In my studies of the Nag Hammadi Library, I have been always facinated by the cosmology, cohesion, and truths about the demiurge, the archons, and this flawed world. But after receiving this knowledge, one question always remained in my mind:

"What should I do to leave this world of suffering, ruled by evil beings, and go to the Pleroma (The Higher Realm)? Instead of being trapped here, reincarnating?"

The following is a collection of ascetic Gnostic texts supporting what I call the most important doctrine of Gnosticism (The Doctrine of the Elect), even tho most Gnostics nowadays ignore that:

The Book of Thomas the Contender

“Woe to you who love intimacy with womankind and polluted intercourse with them! Woe to you who are held by the forces of your body, for they will afflict you! Do you not know that you are going to be dissolved and perish?”

“Flee the lust that scorches the spirits of men.”

“Do they (the bodies) not derive from intercourse like that of the beasts?”

“Whenever all the elect abandon bestiality, then this light will withdraw up to its essence.”

The passage connects the elect abandoning “bestiality” (the body) with the return of light to its source. In the surrounding text, bodily generation is compared to the reproduction of animals, and lust is described as a force that burns and disorders the human spirit, sending the souls of men to be afflicted by the demons! This is one of the clearest passages in the collection for a sexual-renunciation interpretation.

The Testimony of Truth

“The dominion of carnal procreation had come to an end.”

“The Law (of the Demiurge) commands (one) to take a husband (or) to take a wife, and to beget, to multiply like the sand of the sea.”

The passage immediately contrasts this command with the defilement and passions associated with procreation. It says that the Jordan symbolizes bodily senses and that its water represents sexual desire. It then declares that those who know Imperishability can struggle against their passions. This is among the most explicit texts for interpreting sexual renunciation as part of the path toward spiritual purity.

The Sophia of Jesus Christ

“…whoever was not created by impure friction, but by the First Sent One, for he is an immortal among mortal men.”

“…so that this may not again come into being because of you, that is, the impure friction which comes from the terrible fire that arose from their bodily parts.”

No need for further explanation. "Impure friction" here, which stands for sex, should never be done by a follower of Christ.

On the Origin of the World

“The woman followed earth. And marriage followed woman. Birth followed marriage. Dissolution followed birth.”

“After that Eros, the grapevine sprouted up out of that blood, which had been shed over the earth. Because of this, those who drink of it conceive the desire of sexual union.”

The passage presents a sequence linking earthly existence, marriage, birth, and dissolution. Elsewhere in the same section, sexual desire is associated with Eros (the Son of Yaldabaoth/Pronoia) and the lower cosmic order. This can support an ascetic reading in which procreation perpetuates mortal existence.

The Gospel of Philip

“Think of sex. It possesses deep powers, though its image is filthy.”

“(Although, the heavenly union) It is not fleshly but pure. It belongs not to desire but to will.”

Here there is a distinction where it becomes clear that in the Pleroma there is matrimonial union, although it is not filthy like here in mortal realms.

The Exegesis on the Soul

“While she was alone with her father, she was a virgin and in an androgynous form.”

“The greatest struggle is the prostitution of the soul.”

The Hypostasis of the Archons

“She is the virgin whom the forces did not defile.”

Norea is described as a virgin whom the hostile rulers cannot defile. The story associates spiritual integrity with resistance to the rulers' attempts at domination and violation. It presents virginity as a sign of incorruptibility.

The Acts of Thomas

The wedding episode contains an exhortation to the bride and groom to abstain from sexual intercourse and pursue chastity.

The Acts of Paul and Thecla

The narrative describes Thecla's rejection of marriage and her commitment to chastity.

The Apocryphon of John (The Secret Book of John)

“Now up to the present day, sexual intercourse continued due to the chief archon. And he planted sexual desire in her who belongs to Adam.”

The Gospel of the Egyptians (The Holy Book of the Great Invisible Spirit)

“through the renouncing of the world”

Renunciation of the world appears in a passage describing the salvation and spiritual rebirth of the incorruptible race. The text also emphasizes virginity, incorruptibility, and saints begotten through the Holy Spirit.

A Small Bible of Gnosis — The Apocryphon of John

“The mystery of this is the following: to acquire your spiritual counterpart, the man must reject carnal union with mortal creatures, thus his consciousness will awaken, and from the invisible realm he will receive his consort, and the two will become one being. For the worthy will receive their helper, and they will leave the customs of their fathers and mothers…”

And plenty of other citations and passages that explain basically that carnal sex is something that is impure and corrupts the soul, and that we, the elect (as every Gnostic should consider himself), should practice celibacy to detach from this universe and to return to the Pleroma (The higher Realm).

So, all true Gnostics should be Ascetics also, although this is not what is happening nowadays.
By sharing this study, I hope ascetics can find another base of knowledge to support their practices, in what we call Sethian Gnosticism.

Peace and saintly life!

Basically , do you think it is right to slowly give up pleasures of life , one at a time , whilst fulfilling your duty or directly be an ascetic. The latter is bound to have some serious hard time for oneself. IF goal is giving up lust for pleasures , do you think it should be gradual or instant?

Basically title. I live in a constant state of subtle anguish. Most of what I do in a day is to distract myself from this feeling in my solarplexus. Drinking, music, the list goes on.

I was wondering if I could open something up by practicing asceticism. Maybe even to joy.

What would be the first steps on this journey?

Is it possible to become an ascetic or hermit in the modern world? I have had a burn out, my mind is fucking scattered and never at rest or in an ordinary grounded state. My nervous system is over-reactive and sensitive especially to sound. Every part of my being craves for silence and contemplation. My biggest dream would literally be a retreat into a cave in complete sobriety and away from the world, how is that so hard to get? My recovery is too slow. I will be walking for 7 days next week, if that doesn't do much then I'm just going to keep pursuing this until I get it. I will row to an uninhabited island if I have too. I am completely sick of all the barriers and limitations. I have a simple and clear request, I have been searching for this for a year now. I can't hear anymore buts and ifs.

I know this will not be easy because i was born into a good family and i was always surrounded by luxuries had cars around me and other conviniences. My family falls into the category of upper middle class that means we have access to every facilities. I have never lived a life like that of a monk. I have observed it through reading and watching only.

I know that this will not be a easy task. It's not easy to get out of the comfort zone. The life which i am living right now is safe and secured but i don't know what is waiting for me on this path of renunciation. I have no interest left in materialistic things; it is the reason for my low self-esteem and confidence. There is always a constant chase of achieving something even when my heart and mind does not want it. I think these are the side effects of living in the society. There will always be an expectation factor by parents or someone else. If we don't meet up to that expectation we might get ostracized from the society. People evaluate someone's worth based on the net worth, facial attractiveness, or any other things but i think that it is not right.

I feel like the peace is in solitude. The peace is in serenity and solace. Not in the daily chaos of life. Desperation to be able to meet the standards of the society. The constant struggle to achieve an unrealistic goal in order to exist in a society. Some people feel existential crisis because of it because they get ignored by people because they don't have money with them. They don't have connections. What about those people? I think they're the one's who walk on this path. The people who have been neglected by the society who have been expelled by the society because of it. OR the people who had a bad past and is struggling at present. This is my current state though money is not a problem for me.

I had a miserable childhood and multiple trauma's as i was growing. Even thought those did not look or sound good but i think that they have effected be deeply from inside. They have wounded me internally. I saw that how the kids are forced to go to the school as if they are robots. They have been programmed this way. The situation at government schools and colleges are even worse. I don't know how kids deal with the pressure. We are supposed to do things as established by the society. We must get education, then get a job, then get married, then have children's. Why can't we live life according to our will? This stemed because society has been indoctrinated that way. They think that it is the best way of living.

The questions which i ask daily to myself.

1) What am i doing on Earth?.

2) What is the purpose of my life?

3) Why are things the way it appear??

4) Why are we even existing in this world?

My brain is fogged with all this nonsense materialistic things. I need rest and i like to be alone. Maybe i am just overthinking about it too much. I am a follower of osho and subhas chandra bose. One song has deeply touched my heart and i have been hearing it from long time. It is a song composed in bengali which was sung by Rabindranath Tagore "Akla chalo re". This means walk alone if no one walks with you. I have been walking alone searching for the meaning and purpose of my life. Hopefully, i will find it one day. This is a fake world and everyone is carrying a facade. In future, i am going to read about the books written by these legendary people. Such as Rabindranath tagore and other books. I will try to read it. I don't understand why today's generation don't support the people who live a simple minimalistic life. I beleive in one more thing that "We came to this world alone and we will go from this world alone". I fail to understand why some people are even chasing after the realationship. Why do people care about someone's opinion?.

I have been suffering from binge eating disorder for three years and I have developed resentment towards my addicted self. I've tried many ways to quit my food addiction but I failed every time.

recently, I've been more attracted to unnatural ascetic activities to mortify this addicted self (sleep deprivation, extremely low calorie diet, self flagellation, and bodily exhaustion).

I believe this will turn resentment and frustration into a productive force.

have you ever tried it? If yes, did it work?

do you recommend it?

As one who has taken a vow to keep to the apostles creed until natural death in the presence of many witnesses, I am limited to ascetic practices within the bounds of Christianity. As one who has been interested in asceticism for a while I've therefore been looking for books on western asceticism. I have found the following reading list from a benedictine monastery and found it helpful. Thought I'd share. https://westminsterabbey.ca/wp-content/uploads/2018/07/Monastic-Reading-List.pdf

As I have heard it, I shall tell how the Venerable Ascetic, exerting himself and meditating, after having entered the order in that winter, wandered about^\1]),

‘I shall not cover myself with that robe^\2]),’ only in that winter (he used it). He had crossed (the saṃsāra) for the rest of his life. This (refusing of dress) is in accordance with his doctrine. (1)

More than four months many sorts of living beings gathered on his body, crawled about it, and caused pain there. (2)

For a year and a month he did not leave off his robe. Since that time the Venerable One, giving up his robe, was a naked, world-relinquishing, houseless (sage)^\3]). (3)

Then he meditated (walking) with his eye fixed on a square space before him of the length of a man^\4]). Many people assembled, shocked at the sight; they struck him and cried. (4)

Knowing (and renouncing) the female sex in mixed gathering places^\5]), he meditated, finding his way himself: I do not lead a worldly life. (5)

Giving up the company^\6]) of all householders whomsoever, he meditated. Asked, he gave no answer; he went, and did not transgress the right path. (6)

For some it is not easy (to do what he did), not to answer those who salute; he was beaten with sticks, and struck by sinful people. (7)

Disregarding slights difficult to bear, the Sage wandered about, (not attracted) by story-tellers, pantomimes, songs, fights at quarter-staff, and boxing-matches. (8)

At that time the son of Jñātṛ saw without sorrow (or pleasure) people in mutual conversation. Jñātṛputra obtained oblivion of these exquisite sorrows. (9)

--

The Venerable One, exerting himself, did not seek sleep for the sake of pleasure; he waked up himself, and slept only a little, free from desires. (5)

Waking up again, the Venerable One lay down, exerting himself; going outside for once in a night, he walked about for an hour. (6)

In his resting-places he sustained fearful and manifold calamities; crawling or flying animals attack him. (7)

Always well controlled, he bore the different sorts of feelings; overcoming carelessness and pleasure, the Brāhmaṇa wandered about, speaking but little. (10)

In the resting-places there once, in a night, the single wanderers asked him (who he was, and why he was there); as he did not answer, they treated him badly; but he persevered in his meditations, free from resentment. (11)

(Sometimes to avoid greater troubles when asked), ‘Who is there within?’ he answered, ‘It is I, a mendicant.’ But this is the best law: silently to meditate, even if badly treated. (12)

When a cold wind blows, in which some feel pain, then some houseless monks in the cold rain seek a place sheltered from the wind. (13)

(Some heretical monks say), ‘We shall put on more clothes; kindling wood or (well) covered, we shall be able (to bear) the very painful influence of the cold.’ (14)

But the Venerable One desired nothing of the kind; strong in control, he suffered, despising all shelter. Going outside once of a night, the Venerable One was able (to endure all hardships) in calmness. (15)

This is the rule which has often been followed by the wise Brāhmaṇa, the Venerable One, who is free from attachment: thus proceed (the monks).

--

Always well guarded, he bore the pains (caused by) grass, cold, fire, flies, and gnats; manifold pains. (1)

He travelled in the pathless country of the Lāḍhas, in Vajjabhūmi and Subbhabhūmi^\1]); he used there miserable beds and miserable seats. (2)

In Lāḍha (happened) to him many dangers. Many natives attacked him. Even in the faithful part of the rough country^\2]) the dogs bit him, ran at him. (3)

Few people kept off the attacking, biting dogs. Striking the monk, they cried ‘Chucchū,’ and made the dogs bite him. (4)

Such were the inhabitants. Many other mendicants, eating rough food in Vajjabhūmi, and carrying about a strong pole or a stalk (to keep off the dogs), lived there. (5)

Even thus armed they were bitten by the dogs, torn by the dogs. It is difficult to travel in Lāḍha. (6) Ceasing to use the stick (i.e. cruelty) against living beings, abandoning the care of the body, the houseless (Mahāvīra), the Venerable One, endures the thorns of the villages (i.e. the abusive language of the peasants), (being) perfectly enlightened. (7)

As an elephant at the head of the battle, so was Mahāvīra there victorious. Sometimes he did not reach a village there in Lāḍha. (8)

When he who is free from desires approached the village, the inhabitants met him on the outside, and attacked him, saying, ‘Get away from here.’ (9)

He was struck with a stick, the fist, a lance, hit with a fruit, a clod, a potsherd. Beating him again and again, many cried. (10)

When he once (sat) without moving his body, they cut his flesh^\3]), tore his hair under pains, or covered him with dust. (11)

Throwing him up, they let him fall, or disturbed him in his religious postures; abandoning the care of his body, the Venerable One humbled himself and bore pain, free from desire. (1 2)

As a hero at the head of the battle is surrounded on all sides^\4]), so was there Mahāvīra. Bearing all hardships, the Venerable One, undisturbed, proceeded (on the road to Nirvāṇa). (13)

--

The Venerable One was able to abstain from indulgence of the flesh^\1]), though never attacked by diseases. Whether wounded or not wounded, he desired not medical treatment. (1)

Purgatives and emetics, anointing of the body and bathing, shampooing and cleansing of the teeth do not behove him, after he learned (that the body is something unclean). (2)

Being averse from the impressions of the senses^\2]), the Brāhmaṇa wandered about, speaking but little. Sometimes in the cold season the Venerable One was meditating in the shade. (3)

In summer he exposes himself to the heat, he sits squatting in the sun; he lives on rough (food): rice, pounded jujube, and beans. (4)

Using these three, the Venerable One sustained himself eight months. Sometimes the Venerable One did not drink for half a month or even for a month. (5)

Or he did not drink for more than two months, or even six months, day and night, without desire (for drink). Sometimes he ate stale food. (6)

Sometimes he ate only the sixth meal, or the eighth, the tenth, the twelfth; without desires, persevering in meditation. (7)

Having wisdom, Mahāvīra committed no sin himself, nor did he induce others to do so, nor did he consent to the sins of others. (8)

Hi everyone, I’m a interior design student and for my next project i chose ascetics as inhabitants of the home. I’m trying to get as much information as i can on asceticism and i hope you could help me out. Here are some questions i have about asceticism: - What does asceticism look like in 2026? Most of the sources i checked talk about the past and not about the present. I want to know what a day in an ascetic’s life looks like. - I have to design the home for two people, would they live together or rather next to each other? Would functions like sleeping or bathing be joined in the same room/ floor for both or rather totally apart? - What would be important to focus on in designing this home? Usually we would need to make a design focused on subjects like storage/ cooking/ eating/ having people coming over/ workspace/… but i don’t really know what i could focus on or what i could use as a base of my design. - If there would be specific things i’d need to integrate in this home, what would they be?

Thank you very much if you want to answer my questions. If you have some additional Information that could be important to me, feel free to share it. I hope my questions aren’t to vague or unclear. Have a nice day and thank you!

Is it more important to go for cheap food or bland food? In other words, is it ok to utilize cooking methods to make cheap (healthy) foodstuff more enjoyable, or is blandness the important element?

has anyone here renounced their voice as in taken a vow of silence for a period of time. ive been thinking about this a lot lately and I strive for the mental challenge of giving things up like through fasting but I’m struggling with the logistics of silence. as much as I want to, I’m concerned about the reactions of others. I have spent periods of time in silence before such as yesterday but when I went to the store and had to interact with an employee, I was forced to type things out on my phone and it was an awkward situation. I’m curious if anyone has ever taken a vow of silence before and how they handled it?

I've been practicing ascetism since past month. I used to be a non-vegetarian but I could easily switch to vegetarianism, could control most of my desires. But I still can't get over romantic desires completely (the desire to have someone to talk to daily etc). How do you do that? I'm in my early-mid twenties and I work with and live among people my age.

Hi all! I’ve taken up an interest in an ascetic lifestyle as I grew more into my faith (eastern orthodox). My eating is the worst of my passions. It’s not even that I participate in binge eating, but my diet is very scattered, unorganized and not really healthy. I don’t want to be ruled by my desires to eat and I don’t want to succumb to cravings.

Most of the problem is sugar cravings, eating for comfort in stress or for fun and no real set meals, no mindful eating. I eat a lot on the go, I get snacks from the vending machine at college I didn’t plan for, I impulsively buy a 500 calorie chocolate muffin, I eat packet ramen and cookies for dinner. I hardly ever cook. I also have overbearing parents who keep presenting me with tempting foods and who decide what I should eat when I come on the weekends. I am very driven by the cravings and the food noise.

I’m tired of it all and I just want to eat to sustain my body. Very basic foods. I want to be someone who views a cube of dark chocolate as dessert. I’ve tried different things but I’m not disciplined enough to stick to one.

I’d like to add though that I have no interest in becoming vegan or vegetarian. I did it for 3 years before and it’s just not good for my body.

Does anyone have a perspective on overcoming this? Becoming more organized? Any tips or resources? I’d appreciate it all.

Thank you!

I think the algorithm doesn’t know who’s on this sub

In my studies (and practice, now...) one thing I realise is neglected, is what the ascetic does when they're sick.

There is a part in Benedict's Rule that says that the ill are subject to a less intense practice, but what that means is never actually defined.

Sure there is doing the best you can, in terms of keeping your schedule relatively similar, but there's something to be said for allowing yourself to recuperate well, so you can quickly return to your normal practice.

I'm generally in favour of practices that are sustainable. That means I want to get back on the horse once I'm able to, but I know for example that today walking for 1.5 hours when I'm barely able to stand, in the pouring rain at 8 degrees is not a smart move. (I do have to bike in it for a class this afternoon but even that is something I'd avoid if I could.)

I can foresee later in life also having occasion where a normal practice gets disrupted for something like surgery, bereavement, various emergencies... So I'm thinking of developing a subset of practices specifically for when it's not possible to keep up to my standard practice.

What gives rest? For me, the first thing that comes to mind is listening to music (whereas I usually fit instrument practice into my daily schedule). But then... my mind just kind of drew blank.

What gives you rest? What should the sick ascetic do to recuperate? This is a seriously underdeveloped topic, and I invite imaginative answers!

Rather true to spirit I'm in a hermitage without my computer, and turned on my phone briefly for some necessary functions and wanted to look at the mod cue. I made some mistakes navigating and accidentally removed a couple posts by accident. I believe I made everything right again, but please let me know if you have any issues.

Made me curious. I was reading about epicureanism and those guys were mostly ascetic, because pleasures would be more uncomfortable and expensive to them than going after pleasures. And the whole you are never going to be satisfied by them either

I read that yangists would have been like epicureans, too.

Pain is an inescapable reality of life. No matter how wealthy, successful, genetically gifted, or generally cheerful you may be, you will inevitably experience pain. The things you love will end, the music will stop, your hunger will be satisfied—only for you to want more. The brain always craves more.

But what if, instead of chasing pleasure, we put pain at the forefront? What if we deliberately chose the actions that bring us pain, striking the first blow against this unavoidable enemy ourselves? After all, if you're forced into a war, wouldn’t it be better to confront it head-on in the front lines, rather than sitting idly and waiting for it to attack you?

In doing so, your dopamine system would learn to make do with less, and silence might begin to take on a kind of meaning. Throughout history, I believe humanity has, in a way, worshipped pain—because anyone who wants to grow, or even simply survive, has no choice but to experience it.

Thus, pain has become a kind of fuel on our journey toward elevation. The modern world tells us to do what feels good—but this only makes people weak, lazy, passive, and insatiable. Perhaps true happiness and meaning are hidden within pain itself...

What do you think?

If you are

-Christian

-Male

-Ages 16-24

I made a specific video for you.. hear this Orthodox Monks letter to an anxious boy.

Beloved,

I have created a free community for whoever wishes to connect and meditate with others in the field.

The field is here to support the expression of divine love.

If this resonates, I will see you in here. https://www.skool.com/awakening-fields-8380

Only Love,

Robbe

Hello there! Was hoping for some input that is in alignment with my thought process.

I am looking for some folk to throw some "Ascetic Practices" my way. The way I am using the term "Ascetic Practice" might be different than what you are all accustomed to.

Examples for me of "Ascetic Practices" are: Ice bath / cold showers, sauna, standing naked in the rain, Water Fasting

If there is better terminology for the exercises I mentioned please correct me! And redirect me to a more suitable sub if possible. TIA

Hello everyone! I am interested in the idea of taking a more ascetic path but cannot commit fully to something like joining a monastery. I am wondering if there were any books for beginners who don't know much about the topic? Anything on how to develop the discipline for that path too. I want to learn about the subject first before trying to commit my life to the idea. Thank you for your time!

I want to give up some fundamental part of myself until I reach a goal (finding an internship). I tried to stop eating but I couldn't last very long.

My ideas for what to give up until I find a job are:

- No sleeping;

- No water;

- No clothes (must be naked);

- No talking;

- No studying (forcing myself to fail school if I don't find an internship in time)

Does anyone have experience with any of these, and did it end up helping long term?

I highly recommend watching Robin Greenfield's videos if this is an inspiring path for you.

My Vows of Simplicity and Service 2024-2028