Chapter Two:
On Discernment, on the Power of a Soul, and on the Temptations of Pride
Now Alexey had many opportunities to talk with Blagoslav. He often raised the subject of the possibility of transforming the religious life in the country.
For Alexey, these were not just conversations, but also an attempt to understand how it could be done in reality, taking into account the knowledge that he had now acquired.
Blagoslav did not avoid these conversations. On the contrary, he told what he knew about the past history of the state. And sometimes — he expressed his opinion about the current situation in Russia.
Looking at Alexey, he often seemed to recognize his son, Radomir. They were united by the desire to actively replace the darkness of spiritual ignorance — with the light of true knowledge of God, to tell people about the essence of good and evil, and about how the fate of each person is built — on this basis.
Sometimes, when Blagoslav strove to “bring the dreamer to the ground”, he saw that, on the contrary, the certainty became even stronger in Alexey that it would be possible to overcome seemingly insurmountable obstacles.
Refusing to even try to influence what was happening in the country was seen by Alexey as wrong:
“Does it mean that we should live like this for years? And do nothing to help people: to stop the horror, the cruelty that many people are doing today — as if in the name of God?!”
“How did you manage, Alexey, to enter the monastic life, if you are so concerned about the worldly order and the welfare of people? You were born into the nobility, and you could have become an adviser to the king…”
"But I’m not talking about worldly prosperity,” — Alexey smiled, — “but about the righteous spiritual law for lay people and for those people, who accepted the church vows onto themselves and want to serve the Lord! Without it, no peace and prosperity can come to the state! Without the true spiritual knowledge — worldly life is so meaningless! And, under such conditions, it is impossible for there to be real order in the church!”
“So, do you want to add one more new faith to those which already exist? Do you think that all people will accept it, if you devise this?
“But — it will not happen like this! Everything will be turned inside out — and only a new war with new ‘heresies’ will be accomplished!…
“Look: the Bashkirs are rebelling now… They name the One God as Allah, but even up to this day they still rely on their shamans and their ‘gods of old’!
“And how many other different nationalities live in the country, and each one — professes their own faith! Can you guess?
“Will you offer your new faith to all of them? Do you think that everyone will want to believe in your version?
“And do you think that you’ll be able to eliminate the split in the Orthodox Church by only your one book?…”
“I do not know yet what to do…
“You say truly that it’s impossible to unite everyone by one faith: only new violence will come!…
“But it’s possible to issue such a law so that people will know that One God is behind all beliefs! And — so that persecutions and killings because of faith are banned!
“They say that the young king is now ready to establish new orders in everything. He began to change life in the country! Maybe he could do useful things in spiritual matters as well?”
“Yes, I have heard about this!… He ordered the boyars to shave their beards, and to wear the same kind of clothes as Latin people do — both men and women… I do not see a big meaning in this!…
“He also ordered to build ships, he wages wars to show to the whole world the greatness and power of the country… But will it work out well, if all the neighboring states become afraid of the power of our country?… I do not think that this is good!”
“That’s why it is necessary for him to be given these spiritual life reforms! It is also necessary to tell him that it is shameful for a great state to continue serf slavery, where people can be sold like livestock!”
“Well spoken! But who will listen to you? They will only kill you!…
“And you still do not have the strength to rule countries and to advise the rulers how to properly conduct matters of the state!”
“And what? — is there such a force?”
“There is… But it is used only rarely, when they use it for good…
“It is good when God protects one from personal might, which one cannot yet comprehend and endure!
“Understand, God gives to everyone the strength to live and make good decisions — and that is good! But if one’s strength exceeds one’s understanding, then great troubles can come from that: with the person individually, and for others nearby!
“I’ll tell you a little story, and then you should think for yourself!
“There was once a very ancient time, when for the Magi, who possessed great strength and skills, it became necessary to decide: what to do so that their knowledge would not be lost in the darkness of ignorance…
“I told you already before that some of them, the wise among them, went to the forest, and began to live secretly, and then that knowledge was passed on to the worthy righteous successors and keepers — from generation to generation…
“But there were also those who decided to share some particles of their knowledge and skills to at least some of the outsiders. They accepted the beliefs of the new rulers ‘for appearance’s sake’ only, and tried to include scraps of their knowledge into the new rites and rules…
“Some of them possessed great strength of the soul… And where there is power — a multitude of temptations appear in using it.
“Ingenious are the temptations to the pride of man! There are many dangers, from which the purity of the perception of the Divine can be very easily lost!
“For example, some of them accepted the new faith only ‘for show’ — as if to preserve the lives of their people and their valuable knowledge… But that lie — entered into their lives!… And, that lie imperceptibly enslaved such souls even further: here — people distort the truth — as is for the benefit of the other people, there — they add a little fiction to the truth…
“Carrying on in this way — some of them became dishonest altogether…
“And they justified it by saying that they are doing it for the good of people and to save the lives of many…
“Others among them were tempted by earthly riches…
“And some even made pompousness predominant in the religious management…
“Some — wanted to win in the battles of ‘our’ people over the ‘strange’ people…
“It happens that it’s easy for souls with great power to achieve what they want… And the result is often sad… The unclean minds of such persons distort the understanding of the Truth!
“Even the Revelations perceived from God — can start to be falsified by a selfish mind, and such a person can even ‘attach to God’ his or her own opinions…
“Usually a person, blinded by pride or vanity, does not notice this process happening to him or her. Imperceptibly so — lies and truths get entangled!… And one, who is a great and strong soul, rarely has doubts in oneself! Too sure this one is — in his or her own ‘rightness’!
“That’s how a leader among people turns out to become a person, who does not doubt that God acts through him or her… And such a person convinces everyone of this…
“From the greatly increased self and pride, one is very near to falling into rudeness, hatred, and tyranny!…
“White magic and black magic — what differences do they have? What do you think? Are the goals of white magic good, while the goals of black magic are sort of like evil? And who will distinguish the border between them? Are you starting to understand what I’m getting at?”
“Yes, but how to understand? How not to be mistaken? Should one not at all touch the knowledge about the Power of the Divine? Should one not use that knowledge?
“In Orthodoxy, this is called a temptation or seduction, that is, the machinations of the devil… And they are very afraid to succumb to such temptations! For such a soul, they consider it a perdition — with eternal burning in hell as punishment!
“Even the thought of admitting that God can be heard and seen — the priests are now afraid of… If one has developed in oneself the ability to see and hear such visions and voices — then this one is ‘from the impure one’!…
“But Jesus showed the Might of God! And He did miracles for people — for them to believe Him! And it was obvious to them that this Might is from God!”
“Yes, this was the Mission of Jesus… However, not all people had recognized Him then. There were many doubters wondering: is He from God?
“But look: Jesus, indeed, had the Power — to avoid the death on the cross, to punish the executioners in front of all those people… What do you think: why did He not do this?”
“In fulfillment of the prophecies… And in order to show the power of love and faith…
“And also — He showed the greatness of forgiveness to those who persecuted Him and killed His body.
“And the miracle of the Resurrection — without the death of His body — would not have been revealed!”
“Yes, that’s right! Jesus showed much to people — both Love, and Humility, and Power!
“But what is now going on with His Teachings all over the Earth?!
“There is still much that you, Alexey, have to know — in union of the soul with God! Do not rush! And then — both Wisdom and Power will prevail!
“And it can’t be yours — this power! It is God’s!
“Also — it’s not easy: to live when all the people around you are like children to you!
“For me, only our community members are like relatives! And the rest of people — I’m just now learning to love them with God’s Love. And you — as you have decided it — are: ‘The Orthodox priest of all Russia!’… I’m kidding, of course! But how much responsibility such love imposes — you still have to understand!
“You are now learning to weigh every step, every word, and every action! You have already become a not so small soul! And your every thought, emotion, decision, and action — not only leaves a little mark in the space of the universe and dissipates after. But you can already significantly influence many events and fates connected in a certain chain… Take responsibility for this! Act as if with your every word and deed you could give life! Do so, so as not to be ashamed — both before people and before God!”
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