"Watch then Thyself": Spiritual Practice & Digital Culture 

Fr Maximos brings the wisdom of Mt Athos to a hungry world. All his presentations are excellent.

"Not a virtual reality, but the reality of virtue." Wow!

13:14 "Distractibility is to the mind what obesity is to the body." Brilliant! Mental gluttony.

Technology is like money: we should be its master, not its slave. Excellent Lecture!

I’m watching this in my own time. But I must be honest, I watch a lot of these videos when I’m supposed to be working. But I’m reminded of the parable of the manager who was going to be fired and did some favors to a few debtors that owed his boss so that he would have a future job. So investing a little in spiritual matters while “working” seems the same to me. I’m a sinner so don’t take this as advice, it was a confession. Let’s hope my bet pays off ☦️🙏🏻

one of the best speeches I have heard

A truly wonderful gift to every Orthodox Christian who watches this lecture

We had the distinct opportunity to meet Fr. Maximus at Saint Sophia Greek Orthodox Cathedral in Los Angeles, California several years ago. Throughout my lifetime I have been fortunate to experience brilliant minds in academia, leadership and public policy. Fr. Maximus, in my humble opinion, is without a doubt the most brilliant applied intellect we have ever met. "Glory be to God for All Things." Especially Fr. Maximus. Chrysostomos

My wife has always felt that the 'paradise' of technology is NOT of God, who wills some suffering rather than the ease of modern tines. And his can we find time for God when our attention is focused on worldly things, our minds stuffed full of noise, images and other distractions? We are continually bombarded with modern ideas, to seek 'mindfulness' rather than God. Our lives are over busy, over stressed and lack beauty, simplicity and holiness. It us so refreshing to listen to this talk, and hear dome truths. Thank you.

This has awakened me. I will only watch Christian Orthodox videos from now on. I won't waste my timw with stupid memes.

How sobering to know the Devil doesn't need to appear in front of us by to prove his existence when he can capture your attention through the distractions on your PHONE! God help us.

Bravo! It seems that, in 2020, the "0th" rung of the Ladder of Divine Ascent should be "Put down your phone!"

Very enlightening and timely. Thank you and God bless you from a Muslim brother.

Yes everything Fr Maximos said felt totally spiritually correct.

Very, very, well said.

Thank you so much for this, tho' I'm only seeing it now! May many receive this serious & sober warning, for verily this is taking over our children, young people and all age groups today, and most sadly, people seem to love it (idolatry and idleness), and/or, they know nothing else! Lord have mercy!

I have to be careful that I don't get fooled into thinking that I've understood, but the fog is certainly clearing up for me on this topic in large areas. I've recently become aware of the concept, and then also the word, acedia, and this discovery has helped me a lot to get a better understanding of my own sin. I really have some bizarre tendency to have my attention distracted from God in any way, any way at all, even if the distraction is stupid and I even experience it as unpleasant. It has become clear to me that the underlying motivation isn't to do the distraction, but to get away from God. It's a very absurd and deadly tendency, and I don't understand why I am like this, but I do know now that it is there, and I can feel its grip on me loosening because of that.

What a great talk

What a sobering lesson!

I am watching this on my phone lol

This mostly happens without us being aware. We have the choice to subject our minds and even the world around us to God. But when we do choose the world we suffer loss. How do you keep our foot on the gas? This takes the invitation of the Holy Spirit and God the Father, and God the Son. It is also our part to coerce ourselves in God's direction in times when we do not necessary feel inclined to do so. This falls under the Biblical version of vigilance, God coming as a thief in the night, being watchful, the third hour, the ninth hour, the twelfth hour which are the moments in our day that the Lord is trying to call us, recognize Him, and drawing near to Him and hence Him drawing near to you!

Powerful and convicting.

Wonderful teaching!

Great lecture. Stuff that makes you rethink your daily habits.

I read Matthew Crawford's book a year or so ago on my (though I didn't realize it at the time) journey into Christianity. Very Providential how it turns up here again.

Tremendous thanks; your Holiness The devil has so many devises... Even if in the form of devices !

Amen amen amen

Wow.. amazing

"watch and pray"

True, so true, I find it really unfortunate that people are so so addicted to the cell phones, it's an ugly sight when all I see everywhere is people looking down at there cell phones. Not to mention how all these employers are excepting employees using their cell ph. during work time. I'm so sick of hearing people saying it's necessary for emergencies, as if we never had emergencies back in the day before cell phones. I DO NOT own or have a cell phone, & live normal & fine without one. But yet people act & look at me like I'm weird that I do not have one.

Amen

Maybe I will go that way... yet now I am not prepared. One cannot even laugh, or smile, inappropriately...

The culture is disentegrating and those causing it operate the communication channels that could warn people.

This is so beautiful - I come back to this short talk often. Is it available in pdf format so I can print it out and read occasionally?

Science is the tool by which Satan clouds the divine nature of Man, through his love of matter and knowledge.

@11:45 Conclusion @14:05 Alternative

I am going to speak to my spiritual father as well but I have a question. My only EXTERNAL passion is smoking nicotine. Should I rid myself of this passion before taking your advice on deeper prayer/the philokalia? Thank you Fr.

tobias funke?

finally catching onto what the jews do for sabbath day not using any technology. lol

guilty

How do the Chinese operate?? By selling replicas of Rolls Royce. Bad quality replicas. They think they are smart.

I will pray for you Dakota. God chose the Hebrew people to bless the world. Jesus was crucified to save all those who would believe. Read Genesis Chapter 12:1-3 and Romans Chapters 9-11. We must stand with Israel. God made a covenant promise with the Jewish people, and he will not forsake them. Jesus laid His life down for us willingly. Remember Jesus' words: "Forgive them; for they know not what they do."