[Kolokotronis]

The blog is quite moving and it is apparent that this formerly liberal Episcopalian has found the Faith of the Fathers. There is in this man a realistic assessment of his own situation. At least from what I read, he doesn't claim that he was "cured" of his homosexual attractions, though he may be at some point. I like that honesty. He has obviously learned in living his life what +Bishop Ignatius Brianchaninov, a Russian saint of the 19th century, in his monograph "On Purity" described:

"There are some who maintain that a human being cannot be free from slavery to the flesh, much less from that of thoughts and lustful sensations; that is, this would be an unnatural condition. But God has made the law, and He knows better than we, what is possible and what is impossible for us; therefore, the achievement of purity of body and heart is possible for man. God has made the law, and He is the Creator of nature: therefore, purity of heart is not contrary to human nature. It is unnatural to "fallen" nature; it was natural in our original nature, and can become "natural" again by renewal. It can be cultivated and acquired."

[little jeremiah]

I agree with that 100%. That is the foundation of Vedic religion - the soul in its pure (natural) state is without taint; in its conditioned, fallen state, is without purity. The impurities in the form of lust, greed, anger, illusion, envy and so on are like filth which covers a diamond. The story of the Prodigal Son is very relevant in this connection.

An additional point is that no one can purify his own heart by his own effort; only God's supreme purity can purify. Just like the sun - it can purify filthy places, which places cannot purify themselves.