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Learning to choose
Saint Antão was living
in the desert, when a young man came to him:
- Father, I sold all my belongings
and gave to the poor. I kept only a few things in order to survive
here. I want you to teach me the way to salvation.
Saint Antão asked the
young man to sell the few things he had kept and, with the money,
to buy meat in town. He was to return with the meat tied to his
body.
The young man obeyed. On his
way back, he was attacked by dogs and falcons, who wanted a piece
of the meat.
- I am back - said the young
man, showing his scratched, bitten body, and his clothes in rags.
Why did you tell me to do that?
- To show that what you brought
from your past, is of no use in your present. When you must choose
a new path, do not bring old experiences with you. Those who strike
out afresh, but who attempt to retain a little of the old life,
end up torn apart by their own memories.
Changing attitude
A young man went to an abbot
from the Sceta monastery, wanting to follow a spiritual path.
- For one whole year, give
a coin to anyone who provokes you. - said the abbot.
For twelve months the young
man gave a coin away whenever someone provoked him. At the end of
a year, he returned to the abbot, to find out his next task.
- Go into town and fetch me
food.
As soon as the young man left,
the abbot disguised himself as a beggar and - taking a shortcut
he knew - went to the gates of the town. When the young man approached,
he began to insult him.
- How marvelous! - said the
young man to the so-called beggar. - For a whole year I had to pay
everyone who provoked me, and now I can be provoked for free, without
having to spend a thing!
Upon hearing this, the abbot
removed his disguise.
- Whoever is capable of not
minding what others say, is a man on the path to wisdom. You no
longer take insults seriously, therefore you are ready for the next
step.
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