This collection is a thematic selection of thoughts of famous Russian ascetics of the recent past in our Church: schema-nun Ardaliona (Ignatova) (1816-1864), abbess Arsenia (Sebryakova) (1833-1905), schema-abbot of the Valaam Monastery Ioann (Alekseeva) (1873 -1958) and Abbot Nikon (Vorobyov) (1894-1963). The statements given in the collection are taken from their letters to various people: priests, monks and nuns, students of theological schools, relatives, friends and acquaintances, etc. The value of the given thoughts for a modern Christian, it is self-evident and does not require any authoritative confirmation. Quotes from the book: Hegumen Nikon (Vorobiev): Do not listen to the atheists. They know nothing, everything is hidden from them, as from the blind. One does not understand God and the mystery by talking future life, but by feat, fulfillment of the commandments and deep sincere repentance. Do not read godless books, do not talk with atheists, otherwise you will greatly harm yourself and bring on unnecessary sorrows. The Holy Church resolutely prohibits these conversations and readings for those who have not achieved spiritual strength. The enemy excites the atheists to start these conversations, and you will be given the idea that you can convert them to faith in God, that you are obliged to take pity on them, save them from death, etc. Conversations about the truth with militant atheists are completely useless . However, an apology for Christianity among neutrals might turn some to take Christianity more seriously. All these reflections have to end with the words of Ignatius Brianchaninov: “You cannot stop the flow of the river with the palm of your hand.” Save, may he save his soul. Do not condemn no one, but have pity on every sinner, for the Lord loves him too and wants his salvation, just as he wants you. You cannot condemn and despise the one whom the Lord justifies and loves. ...The Venerable Pimen the Great said that our salvation is in our neighbor, i.e. in love for one's neighbor. Everyone should start with this... Pity everyone, for everyone is sick with the same disease - they have withdrawn from the Lord and fallen under the influence of the enemy. ...A sign of consciousness of their sins and repentance in them is non-judgment of your neighbors. Until you are heartbroken about your sins and do not forgive your neighbors for their sins, you... are not a Christian in spirit. Close your eyes to the sins of others, and if you cannot help but see, then pray for those who sin, as for yourself, so that the Lord will forgive them, then you will receive mercy from the Lord... Regarding friendship I will say that it was highly valued by both the ancient peoples and the Holy Scriptures. It has (it seems to me) its own degrees, just like faith and love: from a barely smoldering spark to a force capable of moving mountains piled up by our selfishness and drowning them in a sea of mercy and patience (bearing) the shortcomings of another “I”. Passion does not see the shortcomings of another, which is why (and for many other reasons) it is called blind; Friendship and love are seen by everyone, but they cover them and help a friend get rid of them, overcome them, rise from step to step. Friendship has the same inherent element of love as light has warmth... And in the limit, in the Kingdom of God, both love and friendship disappear or merge into the infinity of God’s love, like lamps in the bright sun. In my opinion, to people You have to treat like a doctor treats his patients. We are all sick with everything diseases, only in some people one disease sticks out, in others there is another disease. There is no heroism in anyone of us. We are all small, we are all afraid of great sorrows. We must feel sorry for everyone, sincerely wish everyone and do more good. With what standard we measure, we will be measured both here and in the future. Abbess Arsenia (Sebryakova): I like to argue when it comes to differences of opinions. But with a difference of spirit, argument is impossible, and it is better to remain silent. Pasions sometimes stubbornly hold on to our hearts and act powerfully in it, against our will, even, as if, against our will. The Lord allows them to torment us in such a way that we fully recognize our powerlessness, so that we humble ourselves in spirit, so that we seek strength in our One Strong and One Holy God. ...Do not grieve, but each time humble yourself in spirit, and set your intention endure and in patience fulfill the will of God and His holy commandments. And by recognizing your own weakness, come to know the weakness of your neighbor. If you cannot overcome your passions within yourself, when, by the grace of God, you see them and want to get out of them, when you work on yourself, then how to demand from your neighbor something beyond his measure. Recognize this weakness common to all of us and try to forgive your neighbor, reconcile with him, bear his shortcomings. While we walk in the flesh, we see our neighbor also as our debtor; we demand from him both legal truth and gracious shrines as the common heritage of humanity. We judge him and hate him, persecute him and torment him when he does not pay us our debt. But when we are led by the Spirit, when the Spirit of God pours into our spirit all the riches of His goodness, then from our neighbor we We are not looking for anything, we forgive him his debt to us, we even stop seeing him as our debtor. Sche-abbot John: He who condemns is always mistaken and judges incorrectly, for we do not know the reason for actions condemned, but we are judged according to our dispensation. Whoever is inclined makes the same conclusions about others, for a crooked eye looks crookedly at everyone. Rev. said very well. Dorotheus: “Now, if a man stands at the corner of a building, three will pass by him, and each will think according to his own arrangement. The religious will think about it: probably wait for the bell to ring and go to church. And the thief will think: when it’s darker, he’ll go steal. And the fornicator will think: he is probably waiting for the woman to sin.” It is very rightly said, and this occurs at almost every step. And how serious is the sin of condemnation, I'll give you one example. In a certain monastery, a monk fell into fornication. The great old man said: “Oh, he did something bad.” That monk died, and an Angel, at the command of God, brought his soul to the elder and said: “Where do you order this monk to be assigned, to the kingdom or to torment?” The elder was horrified, realized how serious the sin of condemnation was and wept bitterly. After some time, the Angel told him: “God has forgiven your sin,” but the elder did not stop crying until his death. The Holy Fathers strictly forbid ridiculing others. They say: “First declare your weaknesses, then talk about strangers.” Woe to us: we very skillfully hide our weaknesses, and so zealously rant about others. Publisher: Form TISBN:N/ASource: Table of contents: PrefaceBrief biographiesAtheistsThanksgivingNeighborDiseases and healthLiving faithFaithful in littleEternal tormentExternal and internal Will of GodSinMay God rise again!Spiritual warfare and spiritual weaponsSpiritual lifeSpirituality in our daysWomanWestern ChristianityName of GodConfessionJudasKlirosSlanderLove of GodLove in usSpiritual almsPeace of the soul and “this world” Prayer Jesus Prayer Youth Monasticism in the last times Unbeliever husband Our time About ourselves Insults The spiritual path Exploits in our time Repentance Obedience in our days Rule Delight Providence of God Drunkenness Suicides Saints FathersSorrowWord of GodDeathHumilityDreamsAdviceSalvation and VirtuePassionSacramentsSolitudeDejectionTeachingPreservation of feelingsChrist is the goal of lifeChurchSpiritual SchoolsFarewell