I am amazed at those who, having been in schools for many years, are again learning the alphabet and reading from the warehouses, when they should already be perfect teachers. Thus I am amazed at those who remain in monasticism for a long time, who should explain their deepest thoughts to others, but instead they themselves endure the battles peculiar to novices. You, as perfect ones, should have instructed those who err on the right path; Instead, not only do you not bear the burdens of the weak, but you yourselves burden their souls, plunging them into sorrow. Pay attention to yourself, brother. Does it do little harm to your soul now that you burden the thoughts of your neighbor? He will work hard and do something for God's sake, and then you give him the idea that he did it as he pleased. Is it fitting for a perfect man to speak thus to a weak man? Thou shalt not do this with a novice, but admonish and instruct him, fearing him who said, "Do not stumble a brother or a stumbling block" (Romans 14:13). What need is there to say to one's neighbor words that grieve him? But why do I also tell you this, when I myself do the same? "My folly did not allow me to restrain my words until I had spoken and troubled my brother's soul. When the devil instills evil thoughts in you, know that it is his business to instill one thing instead of another, and he does not allow you to remember death. Why are you troubled by insignificant things, as novice and foolish? Why do you not remember the word of the Scriptures: "Deprived of it, sorrowful, embittered" (Heb. 11:37)? Our fathers chose sorrows for themselves: are we not ashamed to seek peace in everything? Let us remember, accursed ones, and judge that all this is recorded in the highest memorial books, and in everything they will require a detailed account of us. I write this wishing to cleanse you of all rottenness; but if I insult you, forgive me, I will not insult you any more. Pray for me, that I may come to the knowledge of life. Of thy death I have spoken to thee many times, and now I say that thou shalt not tarry in the body.

190. The same to the same Great Elder. You know, my father, that I dare not oppose your command in any way; whatever you say, your words are my life; but pray for me, for my brother insults me greatly.

Answer. Rejoice, my beloved, rejoice in the Lord! I know and am confident in the Lord that if I say to you, "Stay in prison for a whole year," you will not contradict me in this either; for I know how and to whom I speak, to my fellow servant and unanimous brother. Do you not know what Job says: "Is it not a temptation for man to live on earth" (Job 7:1)? Be always ready for temptations and sorrows, forgetting what is behind, according to the words of the Apostle, and stretching out before (Phil. 3:13). See that when you speak thus of your brother, you do not get carried away into rancor. May the Lord crush Satan under your feet soon (Romans 16:20). May God's grace, peace, and love be with you to the end. Amen. And He will give you joy, gladness, and love, which falls away (1 Corinthians 13:8), so that you may endure all things from one another in the fear of God; for death will not delay.

191. The same to the same Great Elder. Tell me, my father, what humility is, and pray that the way of death will be peaceful for me.

Answer. Humility consists in considering oneself to be earth and ashes – in deed, and not only in words, and in saying: who am I? And who counts me for anything? I don't have anything to do with anyone. As for your death, I will say: Be patient with the Lord a little longer, and He will glorify your departure with great joy. Pray for me, brother. I greet you in the Lord.

192. The same to the same Great Elder. Abba! My brother strongly opposed me and showed me no compassion. What wilt thou command me to do?

Answer. Brother Andrew! I am amazed at your simplicity. Do you really think that the devil ceases to tempt anyone? Can we blame those possessed who fall to the ground and foam? In the same way, we cannot blame those whom the devil plunges into contradiction and lack of compassion, but we must blame passion. Pay more attention to what I am saying; for the devil troubles you also, and you do not look at your own sins, but keep a sharp eye on the sins of your neighbor. You have spoken of your brother's misdeeds, but you do not speak of your own. A few days ago you asked me about humility and heard that you should recognize yourself as earth and ashes and consider yourself as nothing. But the earth and ashes, and he who considers himself to be nothing, does he seek compassion from anyone, especially from a person who is troubled by the devil, the hater of good? Moreover, you are more perfect than him both in age and in the monastic image, and you have been honored with ordination; but he who is more perfect must endure the infirmities of the lesser, saying: I am unworthy. But if you say this, and do not patiently endure sorrows, then it is in vain that you speak. And who are you to look at other people's passions? "A man who has received the glad tidings of immeasurable blessings, thou shouldst have forgotten to bear thy bread when thou thinkest of them. But you have not yet tasted them and have not loved them as you should. Remember Lazarus, how long he endured, thanking God. Do not forget what I have told you many times: this is the envy of the devil, who knows what is in store for you; but I believe God that he will not have time to do anything.

193. The same to the same Great Elder, a petition for prayer. Pray for me, my father, I have fallen into daydreams.

Answer. Brother Andrew! Let us exclaim with St. Paul: O depth of the riches and wisdom and understanding of God! For His judgments have not been tried, and His ways have not been searched (Romans 11:33). As He does not allow us to boast much of our bow and think that our sword will save us: (saves us) the grace of His goodness; for it is said: "For by grace thou art saved" (Eph. 2:8). For this reason He leaves us to fall into daydreams and other passions, so that we may know our weakness, and where else we are. In His goodness He leaves us, for our own benefit, so that we may place our hope and hope in Him, and not in ourselves. But beware of thinking that by the will of God we fall into daydreams and other passions (this is not the will of God), but for our negligence God allows this to happen to us, and in His love for mankind leads us from evil (our deeds) to humility, for our own salvation. What then? Shall we attribute our salvation to evil passions? Let it not be so! Not to the passions, but to His goodness and omniscient wisdom. Understand, then, how He stirred up our minds, so that we do not forget to say: "If the Lord had not helped me, my soul would have dwelt in hell" (Psalm 93:17), and so on. Therefore, knowing that we are subjected to this because of our weakness and because of our negligence, according to our strength, let us try not to fall into the same thing again; and He, in His mercy, will deliver us from these (temptations). He showed the same thing in Peter and Paul: He removed His power from them for a little time, that they might know that they also were men. And one renounced Christ, while the other was lowered in a basket out of the window, so that they might learn to trust not in themselves, but in the Lord of all. Know also who you are; be merciful to him who serves you, and condemn yourself. Humble yourself truly, not only before God, but also before men, and cast all your cares on Him Who is able to do incomparably more than all that we ask or think of (Ephesians 3:20), and He will fulfill all that has been promised to you, because He will not reject those who sincerely asked Him, His own and honest servants, who through Him and in Him were completely freed from the old man, and with inexpressible joy heard from Him: if ye bind them on earth, they shall be bound in heaven (Matt. 18:18), and so on. And He will give them all power in heaven and on earth (Matt. 28:18). Therefore, work for the Lord with fear, and rejoice in Him with trembling (Psalm 2:11). And with unsilent lips thank Him, that through His servants He has had mercy on you and many others. To Him be the glory forever, Amen.

Answer 194, of the same Great Elder to the same one who asked for prayers. May the Most High, Generous and Merciful God give you from above the strength to always learn from what is written to you, and to strive in a truly spiritual matter, that is, to struggle with the thoughts that trouble you. May you also be among those who have received talents and multiplied them, that you may hear the same things that they have heard, and that you may compel yourselves to endure one another; let your land bring forth good and timely fruit to God, a hundredfold, sixty, and thirtyfold. Such is my prayer to God, that when you have done this, I may see you, my sincere friends, in the Kingdom of my God, rejoicing in the Lord.

Question 195, the same to the same Great Elder. Tell me, my father, from what came the temptation that was with us? What does it mean and how is it abolished? And pray that I'll get rid of it.

Answer. The hater of good, the devil, knowing that he benefits your souls, and that there is no way of life more salvific than to bear one another's burdens, envies you and tries to confuse you. That is why the temptation has come to you, which may the Lord abolish. Such temptation is abolished by bearing each other's burdens and praying for the person through whom the temptation occurs. Without attentive podvig, there is no deliverance from temptation. And what comes to your mind to withdraw from here is a temptation that comes from the envy of the devil, through self-justification, in order to separate you from the love of the saints who pray for you and to deprive you of their help. Behold, I have shown you the entrance and the outcome of temptation. Be patient a little and you will be relieved by these temptations in Christ Jesus, Amen.

Answer 196, of the same Great Elder, moreover, when he was exhausted from the temptations that rose up against him.

Andrey! Our unanimous brother, do not faint. God has not forsaken you, nor will He forsake you; but know that the sentence pronounced by the Lord to our common father Adam: "In the sweat of thy brow thou shalt bear thy bread" (Gen. 3:19), is immutable. And just as this commandment is given to the external man, so the inner man is commanded to assist the prayers of the saints by his feats, and they will help man a lot, so that he does not remain barren. For just as gold, which is kindled in a furnace, held with tongs, and struck with a hammer, becomes pure and fit for a royal crown, so a man, sustained by the mighty and abundant prayer of the saints, is inflamed by sorrows, accepts the blows of temptations, and, if he endures everything with gratitude, becomes a son of the kingdom. Therefore, everything that happens to you serves for your benefit, so that you also may receive boldness before God, both through the intercession of the saints and through your own labors. Do not be ashamed to offer their firstfruits to God now, so that instead of spiritual joy sorrow will not overtake you, and believe that He who gave the promises will fulfill them (cf. Heb. 10:23). Hail in the Lord, my beloved.