Table of Contents
Foreword to the Original English-Language Edition ix
Introduction xxi
Part I Counsels for the Spiritual Life of Monks 1
1 On the Study of the Commandments of the Gospel and Life According to the Commandments of the Gospel 3
2 People Will Be Judged at God's Judgment According to the Commandments of the Gospel 6
3 The Monastic Life Is Life According to the Commandments of the Gospel 8
4 On the Precariousness of the Monastic Life When It Is Not Based on the Commandments of the Gospel 9
5 On Guarding Oneself from Occasions of Sin or Temptation 11
6 God-Pleasing Life in Human Society Must Precede God-Pleasing Life in Silence and Solitude 14
7 On Guarding Oneself from the Good That Belongs to Fallen Human Nature 16
8 Concerning the Enmity and Conflict Between Fallen Nature and the Commandments of the Gospel 19
9 On Reading the Gospel and the Writings of the Fathers 21
10 On Discretion in Reading the Patristic Books on the Monastic Life 23
11 On the Solitary Life 25
12 Concerning Life in Obedience to an Elder 39
13 Concerning Life under Spiritual Direction 43
14 The Aim of the Monastic Life Consists in Studying the Will of God, in Making It One's Own, and in Obeying It 48
15 Love for Our Neighbor Is a Means of Attaining to Love for God 52
16 Humility in Our Dealings as a Means of Attaining to Love for Our Neighbor 55
17 On Prayer 58
18 On Preparation for Prayer 60
19 On Attention at Prayer 62
20 On the Cell Rule 64
21 Concerning Bows 65
22 On Adapting the Cell Rule to the Monastic Rule 68
23 On the Jesus Prayer 71
24 On the Practice of the Jesus Prayer 73
25 On Unceasing Prayer 75
26 On the Oral, Mental, and Cordial Jesus Prayer 77
27 On Divine Meditation 81
28 On the Remembrance of Death 83
29 The Narrow Way Is Designed by God Himself 86
30 The Teaching of the Holy Fathers Concerning the Narrow Way 95
31 Troubles Are the Special Lot of the Monks of the Last Time 103
32 Sources of Monastic Temptations 109
33 On the Necessity for Courage in Temptations 112
34 On Sobriety or Vigilance 114
35 On the Use and Harm of Bodily Discipline 120
36 Concerning Animal and Spiritual Zeal 123
37 Concerning Almsgiving 127
38 Concerning Poverty or Detachment 129
39 Concerning Human Glory 133
40 Concerning Resentment or Remembrance of Wrongs 139
41 The Meaning of the Term "World" 145
42 On Avoiding Acquaintance with the Opposite Sex 155
43 Concerning the Fallen Angels 160
44 The First Way of Struggling with the Fallen Angels 174
45 The Second Way of Struggling with the Fallen Angels 179
46 Concerning Dreams 180
47 On the Close Affinity Between Virtues and Vices 184
48 Concerning the Special Opposition of the Fallen Spirits to Prayer 187
49 On Keeping the Eye of the Soul from All That Is Harmful to It 193
50 Concerning Repentance and Mourning 197
Conclusion: Adaptations of the Rules for Present-Day Monasticism 210
Part II Rules of Outward Conduct for Novices 213
Introduction: On the Need for Rules 215
The Meaning of a Monastery, Rule 1 215
On Obedience and Obediences, Rules 2 and 3 215
On the Treatment of Sins, Rule 4 216
On Prayer and Conduct in Church, Rules 5-18 217
On the Duties of Readers, Rules 19-22 219
On Movement in Church, Rule 23 221
On Bows and Prostrations, Rule 24 221
On Uncovering the Head, Rule 25 223
On Maintaining Strict Reverence in Church, Rules 26-27 223
On Behavior in Refectory and Use of Food, Rules 28-30 224
On the Use of Wine, Rule 31 225
On Conduct in One's Cell and Reception of Visitors, Rules 32-37 225
On Clothing, Rule 38 227
On Relations with Brethren of the Monastery, Rules 39-43 227
On Leaving the Monastery, Rules 44-49 229
On Venerating the Miraculous Icons and Holy Relics, Rule 50 230
Conclusion 231
Glossary 235
Appendix: A Short Biography of St Ignatius (Brianchaninov) 239
Notes 241
Subject Index 267
Scripture Index 276
