Philosophy as Ascesis of the Mind

The purpose of the article is to clarify I.A. Ilyin’s understanding of the main, “innermost” essence of philosophy as special “ascesis of the mind”. This is a return to the original purpose of philosophy. I.A. Ilyin’s “initiatory” understanding of the nature of philosophy is shown: philosophy is born from existential experience and spiritual insight, which passes into the inner work of the soul and into external life asceticism, and only after that philosophy is born as their understanding. The vocation of Russian philosophy is to return to the path of authenticity, which is always open. Ilyin’s understanding of the philosophy contains analogies with the concepts of the nature of philosophy of other thinkers of the Silver Age, but it is very original in its formulations. In addition, I.A. Ilyin had a project of the future Russian philosophy as part of the project of future Russia that would free itself from Bolshevism and embark on the path of Orthodox revival.