Письмо 96
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Unable to write himself, he asked his brother to write; But what is necessary, even if through force, I write: raising your mind to heaven is very harmful for you, and this imaginary consolation is the cause of your melancholy and spiritual burden. It’s very strange to me that you recognize this action as a charm, and then defend that you can’t live without it, and so on. You said that you read about this in the Philokalia - that one should do this; but there it is quite the opposite - it is prohibited. I don’t know from whom you received the charter of monastic bows; I have never heard anything like the one you describe from anyone, nor have I read it in the scriptures, although I knew the schema-monks and schema-monks quite well. Yes, such an image as you write is incompatible with anything, and not only will not bring any benefit, but will do harm. I do not advise you to do this, but to pray simply, as everyone else does, and as the holy fathers gave us the scriptures: reading the rules of prayer, psalmody, the oral Jesus Prayer and the prescribed bows. And she must do all this with humility, not at all thinking that she is doing good, and consider herself the least of all; and the mind should not be raised to heaven at all.
The Kingdom of God is within you, the Lord told us (Luke 17:21), that is, in the heart: then you must seek it in the heart, cleansing it from the passions and excuses of the enemy, without judging or reproaching anyone: but you, on the contrary, see the sins of others, which is not the case; but the enemy shows you and strives for judgment, but you no longer have time to look at your sins; Yes, being in heaven with the mind, what kind of sins will there be? But this is the sin that you take this for truth. According to your word, I also said something to my brothers; they are surprised and horrified by such actions and pray to God: may He deliver you from this delusion. Asking for God's blessing on you, I remain the great sinner I.M., who desires your health and salvation. October 19, 1853.
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