the bold familiarity and the gnosis which are in God. For as much as we exercise attention in the mind (nous) we are illumined; and as much as we do not exercise attention, we are darkened.

128 For he who pursues and seeks every day the peace and stillness (hesychia) of the mind (nous) easily will despise every sensible thing, so that he not toil in vain. If, then, he misreckons his own conscience, bitterly will he sleep the death of insensibility (lethe), which, indeed, the divine David prays not to sleep [cf. Ps. 12, 4]. And also the Apostle says: ‘To him who knows to do good and does not do it, to him it is sin.’ [Jas. 4, 17.]

129 The mind (nous) from negligence comes again to its own order and sobriety if indeed it again attains to carefulness, and if we again establish the practical life (praktikon) of our mind (nous) in warm zeal.

130 A donkey at a mill will not advance beyond the circle in which it has been bound; neither will a mind (nous) advance in the virtue which makes perfect, not having corrected those things which are within it. For it is ever blind in the eyes within, not being able to see virtue and Jesus flashing with light.

131 A spirited and haughty horse leaps with delight accepting a rider. A mind (nous) which delights will delight entering into the light of the Lord in the mornings, being set free of mental representations. For it will go from strength of practical philosophy of mind (nous), the mind (nous) denying itself, to unspeakable strength contemplative of unspeakable things and virtues; and having received in the heart the depth of lofty conceptions (ennoies) of the limitless and of divine [conceptions], the God of gods [cf. Ps. 83, 8] will be seen by it as is attainable in the heart. The mind (nous), amazed, lovingly glorifies God, who is seen and who sees, and who on account of the one and the other saves him who thus gazes towards him.

132 Stillness (hesychia) of the heart accomplished will view the lofty deep with gnosis; and the ear of stillness (hesychia) of the mind (nous) will hear extraordinary things of God.

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