Four chapters on the ascetic life

The collection “Four Chapters on the Ascetic Life” consists of various excerpts about dispassion and the fight against thoughts, taken from the “Small Announcement” of St. Theodora Studite. The monk defines the essence of ascetic life as constant internal warfare and gives guidance on spiritual work. The author defines the ascetic life as abstinence from passions, mastery over thoughts and continuous struggle against invisible enemies. He emphasizes that the true struggle begins with keeping the soul clean from bad thoughts, which, like fire, ignite passions, and it is at this stage that it is necessary to repel the tempter. Particular attention is paid to the need for constant wakefulness and attention to the inner world. The saint calls for curbing the mind so that it does not incline towards unnecessary thoughts and does not create sinful images and desires. The essay describes the tactics of spiritual warfare against the evil one. St. Theodore warns against accepting the “pretext” (the first attack of a sinful thought) and the subsequent development of thoughts leading to the desecration of the soul and its alienation from the natural state. To combat these “flaming arrows,” he recommends the use of tears, attention, prayer, contrition and bodily exhaustion, insisting on immediately repelling the attack and preventing a long stay in a sinful state. The ultimate goal of this feat is to gain the “crown of truth,” which is possible only by maintaining loyalty and perseverance to the end. * Title of the work in Greek: Κεφάλαια Δ. * Title of the essay in Latin: Capitula quatuor. 1. The ascetic life is nothing more than abstinence from passions, dominion over thoughts, a continuous struggle against invisible enemies, keeping the soul pure from bad thoughts that excite us, for during thoughts passion flares up like fire, while we, removing passions, repel the tempter at his very attack. 2. We have a great need for vigilance and attention, for the readiness of the heart to curb our mind, so that it does not incline to what it should not (do), does not fall into the inappropriate, does not draw bad images, does not create sinful desires from which we have no benefit, but on the contrary, and most often, we grieve and lament, not comprehending anything useful. Therefore, the only peace and the only pleasure lies in purifying the soul and taking care of dispassion. 3. So, let us remain in the continuous testimony of our conscience, let us not bow our knees to Baal, brothers, let us not allow our thoughts to gain victory over us, and even better, let us extinguish the kindled arrows of the evil one with tears, attention, prayer, contrition and other exhaustions of the flesh. For our “adversary,” “like a roaring lion, walks about, seeking someone to devour” (1 Peter 5:8), whom he can catch as a prey, either in part or in whole - for, having captured in part, he is not satisfied, but always strives forward - for the worse, until he commits sinful death. Thus, he first of all tries to make us accept the admonition, then he inspires something bad in the heart, and then, having seduced in this way and poisoned the soul, he takes it out of its natural state and makes it insane, senseless and blind, striving for what it should not (do). Therefore, we must guard our hearts with all care, not giving room to the devil, but immediately repelling the attack (adjective). If we suffer defeat in this case, then at least we should not be defiled (by his suggestions); if we are defeated in this too, then we will not remain in this state for a long time and will not allow ourselves to be carried away to the limits of sin. And we happen to experience such a (disastrous) state from prejudices and memories of the past. Let us avoid prejudices, let us shy away from youthful memories. After all, to be in the past through memory means nothing else but that we have turned our hearts to Egypt? This we should observe according to the inner man. 4. So, brethren, let us begin to fight, strengthening ourselves with all our might, according to the might of the power of the Spirit who abides in us, “putting down the thoughts,” according to what is written, “and every tribute charged to the mind of God” (2 Cor. 10:4-5). And this (should be done) continuously. After all, this is an insurmountable war, this is a martyrdom of many types and many days. And whoever does not indulge in thoughts, although he is constantly tormented by them, who does not bow the knee to Baal, but confronts passions with zeal and courage and defeats them, he obviously undergoes torment every day, and can say with the Apostle Paul: “I die all the days” (1 Cor. 15:31). And at the end of his exploits, he can boldly say: “I have fought the good fight, I have finished my life, I have kept the faith, and so on, so that the crown of righteousness will be kept for me” (2 Tim. 4:7-8).