Questions from a student and answers from an elder

Contents Questions from a student (Pavel Tambovtsev) and answers from an elder 1. What should I do when, being in the circle of brethren, I cannot refrain from speaking, and when I speak, I offend someone with my words? 2. What to do when I see free expression of thoughts in others and am tempted; just as in you, father, sometimes not seeing old meekness in dealing with others, I am also offended? 3. I do not see love in the brethren, and for the study of any subject from the Holy Scriptures. I can’t find anyone to talk to in the Scriptures? 4. Why, during my five-year residence in the deserted monastery here, trying to do something about my own edification, do I feel, on the contrary, that I have really become worse, as evidenced by my imprudent actions, coldness of heart and lack of generosity? 5. Why did this arise, that I lost faith and reverence for your advice, that your edifications ceased to have an effect on my heart, and that everything seems inconvenient for implementation? 6. How should I act when I am in the circle of the first Elders of our monastery, who sometimes mention such incidents among themselves in conversations that, hearing them, it is difficult to overcome laughter? 7. How to get rid of unusually strong feelings of voluptuousness not only in a meeting with the female sex, but also at the mere imagination of it? 8. When my mind is forcibly dragged along by thoughts of voluptuousness, how can I get rid of their attack? 9. What remedy should I use against thoughts that strongly attract me to condemn my neighbor, and especially the one who sensitively insults me, whose actions seem inconsistent with the title of Christ and impudent, and who also obviously insults other brethren; which, looking at and accepting participation in their displeasure, I become more irritated, unable to be peaceful; and not being at peace in spirit means carrying a burden that is harmful to your soul? 10. When no holy thought or idea has any effect on a heart that is irritated or given over to insensibility, what should one do in order to soften oneself? 11. How is a cold soul warmed up? 12. Feeling in yourself not only the inclination, but also the very actions of vanity, and wanting to get rid of it, how can you succeed in it? 13. When I read the books of the Holy Scriptures, I note the most edifying sayings - should I do this, and is it useful? 14. Seeing a new brother being imprudent in some actions, or doing something indecent, should he be corrected? 15. Should the cell rule be followed on Saturday? 16. If, due to absence or some kind of obedience, I cannot have any other time for cell rule than at the latest, what should I do? 17. I really want to correct myself, but I am always carried away by the desire of passions: what should I do to overcome them? 18. How to get rid of scattered thoughts in prayer itself? 19. I am greatly overcome by laziness; how to get rid of it? 20. How to get rid of the oppression of the spirit of despondency? 21. I heard about the introduction of some brothers into monasticism, especially those who entered this monastery after me; I, equally wanting to accept the angelic image, and not having the blessing of my superior, am very calm and lament about this, not achieving my goal. How can I regain the peace of mind that was lost through this? 22. Should we believe dreams that (apparently) vividly represent the future? 23. What does the next dream I saw signify, and does it contain anything worthy of belief? Maybe it doesn’t deserve attention, but am I obligated to reveal it to the Elder? Questions from another student (Antony Bochkov) and the elder’s answers 1. What is condemnation and why do the fathers apply the condemner to the Antichrist? 2. Can I talk in confession about someone who has sinned with me in word or deed? 3. Can I invite the brother to bring repentance to the elder for the verbal sin he has committed together? 4. The Fathers say that a detailed explanation of prodigal thoughts and deeds is in vain, that it is enough to explain them in a short general word, that the memory of them defiles the mouth and thoughts. Is this true? 5. Therefore, it is better to keep silent about evil and blasphemous thoughts against the elder, his life and weaknesses? 6. How can we find out which thoughts are actually ours and which are from the contrary? 7. Некоторые священники-богословы требуют тончайшего исповедания, для очищения души? 8. Is mental prayer given to everyone? 9. Некоторые, знаемые мною отцы имеют великую любовь к Матери Божией, и хвалятся тем; I doubt they are so diligent? 10. Какие книги святых отцев лучше читать: Лествичника, Исаака Сирина или аввы Варсонофия? 11. What can you say about the akathists with which others fill their rules? 12. What is the easiest way to escape? Which way? I'm only asking about myself. The elder’s question: “What is most attractive to the grace of God?” Student: “I don’t know, father.” Старец: «Если бы ты был, яко апостолы, простосердечен, не скрывал бы своих человеческих недостатков, не притворял бы себе особенного благоговения, ходил бы нелицемерствуя, то этот путь, хотя как будто легкий, но не всем дается, не всем понятен; and this path is closest to salvation and attracts the grace of God. Unpretentiousness, innocence, frankness of the soul - this is what pleases the humble-hearted Lord. Unless you are like children, you will not enter the Kingdom of God.” 13. Why am I annoyed at those who come to you, at their stupidity, at their ignorance, although I know that many take advantage of you? 14. Why do I sometimes love you so much: like now (at the same time I had tears in my eyes and my voice trembled), and sometimes I am annoyed with you, with the many who come to you and complain to you? The student's questions and the elder's answers presented are the cell notes of Pavel Petrovich Tambovtsev, one of the disciples of the Venerable Elder Leo. Paul was busy copying the books of the holy fathers, and sometimes, under the dictation of the elder, he wrote answers to his many spiritual children. Cell notes under the title: “Questions from a student and answers from the Elder" were first published in the Mayak magazine in 1845 with a short foreword by the monk who delivered them to the publisher. These notes can serve as an example of the spiritual wisdom of the Venerable Elder and are useful to every Christian who cares about his salvation. You might be interested in: