Acedia represents the
state of torpor or
apathy that was probably
present in humans since
primordial times, but
which gained special
prominence in the middle
Ages. It has a special
connection with
Christian monks in
medieval times. The word
comes from the Greek akedía,
negligence (1),
and denotes a
depressive, melancholic
state of sadness or lack
of strength that leads
down, as a way of
demeaning the
individual, perhaps even
for himself. Although it
seems initially bad, the
issue is not exclusive
to humans. In the animal
world, acedia is related
to the hibernation that
some animals do to save
energy while waiting for
other times and
environments. If for
animals to hibernate can
be fundamental for the
maintenance of future
life, in the case of
humans, this seems to be
dangerous, depending on
the coping approach
taken by the individual.
That is, saving oneself
in one’s life can mean
wasting it, considering
that help yourself, and
Heaven will help you” (2).
Apathy, as well as the
dulling of the will,
energy and joy of
living, can present
risks both for the
present moment and for
the future. Moreover,
this lack of will can
come either from an
erroneous idea of the
world and happiness, or
from the use (exhaustion
or stagnation) of our
personal energy, either
because we are going too
fast, or else, paralyzed
for a long time.
According to James
Hollis (3),
the modern world has
different dangers,
called crows by him,
that wait for some
moment to approach when
we are with our guard
down. One of these crows
is desuetude and acedia.
Lowering vibration and
personal energy can mean
danger that Christian
monks knew well. The
so-called “monks'
disease” represented
this lack of energy, on
purpose, the prolonged
sadness that can lead to
even more problematic
situations.
People - who tend to be
caught in the frenetic
pace of work and their
personal obligations -
can feel drained and
worn out from time to
time, as can those who
are having personal and
professional problems
and who are not
productive during the
period. Being in “low
productivity” for some
time due to context
issues is normal and
needs to be dealt with
in order to overcome
this dry land.
However, there are those
who accommodate and
believe that they do not
have the strength to
overcome the problem,
or, then, do not want to
face the challenge due
to erroneous ways of
formed and ingrained
thought patterns, past
experiences and limiting
beliefs. Assuming the
challenge of
responsibility for one's
own life and destiny is
essential for overcoming
and winning over this
sadness. "Every man,
being able to get rid of
imperfections by the
effect of his will, can
spare himself the evils
that result from them,
and ensure his future
happiness"(4).
The acedia represents
then this signaling, the
call that we need to be
connected (which we are
not always!) with the
responsibility of our
own life, as legitimate
builders of our destiny.
To deny the signs is to
make the problem even
worse.
Life demands
responsibility, but only
those who are able to
face their bad
inclinations and discard
the false promises of a
childish life manage to
make this passage.
Apathy can represent
this existential doubt
or even a disconnection
between the conscious
individual and the
purposes of the
unconscious and the need
for alignment with his
divine particle and with
God.
When there is this real
encounter between the
conscious self and the
inner realm, when there
is true communion
between the individual's
purpose and the progress
of the universe, there
is a recovery of
meaning, energy,
enthusiasm.(5) Incidentally,
the word enthusiasm
comes from the Greek enthousiasmos and
means having a God
within you. This allows
putting into practice
what Nietzsche and
Viktor Frankl expressed
as: “whoever has a why
in life faces almost
every how”. It is
leaving strengthened and
having challenged your
inner enemy and won. The
one that overcomes
apathy becomes stronger
and prepared for new
challenges and
undertakings. We know
that advanced disciples
also face the most
complex trials.
Finally, overcoming
acedia, finding your
inner enthusiasm, forms
part of this magnificent
journey of human beings
towards the stars.
Despite the herculean
work, the task is not
impossible. Knowledge,
personal strategy and
discipline are essential
to reach victory in a
safe way. There are
different ways in which
an individual can fight
acedia. One of them is
the awareness of his
life purposes, as well
as the best adjustment
or reintegration with
God. There is nothing
better than
self-knowledge exercises
for this purpose. If one
aligns with higher
purposes and has a
reliable attitude, the
chosen Spirits can help.
However, we know that
the more in tune a
person is with God, as a
good worker and
combatant (6),
there are always enemies
who want the opposite.
Thus, good company helps
one to move forward
despite problems,
setbacks and trials.
Having people who help
us, either with a
friendly word when we
recognize that we are
beyond normal, or with a
simple gesture, that
fills us with joy.
Therapeutic passes,
fluidized water also
represent this donation
from one human being to
another. To overcome
this through the help of
third parties is what
makes this work “solid”.
It is the so-called
“solidarity”.
Another point that can
help us in the fight
against acedia is to
keep the mood always
present. Humor is a way
for the brain to let go
of unpleasant ideas,
preventing bad seeds
from sprouting and
growing in the mental
flora. It is essential
for the diligent worker
to take care not to
cultivate harmful ideas,
lest he reap bitter
harvests later on. At
some point in life,
obsession could be a
choice. Healthy humor,
whether through words,
stories, images or
videos, allows you to
reset energies and
mental seasons. Every
good worker of
spirituality needs to
handle humor with
satisfaction so that it
is not only a bearer of
the Good News for the
other collaborators, but
also the safe harbor of
spirit, enthusiasm and
hope.
In addition to humor,
every time an evil idea
arises, it is essential
that the person knows
how to change “mental
stations”, so that
torpor does not become a
good companion. Changing
your mind, dominating
your mind is a
fundamental aspect so
that discouragement does
not “slam the door”.
Self-control of the mind
and emotions is
fundamental so that the
individual knows not
only how to face the
problems “out there”,
but also those of the
inner realm.
Anyway, despite seeming
like a problem, acedia
can mean a legitimate
checkpoint of the
advance of the being
over his own ills.
Self-knowledge,
self-discovery,
self-control are sine
qua non steps for
advancing over apathy
and lighting the inner
light of knowledge and
love that will help in
the development and
progress of humanity.
This progress must have
an internal base, from
the strong and conscious
individual, so that he
can face in a fair and
adequate way the
expression “I am not
what happened to me; I
am what I chose to be
′′. (7,
8)
Notes:
1 Link-1
2 Allan
Kardec, The Gospel
according to Spiritism,
chap. 25.
3 James
Hollis. The
swamplands of the soul.
Sao Paulo: Paulus, 1998.
4 Allan
Kardec, Heaven and
Hell or the divine
justice according to
Spiritism. Penal
Code of the Future
Life.
5 The
word enthusiasm comes
from the Greek enthousiasmos (en
theos), and means to
have a god in you.
6 2
Timóteo 4:7,8
7 James
Hollis. The
swamplands of the soul. Sao
Paulo:
Paulus,
p. 175, 1998.
8 In
honor of my dearest
genitors, Paulo hayashi
and Ioko Ikefuti
Hayashi, who are already
in the Spiritual
Homeland.
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