Joseph of Panephysis Quotes

“Abba Joseph said to Abba Lot: “You cannot become a monk unless you become altogether like a flaming fire.””

“Wikipedia: Joseph of Panephysis”

“Abba Poemen said to Abba Joseph: “Tell me how I may become a monk.”
Said the elder to him: “If you want to find repose both here and there, say in every situation: ‘I, who am I?’ and do not pass judgment on anybody.””

“Abba Lot visited Abba Joseph and said to him: “Abba, to the best of my ability I do my little synaxis, my little fasting; praying, meditating, and maintaining hesychia; and I purge my logismoi to the best of my ability. What else then can I do?”
The elder stood up and stretched out his hands to heaven; his fingers became like ten lamps of fire.
He said to him: “If you are willing, become altogether like fire.””

“A brother asked Abba Joseph: “I want to come out of the coenobion and live alone.”
The elder said to him: “Stay wherever you see your soul experiencing repose and not being damaged.”
The brother said to him: “I experience repose both in the coenobion and living alone; what do you want me to do?”
The elder said to him: “If you experience repose both in the coenobion and living alone, put your two logismoi as though in a balance and do that which is the more likely to be to your benefit and [to which] your logismos prompts you.””