Глава 19. О том, что подвижник должен приступать к подвигу с твердою решительностью, и о послушании

For discerning minds, our word in the previous presentation of the properties of this kind of life has already defined the rule for life. But since for the simpler brethren it is necessary to explain even more clearly in detail the rule of this life, let us turn to this. So, one who has embarked on such a way of life must first of all have a strong, unshakable and immovable way of thinking, such a determination that the spirits of malice cannot overcome and change, and with spiritual firmness, even to death, show the steadfastness of the martyrs, both by adhering to the commandments of God and by observing obedience to mentors. For this is the main thing in this kind of life. Just as God, Who is the Father of all and deigns to be called so, demands from His servants the most precise obedience, so the spiritual father of people, who conforms his orders with God’s laws, demands unquestioning obedience. If someone who has devoted himself to some kind of handicraft art, one of the useful ones for us in this life, submits to the artist in everything and does not resist his orders in any way, does not leave him for the shortest time, but is constantly in front of the teacher, takes such food and drink, leads in everything else the way of life that he prescribes, then how much more will those who begin the study of piety and holiness, once convinced that they can acquire Such knowledge from the mentor will be rewarded with all humility and the most precise obedience in everything, and will not even inquire on what basis the order is given to them, but will begin to carry out the task told. And would they only want to know something about which those who do not know anything related to salvation are allowed to ask politely and with proper modesty and receive admonition. But let a person make every effort so that the height of his soul is not humiliated by the uprising of voluptuous desires. For a soul, nailed to the earth by carnal voluptuousness, how can it look with a free eye at the light that is akin to it and intelligent? Therefore, first of all, it is necessary to practice abstinence, which serves as a reliable guardian of chastity, and not allow the leader - the mind - to rush here and there. Just as water, locked in pipes, under its oppressive force, not being able to spill to the sides, strives straight upward, so the human mind, when abstinence, like a narrow pipe, compresses it from everywhere, without having any opportunity to dissipate, by the nature of its movability will rise to the desire of sublime objects. For it is impossible for him to ever stop, having received from the Creator a nature destined for incessant movement; and if they prevent him from striving towards anything vain, then, of course, it is impossible for him not to go straight to the truth. And we think of defining abstinence in such a way that it is not only abstinence from food (for many of the Hellenic philosophers succeeded in this), but primarily abstinence from wandering the eyes. For what is the benefit if, while abstaining from food, you devour the lust of fornication with your eyes, or willingly listen with your ears to vain and devilish speech? There is no benefit in abstaining from food, but not in abstaining from arrogance, arrogance, vain glory and all passion. Or what is the benefit of observing abstinence in food and not abstaining from evil and vain thoughts? Therefore, the Apostle said: “I fear lest... your minds be corrupted” (2 Cor. 11:3). Therefore, let us abstain from all this, so that the Lord’s reproach does not justly fall on us, as on “straining out a mosquito and devouring a wild beast” (Matthew 23:24). You might be interested in: