Absent-mindedness itself punishes the one who is devoted to it: time bores him with everything, and he, as one who has not acquired any thorough knowledge and impressions, gives himself over to tormenting endless despondency.

Absent-mindedness, so harmful in general, is especially harmful in the work of God, in the matter of salvation, which requires the vigilance and attention of the constant, intense.

Watch and pray, that ye may not enter into the misfortune [883], says the Saviour to His disciples.

I say to all, "Watch," He proclaimed to all Christianity, and consequently to us also to those who are contemporary with us.

He who leads a scattered life directly contradicts the commandments of the Lord Jesus Christ with his life.

All the saints carefully avoided absent-mindedness. Continually, or at least as often as possible, they concentrated within themselves, listening to the movements of the mind and heart and directing them according to the testament of the Gospel.

The skill of paying attention to oneself protects oneself from distraction and among the surroundings from all sides, noisy entertainment. The attentive one dwells in solitude, with himself, in the midst of a multitude of people.

Having experienced the benefits of attention and the harm of absent-mindedness, a certain great Father said: "Without increased vigilance over oneself it is impossible to succeed in any virtue" (885).

It is foolish to spend a short earthly life, given to us in preparation for eternity, in earthly pursuits alone, in the satisfaction of petty, innumerable, unsatisfied whims and desires, windily running from one sensual pleasure to another, forgetting or remembering seldom and superficially the inevitable, majestic, and at the same time formidable, eternity.

The works of Christ, this is obvious, must be studied and considered with the greatest reverence and attention; otherwise a person can neither consider nor know them.

The great work of God – the creation of man, and then, after his fall, renewal by redemption – must be known in detail to every Christian; Without this knowledge, he cannot know and fulfill the duties of a Christian. Knowledge of the great work of God cannot be acquired through absent-mindedness!

The commandments of Christ are given not only to the external man, but, most of all, to the internal: they encompass all the thoughts and feelings of man, all his most subtle movements. It is impossible to observe these commandments without constant vigilance and deep attention. Vigilance and attention are impossible in an absent-minded life.

Sin and the devil who wields sin subtly creep into the mind and heart. Man must be constantly on guard against his invisible enemies. How will he be on this guard when he is devoted to absent-mindedness?