They must not fear, nor regard as sin, or take to heart any evil impulses to sin or to blasphemy, or doubts about the Sacrament, or any other such ugly temptations; for to experience these temptations defiles the soul no more than the bark of a dog or the bite of a flea. They trouble the soul but do not harm it provided a man puts them aside and ignores them. It does no good to struggle against them, or to try and master them by force, for the more a person struggles against them, the more persistent they become.
About this quote
- What does it mean?
- Evil impulses and temptations do not defile the soul if ignored. Struggling against them makes them persist longer.
- In plain terms
- Do not fear or fight temptations as they do not harm if ignored.
- What can you take from it?
- Ignore temptations instead of fighting them to reduce their power.
Where it applies
Putting it to work
Questions to consider
- Is ignoring a thought effective resistance?
- How do you distinguish harmful from passing thoughts?
Another view
This approach may not address underlying psychological issues causing the thoughts.
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