When we lay bare the hidden meaning of the history, scripture is
seen to teach that the birth which distresses the tyrant is the
beginning of the virtuous life. I am speaking of the kind of birth
in which free will serves as the midwife, delivering the child
amid great pain. For no one causes grief to his antagonist unless
he exhibits in himself those marks which give proof of his victory
over the other.
St. Gregory of Nyssa, The Life of Moses.
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One response to “St. Gregory of Nyssa, The Life of Moses.”
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Given said…I am interested in the notion of Tyrant, which in context is the Pharoh or whoever Moses was battling. To me the Tyrant is ego. The selfish thinking that impacts everything that I do. In this context, the revolutionary act of distressing the tyrant is very important. Almost any act can acheive the desired results. The acts do not cause harm. The acts may actually reduce others suffereing my increasing my own compassion–compassion for myself if for no one else.11/13/2006 11:06:00 AM Given said…Tyrants must be grieved by your victory. Part of the victory is the taunt, the pain we inflict, the message that we have defeated the tyrant. This seems to go agains the gracious winner, the recognition that we are all suffering. I struggle with this portion of the teaching — that I mus somehow rub their nose in it.11/14/2006 11:05:00 AM Given said…\”For no one causes grief to his antagonist …\” I am not sure that I want to cause grief to my antagonist.I am really fighting with this reading, but here the point that byshowing the marks of our libertation we cause grief to those who arenot liberated. Thus we have a responsibility to not show this marks.there is this guy, John, whose name I forgot on Saturday. He wears anorange sweat shirt. He is dating a women in the meeting. He islarge, and loud, and confrontational. I love guys like this. Thismorning, he said to me something like \”Hi Marvin!\”. To which Iresponded with a straight face, \”Hi Steve!\”. He looked confused. Iplayed it like I really thought his name was Steve. This was oldbehavior. This was showing \”those marks\”. This very well may havecaused John grief–I am not sure, but I know that showing these marksdid not make me feel any better. I caused grief to my antagonist, hewas clearly tormenting me, and my response (though not out of hand)was enough to make me feel uncomfortable.Weird teaching.–11/15/2006 10:10:00 AM Given said…I am speaking of the kind of birthin which free will serves as the midwifeI am of the opinion that \”free will\” is generally a bad thing in the christian tradition. In this case it appears that Free Will brings into existance that which causes self liberation, victory of adversity, etc–yet, which causes grief to the tyrant. I am still struggling with the notion that grieving anyone is the enlightened thing to do. It appears to me that defeating the tyrant is important, but causing grief will just perpetuate the situation.If this is the case, then free will creates more suffering then it is worth–somehow living in tyranny is better then being free, if freedom requires increased or continued suffering. I am not sure…
David Given Schwarm 
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