As we stand at the doorsteps of the Great Lent of 2024, let us submit ourselves to a transformative journey of spiritual growth. This sacred Lent is a divine blessing to immerse ourselves in contemplation, traversing the path of Christ’s suffering for our redemption. As we humble ourselves in fasting, prayer, prostration, and meditation throughout the Lenten season, we are beckoned to chronicle the transformation unfolding within our physical, emotional, and spiritual realms.
Transformation denotes an essential alteration. In spiritual terms, it represents metamorphosis within an individual’s life, signifying a pivotal shift towards the divine. Within the framework of Orthodox Church tradition, transformation is not a static event but rather an enduring journey. To symbolise this, the Orthodox Church fathers instituted the practice of making the sign of the Cross, employing the foremost three fingers of the right hand – namely, the thumb, index, and middle finger—joined in unison. The sequence of this sign, moving from the forehead to the midpoint of the chest and then from the left shoulder joint to the right, symbolises the descent of God from heaven to earth (vertical) and the subsequent transformation of the individual from the fallen state symbolised by the “left hand side” to one represented by the “right hand side,” newness in God (horizontal).
It is pertinent to underscore the significance of being aligned with the “right hand side” from a Biblical perspective. For instance, in Matthew 25: 34 we read: Then the king will say to those at his right hand, Come you that are blessed by my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world. Jesus is glorified as seated at the right hand of God, as we read in Matthew 26:64; Mark 16:19; Acts 2:33 & 7:55; and Hebrews 12:2. The Old Testament also refers to the right-hand side as an honour (Genesis 48:14; Exodus 15:6; 1 Kings: 2: 19; Isaiah 41:10 & 45:1; and Psalm 110:1). The Rabbinic tradition establishes hell to the left hand side of God whereas the heaven to His right hand side (Midrash Psalm 90:12). In Plato’s “Republic”, the just soul travels upwards to the right hand side whereas the unjust souls take the left hand side and downwards.
Having said, the delineation between the right hand side and the left hand side is not to be interpreted in a strictly literal manner, but rather as symbolic representations serving to demarcate the realm of evil from that of the divine. With this understanding in mind, let us return to the discourse on the process of transformation as a transition from a state associated with the “left hand side” to one characterised by being recognised as God’s children on His “right hand side.”
To commence, let us examine the anatomy of the human brain which is divided into a left hemisphere and a right hemisphere. There are two primary rationales for delving into the anatomy of the brain: firstly, the brain serves as the corporeal locus for the operations of the mind, encompassing faculties such as cognition, emotion, and physical action; and secondly, the Word of God exhorts the renewal and transformation of the human mind as a prerequisite for attaining communion with God. Romans 12:2 says Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your minds, so that you may discern what is the will of God – what is good and acceptable and perfect. Building upon this verse, this blog represents a humble attempt to explore the optimal utilisation of our cognitive faculties in facilitating spiritual transformation.
Each hemisphere of the brain embodies unique cognitive functions. Those who predominantly rely on the left hemisphere exhibit traits of dominance, pragmatism, and utilitarianism, prioritising logic over emotion. These individuals, characterised as utilitarians, prioritise their own happiness, often at the expense of others, viewing both people and objects as mere instruments to serve their selfish desires. Their pursuit of self-interest is marked by aggression and a willingness to bulldoze any obstacles, including familial ties, relationships, friendships, and even their connection with the divine. While they may superficially excel in relationships through displays of affection, flattery, and generosity, their intentions are ultimately poisoned by self-serving motives, as illustrated in biblical passages such as Proverbs 5:3; 7:21; and Psalm 55:21. Moreover, they are quick to discard relationships and partnerships when they no longer serve their interests. In essence, such individuals are failures in maintaining stable relationships and lack the capacity for lasting friendships or life partnerships – divorce is their hobby.
The manifestation of aggression inherent in the excessive utilisation of the left hemisphere of the brain is exemplified in biblical narratives such as the account of Jezebel, wife of King Ahab, who orchestrated the murder of Naboth to seize his vineyard (1 Kings 21:8-14). Similarly, in the New Testament, we encounter Simon the sorcerer, whose left-brain tendencies led him to attempt to purchase divine power from Saint Peter and Saint John (Acts 8:18). These instances parallel unfortunate phenomena observed within certain facets of our church life. Echoing the narrative in Acts chapter 8, Simon the sorcerer commodified his acquired skills to cultivate social status, fame, and influence, thus wielding power over the local people. Analogously, individuals akin to Simon often infiltrate the church with malicious intentions, seeking to leverage their platform for fame and popularity. Disguising themselves as pious, and devout worshippers, they gradually attract the attention of fellow congregants and their praises. Simultaneously, they garner favour from the church leadership through their generous donations, mirroring the tactics employed by Jezebel. As an expression of gratitude, church leadership may publicly acknowledge and commend such individuals as esteemed figures, directly feeding their unending craving for fame.
Individuals like Simon, driven by the dominance of their left hemisphere, are primarily attention seekers. In the realm of physical existence, such individuals may engage in flirtation and vanity, while in the digital sphere of social media, they incessantly update their profiles and statuses to accrue praise. One can only speculate on how the immoral Jezebel employed similar tactics to exert control over others. Despite the prevalence of left-brainers, the Bible narrates instances, wherein the boundless grace of God shielded Prophet Elijah from Jezebel’s influence, and safeguarded Saint Peter and Saint John from the machinations of Simon.
The essence of the aforementioned examples serves as a cautionary reminder regarding the perils associated with an unchecked dominance of the left hemisphere, as evidenced by Satan’s attempt to tempt Jesus. In Matthew 4:3, Satan tempted Jesus to employ his divine power to turn stones into bread, appealing to a logical perspective rooted in worldly principles that deems starvation as folly, particularly when one possesses the ability to turn stones into bread. Saint Peter’s reliance on the left hemisphere was rectified by the Lord through a revelatory trance, as narrated in Acts 10:9-16. His self-imposed constructs of morality and discipline were dismantled by divine intervention, wherein God unequivocally conveyed that anything that God has blessed, permitted and purified should not be evaluated using worldly standards.
The right hemisphere of the brain is the area of (divine) consciousness, emotions, holistic processing, spatial awareness, creativity and imagination, intuition and insights- all positive aspects that facilitate connection to the divine. As articulated by Saint Paul in Ephesians 3:18-19, the indwelling of Christ within us transcends the confines of man-made moral codes and ethical frameworks (left brain), manifesting through a faith rooted in the boundless love of Christ that surpasses worldly knowledge (right brain). Jesus’s response to Satan, “One does not live by bread alone” (Matthew 4:4), underscores the importance of not assigning undue significance to the dictates of the left hemisphere, and a faithful reliance on the right brain.
The journey from the left hemisphere to the right hemisphere represents a profound transformation that necessitates the renewal of the mind. In the narrative of a saint’s spiritual journey, the transition from an excessive reliance on the left hemisphere to the activation of the right hemisphere can be likened to a tectonic shift. An illustrative case is found in the life of Saint Paul, who was deeply entrenched in Jewish dogma until the moment his right brain was awakened at the gates of Damascus (Acts 9:3). In his subsequent declaration, …it is no longer I who live, but it is Christ who lives in me (Galatians 2:20), Saint Paul articulates a profound transformation wherein the “I” symbolises the left hemisphere he has relinquished, opting instead for “He” (Christ) demonstrating alignment with the right hemisphere. Indeed, the union with the divine may be conceived as the restoration and sustenance of connection to the right hemisphere, embodying a state of sublime spirituality.
This restoration is facilitated by the grace of God, who descended to effect a permanent shift from the left to the right. The disciples (except Judas), and the saints were able to maintain this shift, remaining steadfast in their reliance on the right hemisphere of the brain. They resisted the temptation to regress. Despite the inherent human nature to fall back as lamented by Saint Paul (Romans 7:14-25), their faith in the grace of God empowered them to overcome this inner conflict between the left and right hemispheres of the brain, in terms of its properties. Noteworthy here are the hymns of Saint Ephraim the Syrian (c.306 -c.373 AD), which implore the grace of God to prevent a regression to the dominance of the left brain.
The teachings of Jesus are directed towards effecting a transition from the left to the right hemisphere of the brain. For example, as we approach the Great Lent, it is profoundly beneficial to contemplate Matthew 5: 23-24: …when you are offering your gifts at the altar, if you remember that your brother or sister has something against you, leave your gift there before the altar and go; first be reconciled with your brother or sister, and then come and offer your gift. In these verses, Jesus emphasises not if we hold something against someone, but if someone holds something against us. This highlights instances where our relationships have faltered due to our failure to engage with others using the empathetic and compassionate nature inherent in the right brain. Jesus instructs us to rectify this error, recognising that such reconciliation necessitates a shift from the dominance of the left brain to the realm of the right, characterised by love, forgiveness, and positive emotions.
Great Lent presents an opportunity for us to transition our reliance from the attributes of the left hemisphere to those of the right hemisphere. The Orthodox Church emphasises devoted attention to the Word of God and meditation on the Word (see Psalm 1:2) during the Lenten season. Whereas the left hemisphere governs an individual’s acquired skills, the right hemisphere is associated with mystery and prompts towards spiritual renewal. Therefore, as we approach the Great Lent, we do so not with reliance on our acquired abilities, but with a spirit of submission and receptivity to the divine, facilitated through reading and meditation. This approach reflects the principle articulated by Jesus in Matthew 4:4, emphasising our dependence on the Word of God for sustenance rather than acquired skills and abilities. Engaging in meditative reflection on the Word of God enables us to dismantle the barriers separating the self (ego) from the divine (left from the right), as elucidated by Saint Paul in Ephesians 2:14 wherein he describes how Christ has broken down the dividing wall. Through this process, we are united with God, as articulated in Ephesians 2:16, echoing Jesus’ confident declaration in John 10:30: The Father and I are one. This sense of connectedness can only be experienced upon transformation from left to right.
The Orthodox Church fathers faithfully ascribe the focus on Christ, His Cross, and reading and meditating the Word of God during the Great Lent as a pilgrimage towards the primal, unfallen state of mankind. In the pristine Garden of Eden, the first man and the first woman possessed a healthy and harmonious connection between their right hemisphere of the brain and the divine. In this state of purity, they beheld nothing but the Creator in all things. However, this state of purity and holiness was disrupted when Eve was deceived by the devil to perceive an alternative deity in the forbidden tree, a clear manipulation of the left hemisphere of the brain. Thus the devil succeeded in disrupting the equilibrium of the human brain’s perfection, shifting its balance from the dominance of the right hemisphere towards the left.
In conclusion, it would be erroneous to deem the left hemisphere of the brain as inherently devoid of value. On the contrary, this aspect of cognition, like all creations of God, possesses intrinsic goodness. However, it has been subjugated by the devil to exert control over humanity, overshadowing divine influences. While God’s creation is inherently good, He also bestowed upon us responsibilities and guidelines. Adam and Eve were entrusted with instructions encompassing both directives and prohibitions. Regrettably, Satan led the first humans astray towards the path of prohibition, thereby ensnaring them within the dominion of the left brain, as evident from Satan’s conversation with Eve. The harmonious equilibrium that existed between the left and right hemispheres of the brain was disrupted by the ‘fall’. Consequently, God descended from heaven to restore this equilibrium, liberating the left brain from demonic colonisation, which had previously stifled, oppressed, and usurped the rightful influence of the right hemisphere.
The purpose of the descending of God was the restoration of humanity to the pre-fallen state wherein a harmonious balance between the left and right hemispheres of the brain prevailed. Several instances from the gospel narratives elucidate this principle. For instance, Jesus’ response to the devil’s temptation – One does not live by bread alone, but by every Word that comes from the mouth of God” (Matthew 4:4) – epitomises this perfect equilibrium. Furthermore, Jesus’ admonition to His disciples : See, I am sending you out like sheep into the midst of wolves; so be wise as serpents and innocent as doves (Matthew 10:16) underscores the nuanced role of the left brain, albeit subordinate to purity and holiness, as symbolised by innocence. Despite the acknowledged role of the left hemisphere in language and logic, Jesus cautioned against sole reliance on it, as evidenced in Matthew 10:19: When they hand you over, do not worry about how you are to speak or what you are to say; for what you are to say will be given to you at that time. Here, Jesus advocates for trust in the guidance of the right hemisphere, which leads to a state of renewal – a divine gift bestowed from above.
Jesus descended to liberate us from the depths of the corrupted left brain, leading us towards the realm of renewal embodied by the right brain. May this Great Lent serve as an opportunity for us to restore and reforge our connection with “the right.” The Cross is our way to achieve this transformation. As said in the beginning, the Cross represents the descend of the Lord to transform us from left to the right.
As Saint Paul said, May I never boast of anything except the Cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by which the world has been crucified to me and I to the world (Galatians 6:14).
Amen!
Fr Dr Saji K Mathew 