Слово 50. О пользе бегства от мира

Truly stubborn, difficult and inconvenient is the feat that we accomplish in the midst of everyday affairs. No matter how much a person can become invincible and strong, however, as soon as that which serves as the reason for the battle of battles and exploits approaches him, fear does not leave him and threatens him with a quick fall, even more than during obvious warfare with the devil. Therefore, as long as a person does not move away from what causes his heart to be confused, the enemy always has the opportunity to attack him. And if he dozes off a little, the enemy will easily destroy him. For when the soul is overwhelmed by harmful encounters with the world, these very encounters become sharp pricks for it; and she is, as it were, naturally conquered when she meets them. And therefore, our ancient fathers, who walked these paths, knowing that our mind will not at all times be able and able to stand steadily in one place and guard its guard, but at other times cannot even see what harms it, they reasoned wisely and, like a weapon, put on non-covetousness, which, as it is written, is free from all struggles (so that in this way a person could get rid of his poverty from many falls), and went into the desert, where there are no everyday activities that serve as the cause of passions, so that when they become exhausted, they do not encounter reasons for falling, I mean irritation, desire, rancor, glory, but so that the desert makes all this and other things easy. For they strengthened and protected themselves with it, like an insurmountable pillar. And when each of them could accomplish his feat in silence, where the feelings, when encountering something harmful, did not find help for themselves, to assist our opponent. It is better for us to die in achievement than to live in failure. You might be interested in: