Об унынии

Dejection is the exhaustion of the soul, and the soul in exhaustion does not have what is natural to it and does not courageously withstand temptations. What food is to a healthy body is temptation to a courageous soul. The north wind feeds the plants, and temptations strengthen spiritual strength. A waterless cloud is carried away by the wind, and a mind without patience is carried away by a spirit of despondency. Spring dew adds growth to the fruit of the field, and the spiritual word elevates the state of the soul. The spirit of despondency drives a monk out of his home, but he who has patience always remains in silence. He who gives himself over to despondency makes an excuse to visit the sick, but satisfies his own intentions. A monk in despondency is quick to serve and makes self-satisfaction a commandment. A light breeze bends the weak plant, and the thought of wandering carries away the one who gives in to despondency. A well-established tree does not sway from the force of the winds, and despondency does not bend strengthened souls. A wandering monk is a dry desert bough: he will remain silent for a little while and then reluctantly rushes on again. A plant carried from place to place does not bear fruit, and a wandering monk does not bear the fruit of virtue. A sick person is not content with just food, and a monk in despondency is not content with doing just one thing. One wife will not be enough for a sensualist, and one cell will not be enough for a despondent monk. The eye of the one devoted to despondency is constantly fixed on the doors, and his thought dreams of visitors. The door creaked and he jumped up; a voice was heard - and he looks out the window, does not leave it until he sits numb. A person given over to despondency, while reading, often yawns and soon tends to sleep, rubs his face, stretches out his arms and, turning his eyes away from the book, looks intently at the wall; turning again to the book, he reads a little, turning over the sheets, is curious to see the ends of words, counts the pages, makes a calculation about the number of whole sheets, examines the handwriting and decorations; and finally, bending the book, he puts it under his head and falls into a not very deep sleep, because hunger already excites his soul and forces him to take care of himself. The monk, in despondency, is lazy about prayer and sometimes does not pronounce prayers. Just as a sick person cannot bear a heavy burden, so one who is given over to despondency will not diligently do God’s work: he is either frustrated in his bodily strength, or weakened in his spiritual strength. The cure for despondency is constancy, doing everything with great care and the fear of God. In every task, set a measure for yourself and do not leave what is assigned before you finish; also pray wisely and vigorously, and the spirit of despondency will flee from you. Instead of: ευμα according to the manuscript it reads: πνευμα. You might be interested in: