This episode is part of a 10-part series on the kenotic path taught to us by the desert fathers and mothers - the Christian spiritual masters of 3rd to 5th century Egypt, Syria and Palestine. Their system of inner transformation centers on learning to observe the rise, persistence and fall of our thoughts. The desert elders outlined eight destructive ‘thoughts’ – gluttony, lust, greed, dejection, anger, acedia, vainglory, and pride - and taught ways to gain spiritual freedom from their activity in our hearts.

'Unless a grain of wheat falls to the ground and dies, it remains just a grain of wheat; but if it dies, it produces much fruit.’ (John 12:24)

You can also read these reflections on our blog.