Fasting for God opens our spiritual sight

Summary

In this heartfelt video script, the speaker discusses the profound spiritual significance of fasting beyond mere physical hunger. They emphasize fasting as a transformative practice that leads to introspection, repentance, and a deeper connection with one's faith. The script also shares personal experiences and practical advice on fasting, including the importance of community support and gradual preparation. The speaker invites viewers to consider their own spiritual journey and the role fasting can play in it, all within the supportive context of a religious community.

Takeaways

• 🙏 Fasting is more than just an act of abstaining from food; it is a transformative spiritual practice that can lead to a complete reset of one's spiritual life.
• 🕊 Silence, introduced through fasting, is a sacred space that allows for introspection and repentance, which are foundational to spiritual growth.
• 📚 The teachings of St. John the Baptist and Christ emphasize repentance as the starting point for spiritual awakening and readiness for the kingdom of God.
• 🛠 The video discusses the practical challenges of fasting, such as dealing with migraines, and the importance of medical considerations in one's fasting practice.
• 🌱 The speaker shares personal experiences and lessons learned from building a greenhouse at the monastery, highlighting the importance of community and divine providence.
• 💬 The script mentions the significance of engaging with an online community for spiritual support, prayer, and sharing of monastic life and experiences.
• 🤝 The importance of consistency in spiritual practices is underscored, as it reduces the need for extensive travel and allows for more focused spiritual work, such as video recording and writing.
• 🛑 The script touches on the idea that fasting is not a one-size-fits-all practice and that individuals should seek guidance from spiritual leaders to find the most beneficial path.
• 🧘‍♂️ Fasting is described as a rehearsal for death, a time to cultivate the ability to pray and face mortality with faith and hope.
• 🔄 The speaker reflects on the need for stability and unshakability in one's spiritual journey, using fasting as a tool to combat instability and strengthen dedication to Christ.
• 🌟 The script concludes with a prayer for understanding and salvation, emphasizing the importance of turning to Christ in times of spiritual struggle and mortality.

Q & A

What is the primary focus of the speaker's discussion on fasting?

The speaker focuses on the spiritual depth of fasting, emphasizing that it is more than just an act of abstaining from food; it is a life-changing practice that introduces silence and introspection, leading to repentance and spiritual growth.

Why does the speaker mention building a greenhouse at the monastery?

The speaker mentions the greenhouse to explain why the video might look different, as the monastery had a busy week with good weather and visitors, allowing them to construct a new greenhouse, which is a significant event in their community.

How does the speaker describe the importance of repentance in the context of fasting?

The speaker describes repentance as the beginning of everything, a necessary step towards spiritual transformation. It is linked to recognizing one's sinfulness and mortality, which when properly addressed, can lead to genuine repentance and change.

What role does the speaker believe the online community plays in supporting the monasteries?

The online community provides financial support, allowing the monasteries to continue their work and maintain a connection with the community through regular updates, videos, and prayer requests, fostering a sense of unity and shared purpose.

Why does the speaker consider fasting to be a rehearsal for death?

The speaker views fasting as a rehearsal for death because it mimics the physical and mental states one might experience during the dying process, such as weakness, lack of energy, and difficulty with digestion. It serves as a test of one's spiritual strength and ability to maintain faith and hope in challenging times.

What is the significance of the story about the 'lazy monk' in the context of the discussion on fasting?

The story of the 'lazy monk' illustrates that even a single act of spiritual discipline, such as not judging others, can lead to salvation. However, it also highlights the importance of fully engaging in spiritual practices like fasting, as the monk's lack of discipline resulted in a less profound spiritual journey.

How does the speaker address the challenges of fasting while having health issues, such as migraines?

The speaker acknowledges the need for medical considerations and suggests that if one can medically fast, they should still attempt to do so, even if it means taking medication without water or adjusting the fasting practices to accommodate health needs.

What advice does the speaker give regarding the approach to fasting and spiritual practices?

The speaker advises seeking the blessing and guidance of a spiritual father or parish priest when undertaking fasting or other spiritual practices. They also emphasize the importance of trying various practices to find what brings the most spiritual profit and being adaptable based on one's life context.

How does the speaker relate the experience of fasting to the broader Christian tradition and the church?

The speaker relates fasting to the broader Christian tradition by mentioning that it has been a part of the church's experience from Christ's time to the present. Fasting is seen as an act of obedience to Christ's commandments and a way to connect with the spiritual struggles of believers throughout history.

What is the speaker's perspective on the relationship between fasting and the ability to control one's spiritual fight?

The speaker views fasting as a means to develop stability and unshakability in one's spiritual fight. It is a way to test and strengthen one's dedication and obedience to Christ, even in the face of physical discomfort or emotional challenges.

What practical advice does the speaker offer for those who wish to fast more rigorously?

The speaker advises reducing food intake gradually before the fasting period, being cautious with activities like driving during fasting days, and considering the context of one's life when deciding how to approach fasting. They also suggest learning from the experiences of others, such as monastics, to find what works best for the individual.

Outlines

00:00

🙏 The Spiritual Significance of Fasting

The speaker begins by addressing the misconception that fasting is solely about stomach-related discomfort. Instead, they emphasize the profound spiritual impact of fasting, describing it as a life-changing practice that resets one's spiritual life. The speaker introduces the concept of silence as a sacred space for introspection on sinfulness and mortality, leading to repentance. They reference the teachings of St. John the Baptist and Jesus Christ, highlighting the importance of repentance. The speaker also explains the unusual format of the video due to a busy week at the monastery, including the construction of a new greenhouse and the absence of their usual focus, leading to the selection of questions from their online community for discussion.

05:01

💊 Balancing Medical Needs with Fasting

The speaker acknowledges the challenges of fasting while managing medical conditions, using their own experience with migraines as an example. They discuss the importance of fasting as a spiritual practice, comparing it to physical nourishment and emphasizing the benefits of engaging in various spiritual struggles. The speaker recounts the story of a monk known for his laziness and non-fasting, who found salvation through not judging others, illustrating that while fasting is important, it is not the only path to spiritual growth. They stress the importance of trying to fast within one's medical limits and the necessity of obedience to Christ's commandments.

10:02

🛡 The Role of Fasting in Spiritual Discipline

The speaker delves into the role of fasting as a foundational spiritual practice, necessary for controlling one's instincts and preparing for the afterlife. They discuss the instinctual need to eat and how fasting challenges this, linking it to Christ's commandments and the collective experience of the church throughout history. The speaker also shares personal insights, viewing fasting as a rehearsal for death and a means to maintain spiritual focus amidst physical decline. They encourage stability and consistency in fasting practices, regardless of immediate feelings or outcomes.

15:04

🕊 Preparing for the End of Life Through Fasting

The speaker reflects on their experiences with death and dying, drawing parallels between the physical state during fasting and the final stages of life. They argue that fasting is a crucial preparation for death, allowing individuals to practice spiritual focus and combat fear and depression in the face of mortality. The speaker also touches on the importance of community support and the context of monastic life, which provides a conducive environment for fasting and spiritual growth.

20:06

⛪ The Blessing of Spiritual Guidance in Fasting

The speaker advises seeking the blessing and guidance of a spiritual father or parish priest when undertaking fasting. They highlight the difference between self-initiated fasting and that prescribed by a spiritual leader, emphasizing the greater blessing and challenge of the latter. The speaker also encourages exploring various spiritual practices to find what brings the most profit, using the analogy of a shopkeeper selecting the most profitable goods. They stress the importance of community and context in supporting spiritual growth.

25:07

🌱 Adapting Fasting Practices to Individual Needs

The speaker discusses the importance of adapting fasting practices to individual circumstances, including work and family responsibilities. They caution against becoming obsessed with fasting and encourage trying different spiritual practices to find what is most beneficial. The speaker also shares practical advice on preparing for fasting, such as gradually reducing food intake and choosing the right foods to minimize discomfort. They acknowledge the inspiration drawn from observing monastics but remind the audience to consider their own realities and the support of their community.

Keywords

💡Fasting

Fasting is the practice of abstaining from food, drink, or both, for a period of time. In the context of the video, fasting is not just a physical act but a spiritual discipline that leads to a deeper connection with one's faith. It is described as a 'complete life-changer' and 'a complete reset of our spiritual lives.' The speaker emphasizes that fasting is not merely about the stomach but involves moving inward to confront one's sinfulness and mortality, leading to repentance.

💡Repentance

Repentance is the act of feeling regret or remorse for one's actions and seeking to make amends. In the video, repentance is presented as a crucial outcome of fasting, where the practice leads individuals to recognize their sins and the reality of their mortality, prompting a sincere desire to change. It is linked to the teachings of St. John the Baptist and Christ, who urged people to repent as the kingdom of heaven is at hand.

💡Silence

Silence, in the video, is depicted as a sacred space within one's heart and mind. It is where individuals can reflect deeply on their spiritual state. The speaker mentions that fasting introduces us to silence, which allows for introspection and the beginning of the repentance process. It is a place for spiritual growth and self-realization.

💡Spiritual Struggle

Spiritual struggle, or 'aesthetic struggles,' refers to the efforts made by individuals to improve their spiritual well-being and connection with the divine. In the script, it is likened to physical nourishment, where just as the body needs various types of food for health, the spirit requires different practices for growth. Fasting is one such practice, but it is not the only one, and individuals must find the spiritual tools that benefit them the most.

💡Mortality

Mortality is the quality of being subject to death. The video discusses how fasting brings the reality of mortality to the forefront of one's consciousness. It is through acknowledging one's mortality that individuals can seek proper repentance and spiritual growth. The speaker uses the concept of mortality to highlight the importance of spiritual preparation for the end of life.

💡St. John the Baptist

St. John the Baptist is a significant religious figure in Christianity, known for preparing the way for Jesus Christ. In the video, his teachings are mentioned as emphasizing repentance, which is a central theme of the message. His call for repentance is seen as the starting point for spiritual awakening and transformation.

💡Orthodox

The term 'Orthodox' refers to the Orthodox Church, one of the oldest Christian traditions. The speaker mentions that the video is particularly relevant during the bloom of the Orthodox Lent, a period of fasting and penance. The practices of fasting and spiritual discipline are deeply rooted in Orthodox tradition.

💡Community

Community, in the context of the video, refers to the collective of individuals who share spiritual practices and support each other in their faith journey. The speaker mentions an 'online community' that engages in discussions, shares news, and offers support through prayer requests. This community is an extension of the monastic life and provides a platform for spiritual connection.

💡Greenhouse

The greenhouse mentioned in the video serves as a metaphor for nurturing and growth, both literally and spiritually. The speaker describes the construction of a new greenhouse at the monastery, which symbolizes the ongoing efforts to cultivate and protect the spiritual life of the community, even amidst the challenges of life's storms.

💡Prayer

Prayer is a form of communication with the divine, seeking guidance, expressing gratitude, or requesting assistance. In the video, prayer is presented as an essential part of the spiritual life, with the speaker mentioning the support of prayer from the community and the importance of maintaining a prayerful disposition, especially during times of fasting.

Highlights

Fasting is more than just an act of stomach discipline; it's a transformative spiritual practice.

Fasting introduces silence, a sacred place for introspection on sinfulness and mortality.

Repentance, often prompted by fasting, is the beginning of spiritual transformation.

The video's unusual appearance is due to the busy week at the monastery and the construction of a new greenhouse.

The importance of community support for the monastery and the benefits of joining the online community.

Fasting is a primordial instinct fight that prepares one for the spiritual battle against negative emotions and thoughts.

Fasting is a direct commandment from Christ and an act of obedience to the Church's tradition.

The story of the 'lazy monk' illustrates the importance of not judging others for spiritual salvation.

Fasting helps in controlling spiritual instability and maintaining consistency in spiritual practice.

Fasting is a rehearsal for death, training one to maintain spiritual focus in times of physical weakness.

The necessity of a spiritual father's blessing and guidance in undertaking fasting.

The importance of finding the spiritual tools that yield the most profit for one's personal growth.

The monastery's gradual approach to fasting, decreasing food intake before the fast to ease the transition.

The significance of context and community in supporting and understanding the practice of fasting.

The monastery's careful preparation for fasting, including adjustments in daily activities and diet.

The personal testimony of the speaker on the transformative power of fasting and the fear of death.

The final prayer for spiritual enlightenment and salvation, emphasizing the themes discussed in the video.

Transcripts

hello my dear ones may God bless you

wherever you are it feels like every

time I talk to you about

fasting uh my attention and your

attention focuses on the

tummy as if everything that has to do

with fasting is about the stomach and of

course on a first superficial level it

is about the stomach because fasting

implies eating less or being selective

about what you eat so some does happen

in the stomach through the

stomach but the reality is that the

depth of fasting go so much more than

the very shortlived temporary pain or

discomfort of our stomachs fasting

is a complete

lifechanger a complete reset of our

spiritual lives because well because of

many many reasons some of what you've

discussed on this channel and some of

what you discuss in this video a bit

later on but the one thing that is

Central to my mind is the fact that

fasting introduces

us to

silence and

silence is that

sacred place in our hearts and our minds

where we can move inwards and focus Upon

Our Own sinfulness and our own mortality

and sin and mortality if you put them

together the right way they will lead to

proper repentance and repentance is the

beginning of everything there's no

accident that the first teaching of St

John the Baptist and the first teaching

of Christ himself as a man here on Earth

was

repent repent for the kingdom is at hand

anyway before we jump into this video um

I want to explain to you why this video

will look a bit weird uh we've had such

a full week at the monastery by the

grace of God we've had three good Sunny

wind less days and that is a an absolute

miracle for us and to make the miracle

complete we've also been blessed to have

a few pilgrims here so that we took

advantage of them and of the sunshine

and the lack of wind we built our

Greenhouse thank God we finally have our

third Greenhouse after the first two the

previous two were well they decided that

they feel better as parachutes and they

ended up flying in one of our

storms but this is a much better bigger

definitely more expensive greenhouse and

we hope by the grace of God that is

going to stay in place for years or

maybe God willing decades to

come the downside of um all of the work

that we've had to do is that my mind is

not really focused on anything so what

I've done is I've selected two questions

and two answers from our most recent

online meeting with the members of our

online community we've selected two

questions that had to do with

fasting because for us the Orthodox L is

In Bloom and uh so it is relevant to

talk about fasting and because by the

grace of God I feel that every time I

address our online community because

they are such close friends there are

people who support us on a monthly basis

for years I open up and God gives me a

Grace I don't always

have um I will mention the online

community because it is one of the

main ways in which you can support the

monasteries here on Malona if you would

like to uh they provide this opportunity

so that we can talk we can answer

questions uh through our online meetings

they provide you with an extra video per

week with news concerning the

monasteries the work we've done the

hopes we have what has happened in the

community there are emails there are

there's a sort of a micro blog news sort

of thing where every day almost we post

something that is happening of the m

Monastery something sometimes things

happen like we have a horrible storm we

need to stay in because otherwise we

will learn how to fly quicker than we

want to other times there are more

important things there's also an

emergency prayer request sort of thing

where if you go through something today

that you know requires the support of um

of someone's prayer just post your name

and your requests and we are there and

we are here and we can support you in

prayer it's important that we are

supported

consistently every month because that

takes away the pressure for example for

me to travel as much as I have in the

past and if I don't travel as much I can

keep recording these videos for all of

you and we can start writing booklets

again and um maybe God willing I'm not

going to end up in hospital again and

I'm going to end up leaving a little bit

longer which who knows could be a good

thing for some people and

anyway I hope that what comes the answer

to these two questions about fasting

will benefit you we love you in Christ

we pray for you always and you are

regardless of how or if you support us

you are part of our community so may God

bless you beyond your wildest dreams my

beloved ones amen amen

amen

[Music]

thou who at the ninth hour for our Sak

it taste of death in the

flesh mortify our caral mind o Christ

God and save

us let my supplication draw nigh before

thee Oh Lord yeah well I can I can fully

understand the the migraine problem

because I I get one every day uh almost

in the in fasting uh and in that sense

My fasting is not complete because I do

take my medication I don't take it with

water I I just swallow it dry but uh I

do take a small pill basically every day

um assuming that medically you can

fast I mean the benefits of fasting are

so many and so

varied um I'd like to First say that

it's not

see it's like food for the body all

these tools all these we call them

aesthetic struggles they're like food

for the body you could survive with only

one you could survive if you ate just

bananas you probably could survive for a

long time or just bread or something

you're not going to be as healthy as you

could be and you're not going to be

you're not going to reach your potential

physically you're not going to be the

the healthy person God created you to be

able to do everything he wants you to do

able to fill his command fulfill his

Commandments and everything you are

going to be someone who basically

survives and that can be done

spiritually as well you can just survive

by eating just one spiritual food for

example being merciful you can do that

and you can be saved uh I think I think

today we

celebrate um I don't think he has a name

does he have a name Father F that lazy

monk who did nothing he doesn't have a

name which is interesting that he

commemorated in the sinaran with all the

saints that we celebrate today but they

don't retain his name he uh the story is

that he was one of the monastics in a

monaster I can't remember where and he

was known to be very lazy non fasting

kind of you know not going to church not

doing his obedience and all of that and

then the time came for him to die quite

quite young which again is interesting

he died young like someone who only eats

one type of food he didn't reach his

full

potential and he was extremely joyful in

his last moments and those around him

asked him how come you're so joyful

basically implying we expected you to be

in hell but now but you know this is a

monastery you can be a bit more abrupt

with people and he said trust me that

when I've seen the Angels coming and you

know be looking reproachful and

everything because I've done nothing in

my life I've told my

angels that Christ has said that the one

who does not judge anyone will not be

judged and I put my trust that the words

of him who said this are still alive and

this is my hope of Salvation and he was

saved simply for doing that one

particular thing throughout his whole

monastic life he had not judged anyone

since the moment he entered into the

monastery and for that he was saved but

he was kind of only barely just saved

and you can see that in the story itself

the fact that he dies young the fact

that although he's included with the

Saints he's the only one whose name is

not remembered is not retained you can't

pray to him he was saved but not as a

saint to whom you pray and I I wanted to

share that because it's important for

you to understand that you can't

replace fasting with something else you

still need to fast to the best to the as

best as you can uh but it's not like if

you keep all night vigil you replace

fully the fasting something is missing

there of course if God and God knows

everything has allowed that you are in

such a physical state with your health

that you cannot fast at all God can do

everything and you know you can just in

that case we are not commenting what God

can do we are talking based only on our

Human Experience so I would always

encourage you to think yes I can up my

non-judgment and my kindness and I can

re in my anger and everything else my

lust my greed uh but don't refrain from

fasting if you can medically fast

because there are benefits that come to

you only from fasting the simple fact

that it's the most I think it's the

primordial Instinct that we have every

human organism needs to eat something

consume something in order to survive

and you take that away or you limit that

you are fighting with an instinct you

are you are telling yourself indirectly

that I could die out of this but I'm

ready for this in order to follow

Christ's commandment um you also fast

because it is one of Christ's direct

Commandments he tells us to pray and

fast if we want to defeat you know the

spirits that torment us and those around

us we follow the fasting as an obedience

to the church herself because from

Christ time all the way to our time

fasting was part of our experience and

Christ himself God man himself fasted

and it's mentioned that he fasted he

kept the 40 complete 40 days of complete

fast apart from

other um uh you know smaller periods of

fasting so it's an act of a OB towards

the church it makes you one not only

with the church today but with the

church as it was throughout the

centuries all those strugglers spiritual

strugglers who fasted you become one

with them you become one of the army one

of the yeah the Army the body of the

church and and there's great great help

coming from that obedience and from

shielding yourself with becoming part

again of of the the body of the

church um for me something that I think

about and it's not something that's

mentioned as being the most important

thing in the fathers uh it is mentioned

but it became almost the most important

thing for me and I've I've shared this

with the community at the beginning of

Le this year for

me first of all is the need for me to be

able to

control

um

this instability in my spiritual fight

you you you actually mentioned it I can

fast but then I get a migraine and then

I reconsider My fasting I should be

unshakable in my dedication and

obedience to Christ so if I started a

battle I should know that a battle

implies opposition if you go and you

fight someone that someone is going to

kick back that otherwise it's not a

battle so I need to be able to become

stable unshakable in my struggle in my

fight for my salvation and so I need to

be able to keep fasting to keep this

line of fasting whether or not I feel

like it whether or not it is comfortable

whether I feel saddened or depressed by

it or Overjoyed or you know even the

fact that I break the fast after the

three days although that's when I feel

most peaceful and I feel Grace with me I

do it because that's that's what the

rule

is that you should fast

it that that you should stop it then

that's one thing fighting instincts

moods emotions changing our minds in

order to do

something constant

consistent and then what I was saying

what's for me personally the most

important uh thing I've always thought

thought of fasting particularly lar

particularly abrupt kind of a violent

complete fasting is a good rehearsal for

the time of my

death because most people I've seen

dying and I've been blessed to to

be present and

to help by prayer and by a good word

quite a number of people because I'm a

priest I'm a monk I've seen people die

I've been there as they die most people

unless it's an accident or a heart

attack or a stroke before we die we go

through a period of a few days or a few

weeks or in some cases months or even

years if you battle something like Dem

Mantia for

instance where you are

exactly as one is after 3 4 5 days of

complete fast I notied the same thing

that same lack of energy the same wide

open mouth struggling to breathe in

because there's no water there's no

saliva uh the same you know weakened

body that can't even digest the food let

alone ingest it eat it uh and I think to

myself well I'd better be able to pray

before I die so what why do I think that

I will be ready because we all have this

this fantasy that before we die we are

going to be so so strong in our prayer

we are going to just shine then if I

can't do it now when I'm young and

healthy I just take away food from

myself why do I think that I'm going to

be able to meet my death and then meet

Christ with prayer when I'm going to be

much older God willing weakened by by by

the disease that has brought me there

and by the sadness and fear that comes

with approaching death why do I think

that that's going to be a better

position for me to pray than now so I

think of these moments of fasting as

rehearsals for that final moment for

that final period when slowly slowly

life is abbing away from your body and I

still want to be able spiritually to

pray I still want to be able spiritually

to orient myself towards Christ I still

want to be able spiritually to fight

depression and fear and darkness and to

always find Reason for Hope find reason

for light looking ahead to the

approaching moment of judgment nothing

but fasting can do that to your body and

it's it's exactly when you feel like oh

I want to give up fasting that all of

these things actually kick

in so for me that's it it's it's

something personal

because I've always had this

uh blessed fear of death I call it

blessed because it's the reason why I

left the world and I became a monastic

so it became the engine of my life and

I've discovered that fasting in

particular helps me prepare like nothing

else for those those L moments dra I

before thee Oh Lord according to thine

Oracle give

me

understanding thou who at the ninth hour

for our sakes its Taste of death in the

flesh mortify our caral mind o Christ

God and save

us let my petition come

before before we get the I mean the uh a

few things that um

pop in my mind while you talking first

one

is I would I hope that when you try to

do this you try to do this with the

blessing and the advice of your

spiritual father your Parish priest so

make sure someone else at least blesses

that you do this if not takes the

initiative I think that's the main

difference um between how things happen

in the world and how things happen in a

monastery and I can see the difference

in the same person here in the community

if that person comes to me and says oh I

would like to try a bit more I don't

know not to eat

tomorrow and then I bless it that is a

blessed

thing uh but that's not even 1% of what

it is when I go myself to that person

and I say I don't want you to eat

tomorrow and that's immensely more

blessed but it is also immensely more

difficult for them to do because in in

the one case you are the

one that makes the choice you look at

yourself your spiritual State you kind

of put a diagnosis on yourself and you

decide that maybe the right treatment is

this and then most people will just go

ahead and do it even if they succeed

that's not much of a

success the few people who by the grace

of God have a bit of experience and a

deeper understanding will approach their

Parish priest and their spiritual father

and they will ask for a blessing that is

a lot more beneficial but it's not yet

at the level of having been asked to do

that by someone else someone else's will

that's I think one of the differences

between living in a monastery where you

have a spiritual father who has the time

to not that I have the time to think

about them that's all I do all day all I

do all day is I pray for them and I

worry about them and I think about each

of them what I should be doing and then

I assess can I ask them to do something

or should I wait a bit more what can I

ask them what would be good based on

what I've seen and all of that I me

that's my I don't have much else in my

brain everything else is you know

secondary kind of at the outskirts of my

brain in the world a parish priest

simply doesn't have the time to to

invest

that sort of of care and of of presence

of spiritual presence in your

life uh so I I just wanted to say one I

I pray that you do this with at least

the blessing of your priest if not at

his

initiative uh

secondly keep in mind that it's not

always about food I mean of course you

fast and you should fast

but maybe food is not the right or the

best tool for you I

remember St

sarim uh one of the advice that he G

gave his spiritual children was he would

tell them this story that when he went

into the monastery he tried everything

and he said I I remembered my father his

you know bodily father physical father

who had um a shop and he would bring all

sorts of goods into the shop he would

bring 50 of them and then he would see

in a month which of those 50 would sell

most and then he would only order the 10

that sold most and those become Staples

permanent Staples of the shop and then

he would buy 50 other items and see

which of those sold most and he would

only keep the 10 that sold most and so

on and so forth and in that way he

maximized The Profit that the shop made

by the using the best by using in the

best way the space available to him and

St sarim said that I'm doing the same

thing spiritually I will try

everything and then I take notice

through my spiritual Father which of

these tools benefit me more most which

of these tools bring me most spiritual

profit and for some people it will be

fasting for other people it will be

vigil for other people it will be

sacrificing time and effort and maybe uh

taking time from the off from their job

to go to the services and be part of

that sort of prayer for other people

will be it will be time alone so they'll

need to find a time to be alone go in I

don't know in a forest somewhere or take

a day out of the week and hide somewhere

or create a space in your I don't know

basement or garden your shed your

anywhere we we are we are all very very

different and it is important as we grow

to try everything and to continue to do

everything but to emphasize and to make

the most of those particular things that

bring us most spiritual profit and it

may be that for you given the context of

your life it may be that it's not

fasting I'm not saying don't fast hear

me it may be that it's not about you not

eating a full day it may be that you

have to do something else maybe try a

little prayer in in the evening later in

the evening or earlier in the morning or

waking up in the night or trying to

be I don't know for some people it's a

social thing maybe if you try to get

involved into helping the homeless where

you live or cooking for for them

or cooking doing something physically

and sending that food somewhere I mean

there are so many things that you could

and you should try and then you'll feel

in your heart what brings more grace

what brings more profit to you so don't

get obsessed with the fasting of course

it would be good and um I I give glory

to God that you try even to to fast a

bit more but you are working uh and you

have a demanding job and you also have

your family to consider and all of that

so maybe that's not the right tool for

you at this moment and

finally what you said about the the good

Envy which is a blessed thing towards

monastics keep in mind again that if you

could take 3 days off your job you might

be in a better position to keep the

fasting as monastics do we still work

the first day we work almost like any

other day but then I'm very very careful

what they do day two day three and even

the days

afterwards I mean I I am very careful

nobody's going to drive during those

days if we can you know avoid it it's

funny that I said this because this year

we actually had to commute between

the monastery and the pilgrimage house

so we drove every day but we we were

very careful so what I'm trying to say

is that we we not it's not that we have

some sort of

superpower we have the context that

allows us to try this more and it

becomes the focus of everything even I

mean we consider what we eat the the

week before we gradually decrease the

amount of food that we eat and that

actually helps

enormously whereas I remember when I was

in the world and even in a monastery as

a young Monk I wanted to eat everything

I felt like I have to eat today on

Sunday for the duration of the week

ahead or if possible for the whole lent

ahead and that's extremely wrong I had

to learn from the older mon that

actually if you reduce it gradually your

tummy reduces as well and you don't

experience hunger anymore they the monks

in in mavia have also taught me and now

I'm teaching them that if the last thing

you eat before you start the fasting is

a lot of yogurt or something like that

yogurt or cfir you are not experiencing

thirst I mean you do but not to the

degree that you would otherwise I

remember the first few years when I

didn't know this the first two years at

least my my lips cracked I had blood

coming out of my mouth I look like a

vampire from Transylvania my skin

cracked around my eyes on my hand

uh it was horrendous this year I had no

problem I couldn't speak because my

mouth was so dry that I I I had no

saliva I had no problem whatsoever this

year by the grace of God so there's

there's a context there's an experience

there's a community that supports you

everybody is aware that we are doing all

these things and even within a monastery

even within our monasteries every single

one of us has his or her own way of

going through those three days depending

on everything from

age um Health even spiritual state in

that particular

week so honestly it's a good thing to

look at monastics and to look at not

only monastics but everyone who does

something a bit more than we do because

that uh inspires us to to try a bit more

but at the same time keep in mind the

reality of your life and the reality of

lives life in a

monastery God bless you have a beautiful

kind gentle land

everyone amen amen amen we all send our

prayers and

our th the nin th for our sake it taste

of death in the flesh

mortify our carnal mind o Christ God and

save

us