Easy answers to difficult questions from Monk Saint Simeon of Athos, in which everyone will find something for themselves:
Many wise thoughts were left behind by the Reverend Siluan (Simeon) Athos (1866-1938). This Russian monk, who spent most of his life on the Holy Mount Athos, continues to attract attention with his very simple interpretations of what interests most people on the spiritual path.
Which teacher is the best?
– Suffering.
Which teacher is the worst?
– Enjoy.
What virtue is the rarest?
– The virtue of giving.
What virtue is best?
– The virtue of forgiveness.
What virtue is the most difficult?
– The virtue of silence.
What virtue is most important?
– The virtue of asking questions.
What virtue is most needed?
– The virtue of listening.
Which fight is the most dangerous?
– Fanatical.
Which habit is the most harmful?
– Worry.
Which man is the strongest?
– The one who is capable of knowing the Truth.
Which man is the weakest?
– The one who considers himself the strongest.
Which man is the most reasonable?
– The one who follows his heart.
Which man is the poorest?
– The one who loves money the most.
Which man is closer to God?
– Merciful.
Which man is the weakest?
– The one who beat the others.
Which man is the strongest?
– The one who beat himself.
With what can we withstand adversity?
– With joy.
How to deal with suffering?
– With patience.
What is the sign of a healthy soul?
– Faith.
What is the sign of a sick soul?
– Hopelessness.
What is the sign of wrongdoing?
– Anger.
What is the sign of good practices?
– Peace of mind.
What’s the scariest of all?
– Delayed repentance.
Which distress is the worst?
– The ones created by our own delusions.
Which happiness is the most exalted?
– The one, for the sake of which we renounced ourselves.