Elder St Paisios on the Secular Spirit
“…that is the Orthodox spirit within which Christ rests, simplicity and piety. Today spiritual people are often lacking in simplicity the sacred simplicity that comforts the soul. If we do not renounce the secular spirit and do not adapt to the simple way in other words, if we do not stop being preoccupied with how others see us, or with what they say about us – whc will never experience kinship with God and the saints. For this to happen we need to move to the spiritual plain. The more we live with simplicity…the fewer the “bumps” from our passions, and the smoother we become. Otherwise, we end up creating a fake person. This is why we must always strive to get rid of the secular “carnival”, and become angels!”
– ‘With Pain and Love’