[The reader should know that] they are divided [according to their] operation and sin (they are divided [by those who] divide [them]) first, that of gluttony, etc. It is necessary, then, for all Christians to know that the thoughts which embrace all things, by which our soul is beleaguered in continuous battles, and which excite [it] both to continence and to action, and also to sin, are eight in number. The first is that of gluttony, etc. The Greek text of the epistle was most lovingly transmitted to me from England, while he was still among the living, by that most kind and learned man, Abraham Seller, transcribed from a codex in his library, in which there also followed immediately that other treatise of Damascene, which I shall subjoin immediately, *On Virtues and Vices*. For I conjecture that this was [intended] as an appendix to the epistle, both because therein the threefold part of the soul is discussed, mention of which is made in the title of the Caesarean codex, and also because of the epilogue, which is as a postscript to the epistle. And certainly, the prior words here, if we follow the Royal codex 2928, *Scire agitur attinet* (as far as concerns knowing), indicate the series of the treatise—what things preceded it—not its beginning. Furthermore, the translation of this later work was sent to our Combefis by that most learned man, Leo Allatius: but I found [the] Greek in the Royal codex.
JOHN OF DAMASCUS ON THE EIGHT SPIRITS OF WICKEDNESS
1. Know, brother, that there are eight thoughts by which a monk is infested, just as the Fathers relate. The first is the thought of gluttony, the second of evil and base lust, the third of avarice, the fourth of sadness, the fifth of anger, the sixth of dejection, the seventh of vainglory, and the eighth of pride. A
2. You ought, therefore, to know, O monk, and to observe carefully by what affection—which proceeds from our adversaries and the spirits of wickedness—you feel yourself moved and troubled, and to what kind of passionate notion your mind is inclined. B
3. And if indeed you perceive that you are being troubled by gluttony and by indulgence, straiten your belly, limiting your food and drink to weight and measure. Hold in perpetual memory the separation of the soul from the body, the judgment to come, the horrendous flame of Gehenna, and likewise the longing for the kingdom of the heavens. In this way you will be able to overcome the pleasure of the belly and to hold it in abhorrence. C
4. If, however, you are again occupied by the spirit of base and evil lust, exercise yourself by the curbing of the body, by the crushing of the soul, and by vigils, along with assiduous prayers. D Add to these the cultivation of modesty; do not judge anyone, nor disparage anyone, nor utterly despise anyone. Moreover, turn your mind to death, willingly tolerate thirst, and have absolutely no association with women, so as not even to look upon their countenance: and in this way you will be delivered from this passion.
ON THE EIGHT SPIRITS OF WICKEDNESS
A 5. If you wish to overcome the love of money, love poverty and lowliness. Ponder the condemnation of Judas, and how, through avarice, he betrayed the Lord to the lawless; and how every lover of money is called an idolater by the holy Scriptures; and how it draws us away from placing our hope in God; and how, finally, the enjoyment of money is temporary, while for the lovers of money there awaits an immortal punishment. Therefore, by pondering these things and seeking nothing more than what is sufficient, you will overcome this passion.
6. If, again, you are shaken and disturbed by worldly sorrow, you must pray unceasingly, and place all your hope in God, and practice the study of the holy Scriptures, and associate with pious monks who fear the Lord, and despise all present things as if they did not exist, and contemplate the joy that is in heaven, and the rewards of the righteous. And if you are struck by someone, or insulted, or persecuted, do not be grieved, but rather rejoice; and be grieved only when you have sinned against God. For thus, by the spirit, you will be able to be healed of this malady.
7. When, again, anger and boiling bile trouble you, put on meekness and offer yourself as a slave to your brothers. And if it is possible, wash their feet frequently with a sense of humility, and ask for forgiveness from every person, and visit the infirm frequently, and move your tongue to the singing of psalms, and you will most quickly be freed from the passion.
8. If you wish to overcome sloth, labor a little at some manual task, and read, and pray frequently with a firm hope in good things; ponder those who are at their last breath, and the violence and choking of sinners, how they are pitilessly punished and tormented, and thus you will have rest from the passion.
9. If you are terribly tyrannized by vainglory and the praise of men, you must do nothing for the display of men, but do all your work in secret, with no one else knowing except God alone; and do not love the praises or the honors of men, nor fine clothes, nor preference, nor the first seat; rather, prefer that men blame you, and accuse you, and insult you falsely; and hold yourself to be more sinful than any sinner.
10. If you see yourself being attacked by the demoniac passion of the worst vice, pride, you must not revile, or judge, or despise anyone at all; but rather account yourself the refuse of all men, and ponder unceasingly that if the Lord does not build C D
the house, they labor in vain [Ps. CXVII, 1]. A You must account yourself a debtor to all, and cast yourself down before God and all men. Do not be confident until you receive the verdict; behold him who, even after reclining at the marriage feast, was bound hand and foot and cast into the everlasting darkness. But even if you fast, and keep vigil, and sleep on the ground, and chant psalms, and persevere in duty, and perform many acts of repentance, or do any other good thing, do not say that it has come about from your own labor or from your own will, but that it happens through the help and assistance of God, and not from your own diligence. Strive always, brother, to be ever simple and blameless; and do not have one thing in your heart and another on your lips; for this is deceitful. B And pray unceasingly with tears. If you do this, you will escape the deadly and most vile offense and ruin.
Of passions, some are of the body, others of the soul. We call corporal [vices]: gluttony, fornication, drunkenness, and licentiousness. Those of the soul [are]: hatred toward one's neighbor, envy, strife, vainglory, and pride. These act upon our soul when charity and temperance are absent; but they are restrained by fasting and vigils. For then the mind recovers its own proper light, and beholds God without impediment.
A fragment of a few thoughts from the sermons of the most holy Father John of Damascus, which Bilibaldus Pircheymerus of Nuremberg rendered into Latin from the Greek for his sister Clara, a nun at St. Clara in Nuremberg
There are eight passions, by which men are especially (those being spiritual) attacked: namely gluttony, base concupiscence, avarice, anger, adversity, acedia, vainglory, and pride. These vices, therefore, must be discerned and known with the utmost diligence, so that when a man is tempted by any of them, he may always have weapons prepared with which he can fortify himself. C If you are attacked by gluttony, coerce the belly: let food and drink be taken by number and measure; let the separation of the soul from the body, the judgment to come, and the horrid flame of Gehenna, as well as the desire for the heavenly kingdom, be constantly set before your eyes: and thus the pleasure of the belly will be repressed. If base and carnal concupiscence vexes you sorely, expel it by vigils, labor, prayers, and fasting; the meditation on death, the punishment of deadly pleasure, and the avoidance of the other sex will be profitable. Avarice is conquered by liberality and the contempt of pecuniary matters, and equally by that thought: that for the sake of avarice Judas betrayed the Lord and Master, and that every avaricious person is called an idolater by Holy Scripture; and [it is conquered by the meditation] that money is granted for only a short time to enjoy, and bitter death follows the bitter life of the miser: wherefore, if nothing more than what suffices is sought, this passion is avoided. D If you are disturbed by any adversity, pray and direct all your hope to God, and contemplate the passion of Christ and the imbecility of our own nature; despise all present and vain things; weigh well the celestial grace and the coming enjoyment of the just. If you do this, no injury or insult will sadden you: but only the offense against God will disturb you. If anger stirs you up, put on meekness and take refuge in the chanting of the Psalms; overcome evil with good, yield to the greater, endure the equal, spare the lesser, and exercise prudent concord with all men, mindful how the meek, innocent lamb was led to the slaughter. If you are infested with acedia, rouse yourself by working, meditating, praying, and reading: let a firm hope urge you, so that you may be able to consider how much difference there is between cold sloth and warm fervor, of which the one separates from the glory to come, while the other makes you an heir of the heavenly kingdom.