On the Spiritual Law (Part 1)
(again, I've kept the original numbering from The Philokalia for reference)
8. If a man has some spiritual gift and feels compassion for those who do not have it, he preserves the gift because of his compassion. But a boastful man will lose it through succumbing to the temptation of boastfulness.
9. The mouth of a humble man speaks the truth; but he who speaks against the truth is like the servant who struck the Lord on the face (cf. Mark 14.65).
15. Do not grow conceited if you shed tears when you pray. For it is Christ who has touched your eyes and given you spiritual sight.
25. At the times when you remember God, increase your prayers, so that when you forget Him, the Lord may remind you.
28. Just as a thought is made manifest through actions and words, so is our future reward through the impulses of the heart.
29. Thus a merciful heart will receive mercy, while a merciless heart will receive the opposite.
41. When you have done something good, remember the words 'without Me you can do nothing' (John 15.5).
42. Afflictions bring blessings to man; self-esteem and sensual pleasure, evil.
43. He who suffers injustice escapes sin, finding help in proportion to his affliction.
44. The greater a man's faith that Christ will reward him, the greater his readiness to endure every injustice.
45. By praying for those who wrong us we overthrow the devil; opposing them we are wounded by him.
47. Every blessing comes from the Lord providentially. But this fact escapes the notice of the ungrateful and the idle.
48. Every vice leads in the end to forbidden pleasure; and every virtue a spiritual blessing. Each arouses what is akin to it.
49. Censure from men afflicts the heart; but if patiently accepted it generates purity.
53. Reveal yourself to the Lord in your mind. 'For man looks at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart' (1 Sam. 16.7).
54. Think nothing and do nothing without a purpose directed to God. For to journey without direction is wasted effort.
56. Distress reminds the wise of God, but crushes those who forget him.
57. Let all involuntary suffering teach you to remember God, and you will not lack occasion for repentance.
58. Forgetfulness as such has no power, but acquires it in proportion to our negligence.
61 & 62. Scripture says: 'Hell and perdition are manifest to the Lord' (Prov. 15.11 LXX). This refers to ignorance of heart and forgetfulness. Hell is ignorance, for both are dark; and perdition is forgetfulness, for both involve extinction.
63. Concern yourself with your own sins and not with those of your neighbor; then the workplace of your intellect will not be robbed.
65. To accept an affliction for God's sake is a genuine act of holiness; for true love is tested by adversities.
67. Consider the outcome of every involuntary affliction, and you will find it has been the destruction of sin.
69. If you want spiritual health, listen to your conscience, do all it tells you, and you will benefit.
71. Man acts so far as he can in accordance with his own wishes; but God decides the outcome in accordance to justice.
77. Knowledge of what is good for him has been given to everyone by God; but self-indulgence leads to negligence, and negligence to forgetfulness.
88. After fulfilling a commandment expect to be tempted: for love of Christ is tested by adversity.
89. Never belittle the significance of your thoughts, for not one escapes God's notice.
92. Many have fought in various ways against circumstances; but without prayer and repentance no one has escaped evil.
99. All vice is caused by self-esteem and sensual pleasure; you cannot overcome passion without hating them.
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