The stages of the spiritual life
The stages of the spiritual life
Purification of the heart, Illumination of the noûs (mind), and Theosis (union with God) — are central to Eastern Orthodox Christian spirituality, though they have resonances in broader Christian mystical traditions as well. Here’s a breakdown of each stage:
I. Purification of the Heart:
This is the first stage, where the individual seeks to cleanse their heart and soul (Katharsis) from passions, sins, and attachment to worldly desires. The process of purification involves repentance, prayer, fasting, and living a life according to God’s commandments. The goal is to achieve a pure heart, free from distractions, allowing one to focus entirely on God. Without purification, higher stages of spiritual life are not possible.
II. Illumination of the Noûs:
The noûs (Photisis)is often understood as the “eye of the soul” or the spiritual intellect. In this stage, the noûs is enlightened by the grace of God, allowing the individual to perceive divine truths directly and clearly. This illumination is achieved through deeper prayer, contemplation, and immersion in the divine light. The individual becomes more aware of God’s presence and gains spiritual insight. This is not just intellectual knowledge but an experiential understanding of God’s will.
II. Theosis:
Theosis (Deification) is the ultimate goal of Christian life, where the individual becomes united with God, participating in His divine nature. While humans remain distinct from God, they share in His divine life through grace. This is a mystical union with God, experienced through love and communion, and it reflects the fulfillment of the human purpose — to become like God. This state of being is characterized by peace, joy, and divine love.
Together, these stages from the path to holiness and full communion with God, reflecting the transformative journey of the Christian soul!
YES there IS an overlap between religious traditions!
Isn’t it amazing how deeply the mystical traditions of Christianity — especially in the Eastern Orthodox Church — can connect with the spiritual paths of other religions. The three stages of purification, illumination, and union with the divine indeed have parallels in various traditions, like Hinduism’s journey toward moksha (liberation) and Buddhism’s path to enlightenment.
The illumination of the mind resembles the deep meditative insights sought in Buddhism or the divine knowledge (jnana) in Hinduism. And theosis, the union with God, can evoke the concept of merging with the divine in both Hindu and Buddhist teachings. It’s fascinating to see these shared elements in spiritual traditions across the world, showing a kind of universal pursuit of transcendence and oneness with the divine.
The FULLNESS of Truth:
The Orthodox Christian perspective on these spiritual stages feels so complete because it views the human journey toward God as holistic and deeply personal. Orthodox theology emphasizes that our ultimate purpose is to become fully human by participating in God’s divine life — not through escaping the world, but by transforming ourselves within it.
The sense of completion comes from its balance between the human and the divine. Each stage — purification, illumination, and theosis — takes into account the whole person: body, mind, and soul, as well as the relational and communal aspects of faith.
Orthodox Christianity doesn’t just offer a spiritual path; it provides a lived experience through the sacraments, prayer, and the life of the Church, all pointing to a mystical union with God that is both deeply personal and communal.
Whereas some Eastern traditions can feel abstract or detached from the physical world, Orthodox Christianity celebrates the incarnation of Christ, affirming that God became man so that we might become like God, without losing our individuality or humanity.
Theosis doesn’t erase our humanity — it perfects it. That sense of completion, then, may come from how it honors the whole process: from the struggle of purification to the glorious fulfillment of union with God, all while remaining grounded in the reality of our daily lives.
Let’s talk about the HOW:
Virginity and purity
The connection between virginity and purity touches on something deeply significant in Christian thought, especially in the mystical tradition.
Virginity is not just about physical purity — it represents a deeper, all-encompassing purity of heart, mind, and soul. It’s about being wholly devoted to God, free from distractions, passions, and the attachments of the world. This kind of purity creates space for God’s presence to shine in us, illuminating our inner life and revealing His kingdom within us.
When Jesus says, “Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God” (Matthew 5:8), it points to this very idea — that purity is about alignment with God’s will and being open to His grace. As our hearts and minds are purified, we begin to experience God in an intimate way, beyond intellectual knowledge. This is where that “intimate knowing of the scriptures” comes in — it’s not about just understanding the words or doctrines with the mind, but experiencing their truth in our lives, through the Holy Spirit.
This kind of purity allows us to enter into a deeper relationship with God, where the scriptures aren’t just teachings but living words that transform us from within. This is what many saints and mystics talk about when they speak of being united with God or having the kingdom of God revealed to them — not just as a distant promise, but as a present reality.
1. Purity and Spiritual Vision: Seeing God and His Kingdom
So — Purity isn’t just a physical state but encompasses the heart, mind, and soul. This deeper purity is about being fully open and receptive to God, free from the distortions caused by sin, passions, or worldly distractions. This is why purity is directly linked to spiritual vision — the ability to see God and perceive His presence. In the Beatitudes, Jesus says, “Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God” (Matthew 5:8).
The heart is the seat of our desires, thoughts, and intentions. When the heart is purified, our inner eyes are opened, allowing us to “see” God — not just in the afterlife but in our daily experiences.
Purity clears the spiritual “lens” through which we view reality, making God’s presence and His kingdom evident to us.
The Fathers of the Church often emphasized that the more our hearts are purified through repentance, prayer, and fasting, the more we grow in spiritual perception. We begin to see God’s light shining not only within us but in the world around us.
The kingdom of God is revealed as something not merely future, but present and alive in those who are purified.
2. The Transformative Power of Scripture: From Head Knowledge to Heart Knowledge
The intimate knowing of the scriptures goes straight to the heart of how God communicates with us.
The scriptures are not just a collection of sacred texts to be studied intellectually — they are living words that carry God’s grace and power.
When approached with a pure heart and an open spirit, scripture transforms us from the inside out. In Orthodoxy, there’s a strong emphasis on the mystical reading of scripture. This means that while understanding the literal meaning of the Bible is important, the ultimate goal is to encounter Christ through the scriptures. St. Augustine once said, “The Holy Scriptures are our letters from home,” reminding us that scripture connects us intimately with God’s will, His promises, and His love for us.
For this transformation to happen, the head knowledge must descend into the heart. The intellect can grasp the meaning of the words, but the spiritual intellect must perceive the deeper, spiritual truths embedded in scripture. This shift from head to heart is where true transformation occurs. The more we purify ourselves, the more we experience the fullness of the scriptures — they become not just stories or teachings, but personal encounters with God.
3. The Role of Grace: God Revealing His Kingdom
Pursue this path of purity and allow scripture to transform.
Remember that the process is not just something we accomplish through our own efforts. It’s God’s grace that makes this transformation possible. God shines on us when we are “purified”, revealing His kingdom to us. In Orthodox thought, the process of illumination and theosis is always a cooperative effort between our human will and God’s grace. We take steps toward purity through prayer, repentance, and immersing ourselves in scripture, but it is ultimately God who opens our eyes and grants us the spiritual vision to see His kingdom.
This is why the journey of purification is not about achieving a state of moral perfection. It’s about becoming more receptive to God’s presence in every aspect of our lives. As our hearts are purified, we begin to live in the reality of the kingdom, guided by the light of Christ, and the scriptures become a living dialogue between us and God.
God’s power is given to us through the process of purification, illumination, and ultimately, theosis. God’s divine power is central to Christian mysticism.
4. Sharing in God’s Power: Divine Grace and Theosis
As we journey through the stages of purification and illumination, we are cleansed of sin and become vessels of divine grace.
God’s power is shared with us.
In Orthodoxy, there’s a distinction between God’s essence (which is inaccessible to us) and His power (which we can participate in). Through His power, we receive His power, love, and light. This is what theosis is all about — becoming partakers of the divine nature (2 Peter 1:4). This doesn’t mean we become God in essence, but we are filled with His life, transformed by His power, and participate in His divine attributes: love, wisdom, and yes, even power. Again, we DON’T BECOME GOD. (The Eastern thought, and New Age concept)
This is why the saints are often described as being radiant with God’s light and power — they have become so united with Him that they reflect His glory. Think about Moses, and Jesus transfigured for example.
5. God’s Power Given Through Purity
The path to sharing in this power comes through purity of heart, mind, and soul, and not in any other way.
As we purify ourselves, we make space for God to dwell within us more fully. Jesus said, The Kingdom of God is within you (Luke 17:21), and when the heart is purified, that kingdom, along with its power, is revealed.
This is why humility, repentance, and inner purity are seen as prerequisites for divine power. The more we surrender our own ego, the more He bestows His power upon us and through us. It’s not power in a worldly sense, but a spiritual power — the power to heal, to forgive, to love unconditionally, and to act with divine wisdom.
This is the same power Christ showed in His life, especially in His acts of mercy, healing, and self-giving love.
6. The Power of Scripture and Prayer
When we have this intimate knowing of the scriptures, it’s as though the power of the Word of God is unlocked within us. Scripture becomes more than a set of teachings; it becomes the living Word that empowers us to live in communion with God.
The same Word that created the universe becomes active in our lives, transforming us and giving us the power to act in accordance with God’s will. Prayer, too, becomes a means through which we access this divine power.
The deeper we go into prayer — especially as we move beyond words and enter into contemplative prayer — the more we become united with God’s will, and His power flows through us. This is why the saints and mystics were able to perform miracles, not because they had some special power of their own, but because they were so closely aligned with God’s will that His power worked through them.
7. Power as Divine Love and Humility
It’s important to note that God’s power is never separate from His love and humility. The ultimate expression of God’s power was seen in Christ’s humility — His willingness to become human, to suffer, and to die for humanity. The paradox of the Christian faith is that God’s power is perfected in weakness (2 Corinthians 12:9).
When we humble ourselves and empty ourselves of selfish desires, God’s power fills that space. This divine power is not about control or domination but about self-emptying love (kenosis) and the ability to reflect God’s love to others. As we are filled with God’s grace, we are empowered to love as He loves and to act as He acts, with wisdom, patience, and compassion. So God’s power is ours, but it’s not something we take by force — it’s something bestowed upon us as we align ourselves more fully with Him through purification and illumination.
We share in His power because we share in His life. This is why the saints and mystics are so powerful — not because of their own strength, but because they are so united with God that His power flows through them naturally.
Purity in prayer goes beyond just saying the right words — it’s about the intentions, the focus, and the state of the heart as we come before God. Just as purity of heart, mind, and soul allows us to see God, purity in prayer allows us to commune with God in a direct and intimate way.
Here’s how purity manifests in prayer:
a. Simplicity and Sincerity in Prayer
Purity in prayer begins with simplicity and sincerity. Jesus emphasized this when He said, “When you pray, go into your room, close the door, and pray to your Father, who is unseen” (Matthew 6:6). He warned against vain repetitions and praying to be seen by others, which points to the importance of being authentic and humble in prayer.
When our hearts are pure, our prayers are not cluttered with ulterior motives, pride, or the need to impress. A pure prayer is one where the focus is solely on communion with God, not on self or external concerns. It’s about laying ourselves open before God in honesty and humility, speaking from the heart, and listening for His voice
b. Focus and Attentiveness in Prayer
Purity in prayer also involves attentiveness. The early Christian monks and mystics often talked about the need to guard the mind during prayer.
A pure prayer is one where our mind is fully focused on God, without distractions or wandering thoughts. This kind of focus requires the purification of our inner life — our thoughts, desires, and emotions — so that our attention can rest fully on God.
In Orthodox tradition, there’s a great emphasis on the prayer of the heart, especially in practices like the Jesus Prayer (“Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, have mercy on me, a sinner”). Repeating this prayer in a focused and humble way helps purify the mind and heart, allowing us to dwell in the presence of God more fully.
c. Purity in Prayer as a Channel for God’s Power
When prayer is pure, it becomes a channel for God’s grace and power. A pure heart in prayer is open to receive God’s guidance, healing, and love. In this way, prayer becomes not just a dialogue but a transformative encounter. As I mentioned earlier, God bestows His power on us. Purity in prayer is one of the primary ways we access that power — not as something we control, but as something we receive in humility and use in love.
d. Prayer as the Expression of a Pure Soul
For prayer to be truly pure, it must come from a pure soul. This is why the stages of spiritual purification are so important. The more we are purified in our daily lives — through repentance, love for others, and alignment with God’s will — the more our prayers become genuine reflections of our inner purity. When we pray with a pure heart, our words, thoughts, we open ourselves up to deeper spiritual insights and divine grace. Saints and mystics often spoke of their prayers becoming wordless as they drew closer to God. At a certain point, prayer becomes less about speaking and more about simply being in God’s presence. This state of contemplative prayer allows the soul to rest in God, to experience His peace and love without the need for words or petitions.
e. The Prayer of the Saints: Purity as Union with God
The ultimate goal of purity in prayer is union with God. The saints, who had achieved such a high level of purity, often experienced prayer as a direct encounter with God’s presence. Their prayers were filled with divine light and love, not because they were special, but because they had purified their hearts to the point where God’s light would shine through them. The saints teach us that pure prayer is not just about asking for things; it’s about becoming one with God’s will and allowing His will to flow through us.
When prayer is pure, it’s not driven by personal desires but by a desire for God Himself. Purity in prayer is about the state of the heart, attentiveness of the mind, and a deep humility and simplicity before God. It’s just a longing to know Him.
