First Part

I. FIRST CONFERENCE OF ABBOT MOSES



Index

CHAPTER I: Of our stay in Scete, and that which we proposed to Abbot Moses.

CHAPTER II: Of the question of Abbot Moses, who asked what was the goal and what the end of the monk.

CHAPTER III: Of our reply.

CHAPTER IV: Of Abbot Moses' question on the aforesaid statement.

CHAPTER V: A comparison with a man who is trying to hit a mark.

CHAPTER VI: Of those who in renouncing the world, aim at perfection without love.

CHAPTER VII: How peace of mind should be sought.

CHAPTER VIII: Of the main effort towards the contemplation of things and an illustration from the case of Martha and Mary.

CHAPTER IX: A question how it is that the practice of virtue with a man.

CHAPTER X: The answer that not the reward, but the doing of them will come to an end.

CHAPTER XI: On the abiding character of love.

CHAPTER XII: A question on perseverance in spiritual contemplation.

CHAPTER XIII: The answer concerning the direction of the heart towards and concerning the kingdom of God and the kingdom of the devil.

CHAPTER XIV: Of the continuance of the soul.

CHAPTER XV: How we must meditate on God.

CHAPTER XVI: A question on the changing character of the thoughts.

CHAPTER XVII: The answer what the mind can and what it cannot do with regard to the state of its thoughts.

CHAPTER XVIII: Comparison of a soul and a millstone.

CHAPTER XIX: Of the three origins of our thoughts.

CHAPTER XX: About discerning the thoughts, with an illustration from a good money-changer.

CHAPTER XXI: Of the illusion of Abbot John.

CHAPTER XXII: Of the fourfold method of discrimination.

CHAPTER XXIII: Of the discourse of the teacher in regard to the merits of his