What is Silence? Conversations With The Last Hermit Of Ireland

In this video Father David Jones' and I explore the question ''What is Silence?''
Father David Jones is a Hermit living in a house on his own in Ireland. He is fluent in over 10 languages and has been living a monastic life since he was 15 years old.
To find out more about me, please visit my Gurushots profile here: gurushots.com/stephenmcelligo...
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#hermit #ireland #catholic #religion #spirituality #silence

[@praytherosaryeveryday2709]

The richest man isn't the one who has the most stuff it's the one who needs the least. The things you own end up owning you.

[@akshatbhandari4779]

Well said so true

[@energyasylum997]

A man who won $35,000,000 from the California Lottery once told me: “I know that richest man in the world is not the happiest man in the world!”

[@simonbelmont1986]

That nugget of truth came from heaven. Well spoken.

[@andrewscotteames4718]

That is deep

[@puzz88]

hmm interesting. it just dawned on me that maybe in God's humour or divine will that my macbook pro died 2 weeks ago and ive been struggling to do my work and assignments and attend to my relationships ever since... something to learn here

[@orthodoxboomergrandma3561]

Silence has been poured into me like honey…this has occurred a few times when I’ve walked into the Red Hills behind our beeswax candle factory after years of prayer following Orthodox ascetic saints directions as in the Philokalia. This person had a lot of words to describe silence. When I had the experience I couldn’t even form thoughts in my mind for about an hour. Praise God!

[@josephgonzales1815]

Silence is a quality of the soul. It is acquired and deepened through physical silence, but ultimately the source of genuinely satisfying silence is grace, a gift for which we are best disposed to receive through a dedicated life of prayer, in the most complete sense of the word.

[@namenowoneman]

Well if he is "the last hermit of Ireland", it shows how important silence is in modern day Ireland...

[@patriciajohnson1894]

Silence can be an absence of sound, yet it can speak volumes....

[@kindnessandcompassion9882]

"It is difficult to find happiness within oneself, but it is impossible to find it anywhere else." - Schopenhauer

[@CountofHazelview]

Joy is what we find when our will are in line with God’s Will. It is inside of us. Happiness depends on outside inputs.

[@kindnessandcompassion9882]

@@CountofHazelview it is not the situation that causes unhappiness. It is our reaction to the situation. "Everything is as it is. The rest, you add to it." - Tolle

[@1Hope4All]

People need to stop being *so busy* that they don't have time to examine their conscience then go to make a good confession. That's just the beginning of being able to *be silent in your hearts* to hear God. *Let not your hearts be troubled.* Peace starts in the soul. If your heart and soul can experience the power of silence, you will be able to hear God's voice no matter how much noise there is around you.

[@allme2547]

💓

[@josephi.b.gonzales4069]

Father David Jones radiates peace and silence. It is very attractive, and it witnesses to the hidden life of Jesus.

[@tonyshannon8429]

As I looked at him listening to the interview's first question, I thought "wow, he looks so serene".

[@catherine9808]

No where near Jesus the Catholic Roman church is the beast system , “

[@tonyshannon8429]

@@catherine9808 kzbin.info/www/bejne/gH-Wq2WhfdGirc0

[@selvamthiagarajan8152]

or Buddha.

[@memyselfandeye76]

Same here

[@jessvolina6007]

I have no idea how I found this but I am so happy I did. Beautiful stuff. Take care of each other.

[@jamesmunce9806]

Silent prayer gives me peace godbless you father

[@justinlevy274]

Not religious, but I greatly respect the peaceful contemplative life. Best wishes.

[@useryumyumbbbb]

i respect ppl like you

[@a.brekkan4965]

Contemplatives are the well in the garden of every church. Without it, life dies.

[@dannielpayne3045]

Glory to God. This father is very peaceful and I am so happy to see and listen to him. God is with him always. May God save Ireland. Saint Patrick, pray for us, our Lady of Guadalupe, pray for us.

[@georgecooper4502]

Daniel! read your bible, you shall see that Mary has nothing to do with your life, salvation or walk with Jesus; that is of course if you care as to what God says in his word.. no where in the scriptures do we find believers praying to saints. Only God hears and answers your prayers. ''For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus'' 1 TIMOTHY 2:5 ALSO...''And call no man your father upon the earth: for one is your Father, which is in heaven.'' MATT23:9 .. The dead do not pray for you

[@dannielpayne3045]

@@georgecooper4502 But none of the saints are dead, they're alive. Believing you just sleep and not live is actually anti-christian. I'm sorry, of course I care about the word of the Lord, that's why as Catholics we do not only read it, but live it. I would suggest you learn a bit more about what Catholics believe. God bless you. Oh and Mary did walk with Jesus, she was his mother

[@Ioannes-hf4bq]

@@dannielpayne3045 Indeed. "He is God, not of the dead, but of the living."

[@dannielpayne3045]

@@Ioannes-hf4bq yes, eternal life

[@timcusack9388]

@@dannielpayne3045 Prots have no doctrine, or traditions, or sense of Church history because they believe its irrelevant. Somehow self interpretation of the Bible alone is enough. Even though the Bible wasn't created until 350 years after Christ death and none of the Apostles except John identified themselves in the Gospel. So how can Prots trust the credibility and authenticity? Where did this knowledge come from? These are the question Prots cant answer.

[@emmanuelwolf6568]

I envy people like this, we think that going out into the world looking for ourselves will bring us peace, but peace is inside the shadow all along.

[@davidtombs7385]

Well said father, well said. God bless you.

[@goldilocks913]

Wonderful thank you 🙏 On a humorous note, l find the concept of interviewing a hermit on silence so beautifully Irish

[@alexanderkuptsov6117]

Hahaha, it's a bit Russian too :)

[@d1427]

@Joe Walsh if he only sat in a cave with some rags on, perhaps his message would have has a better chance [unless then the rags would have been the distraction...]

[@dannyyy97]

What is philokalia

[@goldilocks913]

@@dannyyy97 The Philokalia (Ancient Greek: φιλοκαλία, lit. 'love of the beautiful', from φιλία philia "love" and κάλλος kallos "beauty") is "a collection of texts written between the 4th and 15th centuries by spiritual masters"[1] of the Eastern Orthodox Church mystical hesychast tradition. They were originally written for the guidance and instruction of monks in "the practice of the contemplative life".[2] The collection was compiled in the 18th century by Nicodemus the Hagiorite and Macarius of Corinth based on the codices 472 (12th century), 605 (13th century), 476 (14th century), 628 (14th century) and 629 (15th century) from the library of monastery of Vatopedi, Mount Athos.[3] Wikipedia

[@user-dx5bn4yk4f]

In the silence of our hearts, *God speaks* - St. Mother Theresa

[@geraldkiing1904]

Lol nice name

[@geraldkiing1904]

@Joe Walsh “西方是同性恋” means “the West is gay”.

[@oro7114]

@Joe Walsh he is

[@FranzVonGaart]

What comes across immediately upon seeing him is his eyes. He seems to have a discerning gaze.

[@tylerchua929]

This is great.

[@waynefarrellvoiceovers]

Wonderful. Had closed my eyes to listen to him and opened them to see that he'd closed his own. His is a peace that travels far.

[@CountofHazelview]

I love Carthusian spirituality. It’s a radical but amazing journey who embrace it.

[@stephenmcelligott1996]

I'm not that familiar with it myself, but it's certainly an austere way to live and not for the faint of heart. Thanks for your comment. God bless.

[@willmacdougal6690]

Orthodox Church still has many hermits (hut dwellers) though they still come down from mountain to attend Divine Liturgy.

[@Johnelhadjmi]

Beautiful

[@believewithyourheart5627]

Beautiful!

[@RensSpace]

This is true richness. At the end all that will matter is your faith. ‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’

[@sitluxetluxfuit4481]

And there's me thinking I was the last hermit in Ireland.

[@Dr.Hoffman]

Join the club hehe.. Well I am guessing as we are not ordained we don't get included in the numbers hehehe

[@sitluxetluxfuit4481]

@@Dr.Hoffman what's this we business ? I was ordained in 1979.

[@Dr.Hoffman]

@@sitluxetluxfuit4481 Ok, back to square one it is then. Thanks for clarifying.

[@benvendergood1064]

That was an excellent description.

[@Ggdivhjkjl]

It's a shame the Church discourages young people from embracing their vocations today the way this man did.

[@user-yk9sk7pg6v]

thank you

[@jamesgardner9583]

So true.... Brother James

[@wmritchey1101]

Silence is another word for listen

[@marioknowsitsgod1506]

💡

[@WWYG316]

Sounds like he is describing peace of the soul.

[@jaycliffe6361]

God bless him

[@amazingGrace108]

What is silence? Answer : How do we acquire silence? Answer :

[@maxb6959]

Awesome

[@dickturpin2035]

'We would have inward peace but will not look within.' Anon.

[@MichaGabriRaph19200]

Wow🌺.....so Amazing 🌺...Deep Deep Truth 🌺🌿✝️🌺 I wish more could be said about this...🌈🐾☘️

[@jimscanoe]

It's all just part of the tax exempt *Sky Daddy* scam-they're laughing all the way to the bank with your money.

[@MichaGabriRaph19200]

@@jimscanoe On what grounds are you making that judgement....are you an atheist....☘️

[@cosmic4037]

Try be silent around my kids. Sometimes chaos and silence preserves us from many sins.

[@a-zlinguistics5646]

Soft spoken wise man.

[@GrievingForGrace]

Was anyone else surprised when he started speaking? I thought he'd taken a vow of silence from the title lol

[@GadeadelCid]

The luxury of silence. And the sage went back into obscurity like a jewel in a box.

[@d1427]

luxury?! It may look so to a mind that took over and became a terrible master instead of a docile servant- as he hinted 'you can be in a cave in the mountains and be troubled by the mind or you can be in the market place and be at peace...'

[@ransomcoates546]

He definitely says Mass alone if he finds any serenity in the Novus Ordo.

[@GUEST-qw4te]

So that is what is truly meant by "go into your secret place."

[@managerialelitetoaster3456]

It's when there's no noise. Done.

[@jamesneill7461]

Wow

[@nightshift4587]

Silence in its known form is to experience the supernatural, without realizing it.

[@tjhurson2493]

Any more interview with him

[@grace5837]

Amen 🙏

[@homeboysudaka5629]

Amin

[@matclement3026]

Have you ever thought about founding a order of hermits

[@loannahoffmann8556]

how interesting. talking about silence

[@johndoe4073]

Follow the Silence

[@ralphturner3798]

Actually, silence is more than the absence of speaking or hearing. It is the absence of thought that is experienced through meditation. This is not sleep... but a situation where one has transcended thought and come to absolute silence, while remaining conscious.

[@janesmith8050]

yes

[@bobheaney211]

To me, meditation isn't the absence of thoughts, but the absence of being led by them. They're there, and noted, but neither stopped or acted upon.

[@ralphturner3798]

@@bobheaney211 I guess there are many different forms of meditation. I practice Transcendental Meditation, as taught by Maharishi Mahesh Yogi. With this meditation, which is done twice a day for 20 minutes, the mind experiences subtler and subtler levels of thought, and then it transcends thought and reach pure being, a state [or place] where there is an infinite amount of peace, energy, intelligence, and happiness. [At this place, there is no thought. Just pure awareness.] When one finishes meditation, a certain amount of those qualities are brought with you, and your day goes better. One of the nice things about this type of meditation ["TM"] is that it is effortless. TM is unlike other forms of meditation, which involve concentration focusing on something [a thought, breathing, or something else].

[@ralphturner3798]

@goggles789 I can understand how someone who has not experienced the state of Being, where there is no thought, might believe that there is no such thing as absence of thought. But you are correct that peace is not only for meditation. If a person's meditation brings peace during the meditation, then some of that peacefulness will come out with him and be enjoyed during the day.

[@ralphturner3798]

@goggles789 I think that some of the people posting here are basing what they say on what they have read, rather than what they have experienced.

[@selvamthiagarajan8152]

Did this guy listen to 'Nirvana' in the 90s, I wonder.

[@andrearodgers5879]

Yes.And, too 1Kings19:12,NRSV.

[@sorenkorvberg8736]

I tried to find information on monks in Ireland but wasn't successful. Are there not any active monasteries any longer? How can it be that the country which were the driving force in setting up the first monasteries around the continent, now lack monasteries itself??

[@stephenmcelligott1996]

Yes, there are many active monasteries but with few vocations. The most recent monastery is Silverstream and it has many young vocations but is not of Irish origin but founded by Americans. As for the Irish monasteries in my immediate area, there is one called Mellifont Abbey. I'll be doing some videos over the coming months on these places both new and old so subscribe and learn more about them. There's also the famous Glenstal Abbey monastery which has many vocations. That said, the amount of vocations in Ireland on a whole since the 70's has rapidly declined. For example, in my local monastery there's only about 11 men in what used to be a place that housed 100's. In fact, there were so many vocations in it people slept in the adjoining barn on the hay in the 1960's.

[@sorenkorvberg8736]

@@stephenmcelligott1996 I see... OK, thank you very much for the information! Is it possible to visit some of these monasteries and perhaps live there/work for a while? Would you say that many irishmen have lost their faith in Christianity?

[@stephenmcelligott1996]

​ @The The Yes, I'm quite sure mellifont abbey would be glad of the vocations. I highly recommend it. Silverstream has too many vocations and there's not enough room to meet the demand. The demand is usually from those living overseas that are looking for the Latin Mass FSSP experience that the monastery provides. There's very few monasteries like it in the world which explains the reasons for its increase in vocations. However, if you want the old Irish monastic experience I recommend Mellifont Abbey. the Cistercian way of life is very difficult, but if you're looking for a challenge that's the place to go.

[@stephenmcelligott1996]

@@sorenkorvberg8736 As for us losing the faith yes many have lost the faith. We are only a country of 4 million people and so the recent 60/40 ratio in the abortion referendum is evidence that Ireland is now mission territory.

[@sorenkorvberg8736]

@@stephenmcelligott1996 Thanks for your answers. Yes, it's a pity that most people today have lost their faith.

[@jigggro]

I am a Hindu, but found a lot to appreciate in this video.

[@stephenmcelligott1996]

You're very welcome. Please subscribe 🙏

[@Chase_Istre]

Heheh silence is universal. When thoughts, senses and so on are not longer adhered to there is pure being. Everyone meets there beyond conditions. All religion leads here indeed😉

[@Lexthebarbarian]

"Spirit of Fire"

[@AFC57]

Ephesians 2:8 For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast. Romans 3:23 For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God; Being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus

[@susieenglish302]

Get rid of half, then get rid of half again. Then decide what you actually need and you will give away half again

[@simeondawkins6358]

The inner silance ?

[@Nonconceptuality]

Mauna is silence of mind Silence the interior monolog. That's all.

[@yamabushi170]

Must be a short conversation

[@tatie7604]

Do all hermits live alone or in community?

[@Ggdivhjkjl]

Alone, though the Camaldolese might be considered communal hermits.

[@AB-et6nj]

Don't return to monke, return to monk

[@thescientistschurch]

Why take the easy path....to really get the value out of life you don't hide away. The harder path is living as a religious man in society.....that's hard....the narrow path right🤔

[@amme241]

Then you need to go to confession

[@Fummy007]

I was hoping he wouldnt say anything for some reason.

[@OperationsAndSmoothProductions]

So what is the true practice?? The Hermit or the guy in Rome ??? I say the guy in Rome whom can find true peace in the mist of chaos.

[@stlouisix3]

The bloke living alone speaks 10 languages fluently.

[@213kidangel]

go to Catholic confession in order to come into the Silence

[@wepsar]

The Silence is universal.

[@213kidangel]

@@wepsar people who have not experienced Catholic Confession say things like this but they have no idea how cool it gets.

[@vincitomniaveritas8491]

.

[@iamthatiam363]

Seems to me we are human beings designed and capable of thought, movement, procreation and creation trying to not do any of them to see who we really are🤪🤦😜

[@ilovechrist9780]

For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. - John 3:16 from the Bible ❤

[@zeroonetime]

*01 RULE OF LAW 01 religion I.S. n0 religion *Information System I.S. 01 rule of law ~ Collectively Acting as 01 human MIND = 010 Infinity-Squared-Interminably.

[@oOIYvYIOo]

an hermit does not live in a comon house.

[@Jay_in_Japan]

A conversation about silence Lol

[@vejeke]

It is amazing how far a person can go to try to make peace with himself because of what the religion he was taught, and from which he cannot and will not escape, says about his own nature.

[@Engelhafen]

Maybe he’s just silent because he can’t get a word in edgewise

[@SugarRich.]

They say silence is the language of god, and everything else is just poor translation.

[@merrybolton2135]

To be a hermit is to be self centred to the end degree

[@tatie7604]

How is prayer for others self-centered? Is that selfish? No! What about those who live their entire lives causing trouble for others and doing harm. He is not doing that. You are brainwashed to think that all this contact with others has done good. Look around at the world. It's in a horrible state. Few desire to change their ways.

[@einarabelc5]

How can you be fluent on anything if you don't practice.

[@dannny_macdee1015]

I am afraid this short video, this short talk, is lacking in thoroughness. The question is, how do we "deal" with it [our conscience or other distractions]? This is not explained. Also, who is there in the silence? All of what Father said here can be applied to Eastern meditation, which is DEADLY to the soul. One MUST have Christ with him/her in this silence. Silence alone for silence's sake is not enough. It must be to contemplate the Christian Trinity. Empty quiet leaves one open to evil influence. Even the great Thomas Merton went astray into places dark as those in the Eastern ways. One must have a good spiritual advisor when delving deep into quiet prayer, else they may be deceived.

[@dannny_macdee1015]

@Supernoone Silence should never be empty, and no matter how virtuous one is, they can open themselves up to evil influences. Be careful then, to only open yourself to Christ. I have a brother who has been oppressed ever since he started TM.

[@gurteenview]

It really is to get filled with our Living God Jesus Christ, in our spirits, which will come by knowing and understanding the written word of God That being Jesus Christ alone. It will take going to your room and seeking the truth of Jesus and what He alone has done by dying for all people all over the world. Silence must come from within so that no matter our circumstances we will be still. Is was God who said Be silent and I will fight for you. Jesus said Be still and know that I am God. It's in knowing our Lord God Almighty, through Jesus Christ is how we live for the audience of One and that will bring Silence within our inner-being. Shalom Shalom

[@dannny_macdee1015]

@@gurteenview Yes. Praise Him. No one can come to the father except through Jesus, as He told us. Shalom to you as well! I have been in silent prayer for a few years now, and always God surprises me, or relieves me, or encourages me, or consoles me. But, every time, He imparts graces. Every time I gain... Oh, my Love! I desire the Kiss of Your mouth.. [from Song of Songs]

[@dannny_macdee1015]

@Supernoone You speak as if there is only the mind to contend with, as if it were the be-all and end-all of our being. There is also the Soul. The mind is reason's connection with the Soul. Spiritual influences affect the Soul, and can confuse the mind. NOTE: eastern meditations and spirituality process al things in the manor of the mind being everything as well, so as to persuade us by only conquering the mind; they omit the Soul's influence on the mind and intellect, so as to distract from the Soul, which is the eternal part of the human person [connected as we live, to the body, until they are separated in the death of the body]. Ways of living are an expression of the body in response to where the Soul is at. The Soul is influenced in the spiritual realm, by both good and evil entities, or, as one might say, Angels or Demons [which are fallen Angels]. All being said, virtue is gained only by good influence [God, our guardian Angels, other Angels, people with our best interest in heart], and through prayer, which is the conduit God uses to afford us His grace, wisdom, fortitude, strength, and anything which He knows to be of assistance to us. It is mostly through the later, and often in combination with the formers.

[@judeirwin2222]

What a shame that you condemn all Eastern philosophy in order to bolster your Christianity. Jesus himself said that in god there is no east or west, no Gentile or Jew. He knew that all seeking after truth and grace come from and blend with a common Source, whether you call that god, Jesus, Brahma, the Tao, Allah, the Universe or the a Great Spirit. Open your mind.

[@purebride8600]

You need Jesus

[@angelfrancoise]

He should read the Holy Coran !

[@neame-bh3uq]

No one should read the Unholy Quran

[@factcheckingyourmum]

Why he dressed like the kkk tho lol.

[@mcspankey4810]

It’s called a habit, a unique robe that is worn by those who are part of a religious order (its almost like a form of vestment that goes back to the levitival priesthood)

[@factcheckingyourmum]

@@mcspankey4810 true, but i could have done without the pointy white hood 😂

[@fictionfatale3913]

The KKK appropriated these religious garments: they are dressed like him.