Spiritual peace, sagacity.

35. Do not corrupt your body with shameless acts and do not defile your soul with evil thoughts. Then God’s peace will descend upon you, bringing with it love.

36. Many deeds that are good in essence may turn out to be bad under certain circumstances eg. fasting and vigilance, prayer and singing of Psalms, charity and welcoming strangers — by themselves are good deeds, but if they are done through vainglory, they become evil.

The Elders and their instructions
Saint Maxim the Confessor
- God’s Mercy, Grace, Faith, Prayer.
- Learning about God.
- Striving toward righteousness, self-centeredness.
- Passions, cleansing of the conscience, non-accretion.
- Humility, acceptance of grievances, temptations
- Struggles with thoughts.
- Spiritual peace, sagacity.
- Love towards God and neighbor.
Elders Barsanuphius and John
Abba Dorotheus
- God’s providence.
- Yearning toward goodness.
- Struggles with deficiencies.
- Guarding the conscience.
- Temperance, meekness.
- Sorrows and God’s Providence.
- Attaining spiritual peace.
- Humility, vile thoughts.
- Love towards your neighbor.
Isaac the Syrian
- Faith, God’s providence, prayer.
- Obeying God.
- Hope, striving toward the truth, patience
- Patience, fortitude.
- Habits, moderation
- Sorrows.
- Humility.
- Love towards your neighbor, mercy, non-judgmentalness.
- Teaching.

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