Don’t Be Duped By Spiritual Charlatans

Last updated on: February 18, 2011 at 8:09 am by Henry Karlson

Don’t Be Duped By Spiritual Charlatans 2011-02-18T08:09:59-05:00 Henry Karlson

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One day Abba Macarius the Great came to Abba Anthony’s dwelling on the mountain. When he knocked on the door, Anthony came out to him and said to him, ‘Who are you?’ He replied, ‘I am Macarius.’ Than Anthony went inside and shut the door leaving him there. Later, seeing his patience, he opened the door and received Macarius with joy, saying to him, ‘I have wanted to see you for a long time, having heard about you.’ He rendered him all the duties of hospitality and made him rest for he was very tired. [1]

Many have often noticed the similarity between The Sayings of the Desert Fathers with Zen koans. To the uninitiated reader, both offer enigmatic riddles which one must decipher in order to get the point. Yet, for those who understand the tradition of each, especially if they understand cultural references which are being employed in each, what is offered is less of a riddle and more a representation of a practical spirituality which a spiritual elder imparted upon his or her disciples. They present unique situations and sayings where their understanding is brought into the open. We are not to expect day to day life in the desert or Zen monastery is like what is presented in such stories.

What we read about Sts Anthony and Macarius here is a story which could be used to show how the desert and Zen monks often learned the same spiritual lessons. We have records of those seeking to enter some famous Zen monastery being tested in ways which resemble how Anthony tested Macarius. Indeed, such testing was typical: the would-be monk would makes a journey to a given monastery, often a long and hazardous journey, only to be kept waiting outside at the gate. They are initially refused entrance into the monastery. Their reaction while outside is used to test the would-be monk; if what they did was seen as favorable, of showing that the candidate is ready for the ascetic life, eventually they would be welcomed in to the monastic community. If they give up and leave, it is clear, they are not ready, and would likely never find a monastery in which they will be accepted.[2]

Here, instead of a would-be Zen monk knocking at a monastery door, we have something slightly different. Anthony is met by Macarius. Both are famous monks. Macarius knocks on Anthony’s door, trying to meet with Anthony. There was no question of whether or not Macarius was monk; there was a question, however, of how successful his ascetic labors had been. Macarius had garnished a reputation for himself; fame, of course, can be a tricky thing, and many charlatans gain fame by putting on a good show while in front of an adoring audience. Anthony wanted to see whether or not Macarius’ reputation had been justly earned. Thus, he tested Macarius by seeing how patient he could be. Anthony knew that if Macarius truly had the kind of spiritual discipline attributed to him, Macarius would not be deterred. If Macarius was a charlatan, and thought greatly of himself, he would either demand to see Anthony outright, or he would leave, thinking his time was being wasted. That Macarius waited patiently, without any bitterness, without any sign of annoyance, indicated to Anthony that Macarius truly had achieved a great level of inner peace. Anthony, as we can see, was pleased with the result – indeed, he rejoiced and rendered Macarius the hospitality which was his due.

Those who have attained a level of spiritual authority desire others to attain what they have attained. They rejoice when they see any great spiritual achievement done by someone else. Indeed, if meet someone who is their equal, or even their superior, they do not feel the slightest bit of jealousy – holiness is something they want to be spread around in the world, and they rejoice whenever they see it. But they also do not want people to be harmed by charlatans. Holiness has to be tested. The testing might be different from person to person, and from situation to situation. But it needs to be tested, because so many pretend holiness for personal gain:

For men will be lovers of self, lovers of money, proud, arrogant, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy, inhuman, implacable, slanderers, profligates, fierce, haters of good, treacherous, reckless, swollen with conceit, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, holding the form of religion but denying the power of it. Avoid such people. For among them are those who make their way into households and capture weak women, burdened with sins and swayed by various impulses, who will listen to anybody and can never arrive at a knowledge of the truth.As Jannes and Jambres opposed Moses, so these men also oppose the truth, men of corrupt mind and counterfeit faith; but they will not get very far, for their folly will be plain to all, as was that of those two men. (2 Timothy 3:2-9)

One thing history shows, charlatans try to associate themselves with people who are in reality what the charlatans claim to be. They will try to validate themselves by such associations. Anthony, having heard of Macarius but uncertain of his spiritual state, didn’t want to meet with him unless Macarius had earned it, because such a meeting would inevitably be seen as a validiation of Macarius’ spiritual authority. Now, we might not be Anthony or Macarius, but we can and should learn from the example presented in this story. What exactly can we learn?

First, we see the value of patience. We need to be able to find peace within ourselves, for when we have such peace, we can be patient. When we lack such patience, we need to ask ourselves, why? Of course, there are times when patience is not a virtue, but they become the exceptions which prove the rule.

Second, we need to remember that Christians are to be prudent. Many people gain a notoriety and fame which they do not deserve. How many people seem holy, seem filled with a passion for Christ, end up disappointing us through scandal? Why did they disappoint us? Is it because of what they have done, or because we have allowed ourselves to be duped? Obviously, it is both, but the second stings more than the first, and it stings because we know better, we know we should not have been so easily led astray.

Third, and just as important, when we truly meet someone who has attained a high level of spiritual awareness because of the holiness they have attained in this world, we should rejoice. We should not feel sad if we are not their equal; rather we should look up to them and their example, seeing that such holiness is indeed possible. When we encounter the holy in our lives, we should feel encouraged. The presence of the holy lifts people up, makes them feel better. Yes, holy people will test us and show us how far we are from achieving spiritual purity, but they will do so, not to judge or condemn us but rather, to help us follow them in the path of holiness. Will we listen to them?

[1] The Sayings of the Desert Fathers. Trans. Benedicta Ward (Kalamazoo, MI: Cistercian Publications, 1984), 127-8.

[2] See Daisetz Teitaro Suzuki, The Training of the Zen Buddhist Monk (New York: Cosimo Classics, 2010), 8-13 for a description of how an initiate is accepted into a Zen Monastery.

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