Слово 54. О разных предметах, в вопросах и ответах

Question. Is it good to distance yourself from everything that irritates passions? And such an escape, when the soul avoids battles and chooses peace for itself, is it recognized as a victory or defeat of the soul? Answer. Let's answer this briefly. A monk must in every possible way avoid everything that irritates evil passions in him, especially - cut off in himself the causes of passions and what triggers and from which increases, even the smallest passions. If the time comes to resist passions and fight them, when snares are set for us in spiritual contemplation 341, then we will do this not jokingly, but skillfully. And a person should always turn his thoughts away from passions to natural good, which the Creator put into nature, although the devil perverted the truth with evil temptation. And if it is proper to say so, then he should flee not only from the bothersomeness of passions, but also from his feelings, and immerse himself in his inner man, and remain there in solitude, constantly working in the vineyard of his heart, until he brings his deeds into agreement with the monastic name given to him in his secrecy and openly. And it may be that by this stay close to the inner man we will come into perfect union with the knowledge of our hope, Christ living in us. For when our mind dwells there 342 in solitude and as a hermit, then it is no longer the mind that wages war with the passions, but grace; unless even the very passions come into action in him 343. Question. If a person does something for the sake of spiritual purity, and others, without understanding, are seduced by his spiritual life, then should he withdraw from his divine life because of the temptation or do what is useful for his intention, although it is tempting for those looking at him? Answer. Let us also say about this that if someone, according to the rules that he received from the fathers who came before him, does something that serves to purify his mind, and has assumed this goal in himself - the achievement of purity, and others, who do not know, are tempted by his intention, then it is not he who is responsible, but those who are tempted. It is not for this that he abstains, or fasts, or lives in strict seclusion and does what is useful for his purpose, so that others will be tempted, but in order to purify his mind. And those who are tempted blame him for ignorance of the purpose of his life and sin against the truth, because, being in negligence, they were unable to comprehend the spiritual goal that he assumed for himself, that is, the purity of his soul. Blessed Paul wrote about them, saying: “the word of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing” (1 Cor. 1:18). What now? Since the word of the cross was imputed to foolishness by these, who did not feel the power of the word, should Paul have been silent and not preached? But even to this day, the teaching of the cross serves as a stumbling block and temptation for Jews and Greeks; Therefore, should we also remain silent about the truth, so as not to be offended? But Paul not only did not remain silent, but even cried out loudly, saying: “Let me not boast except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ” (Gal.6:14). This praise of the cross was expressed to the saints not in order to seduce others, but because the preached power of the Cross is great. Therefore, you, saint, carry out your life in accordance with the purpose that you have proposed for yourself before God, in which your conscience is not condemned, and test your life according to the Divine Scriptures and according to the commandments that you received from the holy fathers 344. And if you are not accused by them, then do not be afraid of what others have been tempted by. For not a single person can inform everyone equally 346, or please everyone, and (at the same time) in his secretness work for God 347. Blessed is that monk, O blessed one, who truly strives for the purity of his soul with all his strength and in the lawful way in which our fathers marched towards purity, according to the degrees of it by which they ascended in rank and degree, and he will rise to approach it in wisdom and patience of sorrow, and not through alien degrees of tricks 348. Purity of the soul is the original gift to our nature. Without purity from passions, the soul is not cured of the ailments of sin and does not gain the glory lost by crime. If someone has been worthy of purification, that is, mental health, then his mind really and truly accepts joy with a spiritual feeling; for he becomes the son of God and the brother of Christ and does not have time 349 to feel the good and bad that encounters him. May God grant us to know His will, so that, always fulfilling it, we may come to His eternal rest, according to the grace and love for mankind of our Lord Jesus Christ, to whom is due all glory, honor and worship, now and forever and ever. Amen. When we are subtly tempted by a spiritual vision. However, the passions themselves do not move in him so strongly that they can motivate him to fulfill them in practice. From this indescribable spiritual joy, born from purity. You might be interested in: