Глава 4. Какое нужно предуготовление тому, кто желает проходить это Божественное делание

As much as this Divine prayer is greater than any other monastic feat, which, according to the holy fathers, is the pinnacle of all corrections, the source of virtues, the subtlest and invisible in the depths of the heart, the work of the mind: so the subtlest, invisible, barely comprehensible to the human mind, the networks of its manifold charms and dreams extend to it as an invisible enemy of our salvation. Therefore, one who is diligent in learning this Divine work must, according to Saint Simeon the New Theologian, surrender himself soul and body into obedience in accordance with the Holy Scriptures: that is: surrender himself to the complete cutting off of his will and his reasoning - to a person who fears God, a zealous keeper of His Divine commandments and not inexperienced in this mental feat, who is able, according to the writings of the Holy Fathers, show the obedient the unlost path to salvation - the path of mental prayer, secretly performed with the mind in the heart. This is necessary so that by true obedience in the mind, he can become free from all rumors and cares and attachments of this world and body. How can someone who has entrusted all care for his soul and body to God and, according to God, to his father, not to be free? By humility, born from obedience, according to the testimony of St. John Climacus and many saints. fathers, he will be able to avoid all the charms and snares of the devil, and quietly, silently, without any harm, constantly practice this mental activity, with great spiritual success. If someone gave himself up to obedience, but did not find in his father by his very deed and experience a skillful mentor of this Divine mental prayer (at the present time - alas! worthy of much crying and sobbing - experienced mentors of this work completely disappear): then he should not therefore come to despair. But, remaining in true obedience according to the commandments of God (and not arbitrarily and especially, willfully, without obedience, which delusion usually follows), placing all hope in God, together with his father, let him, instead of a true mentor, obey with faith and love the teaching of our reverend fathers, who expounded to the subtlety the doctrine of this Divine work from the enlightenment of Divine grace, and from here let him borrow instructions for this prayer. And, in any case, the grace of God, through the prayers of the holy fathers, will hasten and instruct - how, without any doubt, to learn this Divine work. You might be interested in: