joasia wrote:
Actually, it's the opposite.
You speak as someone who has never worn a monastic robe. Try it sometime and you will see how it helps your spiritual life.
joasia wrote: The Pharisees thought they were spiritually superior because of their position and clothes they wore in order to identify themselves as priests of the House of Worship.
Actually, Christ condemned them because of how they broadened their phylacteries, made long prayers for show, were hypocrites and white washed sepulchers.
joasia wrote: Jesus even pointed that out.
Christ never said anything about their robers per se. But you are assuming I would be a hypocrite like the pharisees. I don't want to wear a white robe.
joasia wrote: But, He didn't dress differently from the citzens.
They all wore robes, which is what I want to do. But the Gospels don't specifically state how he dressed. I'm sure if he was in the world today, he wouldn't go around wearing jeans.
joasia wrote:That's why most people, at that time, with embelished ideas, thought he was a regular man.
The Gospels don't state their disbelief was due to his clothing. Rather, the pharisees thought he was a false Messiah because of his claims to equality with God (deity), etc.
joasia wrote: We are also taught that we shouldn't make a big deal about when we fast. Some Orthodox people like to exaggerate their condition by emphasizing how tired or burdened they are because they are fasting. That's another type of outward dress.
I agree with that.
joasia wrote:You want to identify yourself as a monk although you have not been tonsured as one. This is a decision you are making for yourself. Have you discussed this with your spiritual father?
Not necessarily as a monk. Just a robe. I haven't decided this. That's why I came here asking questions. I don't have a spiritual father because everyone within a 3,000 mile radius is an ecumenistic heretic.
joasia wrote: It's what's inside that counts. Please recognize the trap of pride that has been set up for you, by the Deceiver.
You assume this would make me prideful. The exact opposite is the case. It would help me in the detachment process.
joasia wrote: When the monastic saints were still in the world, they dressed like the rest(moderately, of course), but they hid their lifestyles, from the world.
Did they go around in jeans? The world is different today. Our society is impius and under the complete control of the devil. Modern clothing has the stamp of secular humanism written all over it.
joasia wrote:So if you want to live a humble life, in the Orthodox faith, then live it in secret, for God will see your efforts, but if you announce it to men, by dressing as a monk(which you are not), then you have received your reward, in this life. And that means that you do not want to wait for God's reward and are giving it to yourself, right now. That is the essence of pride. And that is the same like Adam who wanted his reward of knowledge, at that moment, instead of waiting for God to give it to him, which God would have given. But, Adam wanted it now and look where that got him.
Spiritual life is not compartmentalized. Why do monks wear robes anyway? Give that some thought before you answer.
joasia wrote: Your view is the same as a friend of mine. He had grand expectations of becoming a monk and you know what....he started dressing all in black because he wanted to appear monastic. He thought that his outward appearance would set him apart from this decadent world and he could focus his mind. But, he was just clothing his body. He didn't realize that he had to focus on his soul which is not seen by man, but only by God. So he went to the extreme. And what happened? He was completely disillusioned by the monks around him and left Orthodoxy.
You have too many assumptions here. You are assuming he and myself have the same goals and intentions. The fact he left Orthodoxy proves he was already a total flake.
joasia wrote: You see, the clothing doesn't determine our state of mind...the disposition of our souls does.
Orthodoxy is an aesthetic religion. The art, music and churches are structured in a way to elevate the soul. You think like a Protestant. Everything we see and experience has an effect on the disposition of the soul, even clothing. Pius clothing helps the mind focus on the spiritual life.
joasia wrote: And we need to look inward, in order to reconnect with God. When did Jesus ever teach about coming to God by what we wear?
He didn't. So the idea of wearing a robe, like he did, is open.
joasia wrote: He even gave an example about the Pharisees who focused on washing the outside of the cup, but the inside is dirty.
You are assuming my inside would be dirty. Again, you have too many assumptions.
joasia wrote: Everything we try to show outwardly is our own pride.
I don't want to show outwardly. I want to aid my own mind in the thoughts of God. If I had it my way, I would be a recluse deep in the forest away from everyone.
Do you think Christ is going to wear a pair of jeans and a tee shirt when he returns in glory? We are to emulate him as much as possible. And he wore a robe. I don't believe in compartmentalized spirituality; That monks do this and we lay people do that. We are all called to the monastic ideal.