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Discourse on Asceticism

St Basil the Great, tr. Lowther Clarke, 1925

Chapter 1

The monk’s life must be as follows. First of all, he must possess nothing. Physical solitude must be his lot, propriety of costume, a decorous tone of voice, disciplined conversation. Food and drink must not disturb his mind, and he must eat in quiet. He must be silent in the presence of elders, must listen to men wiser than himself, love his equals, and advise his inferiors in a spirit of love. He must shun evil, carnal and meddlesome men, think much and talk little; he must not be arrogant in speech, nor a chatterer, nor prone to laughter, but must be adorned with shame. He must keep his eyes down, and his soul up, and not gainsay his gainsayers. He must be obedient, must work with his hands, remember always his end, rejoice in hope,² be patient in tribulation, pray ceaselessly, in everything give thanks, be humble towards all men, hate arrogance, be sober and keep his heart free from evil things, lay up treasure in heaven by keeping the commandments, and examine himself concerning his daily thoughts and acts. He must not entangle himself in the business affairs and chafferings of this life, or be interested in the life of the slothful, but zealously copy that of the holy fathers. He must rejoice with those who practise virtue successfully and not envy them; suffer with those who suffer and weep with them and grieve for them much and not condemn them.

He must not reproach the man who turns from sin. He must never justify himself, but confess before God and men that he is a sinner above all others. He must admonish the disorderly, encourage the faint-hearted, support the weak,³ wash the feet of the saints, attend to hospitality and brotherly love, be at peace with his comrades in the faith, shun heretics, read the Canonical books, and never even open the apocryphal⁴ ones. He must not dispute about the Father, Son, and Holy Ghost, but speak and think boldly about the Trinity, uncreated and of one substance, and say to those who ask questions, that it is necessary to be baptized, as we have received the tradition, to believe as we have been baptized, to worship as we have believed.⁵ He must be occupied in good works and words, swear not at all, not give his money upon usury,⁶ nor his corn and wine and oil to make profit withal. He must refrain from excess of eating, and from drunkenness, and business cares, must not speak deceitfully nor utter a word against anyone. He must not rail at any man, nor listen with pleasure to the railing of others, nor be swift to believe accusations against anyone. Anger must not master him, nor despondency rule over him. He must not be readily angry with his neighbour, nor retain wrath against anyone, nor render evil for evil. He must rather be reviled than revile, be struck than strike, be wronged than wrong, be defrauded than defraud.

Before all, the monk must refrain from meeting women and drinking wine, since wine and women will cause men of understanding to fall away.⁷ And while he keeps according to his ability the commandments of the Lord, he must not give way to accidie, but expect his reward and praise from Him and long for the enjoyment of eternal life, and have ever before him the words of David and say: ‘I saw the Lord always before me, because he is at my right hand, lest I be moved.”⁸ Like a son, he must love God with all his heart and strength and mind and power. As a slave, he must reverence and fear Him and obey Him and work out his salvation with fear and trembling.⁹ He must be fervent in spirit,¹⁰ clad with the panoply¹¹ of the Holy Spirit, and run not uncertainly, and fight not as one that beats the air,¹² and overcome the adversary by weakness of the flesh and poverty of the soul, and do all that is commanded him and yet call himself unprofitable.¹³ He must give thanks to the holy and glorious and terrible God, and do nothing by strife and vainglory,¹⁴ but all for God’s sake and to please Him.¹⁵ For God has scattered the bones of the men-pleasers.”¹⁶ He must not boast at all, nor utter his own praises, nor enjoy hearing another utter them. He must serve secretly in all ways and do nothing to show off before men, but seek only the praise that comes from God and consider His terrible and glorious advent, his impending removal hence, the good things stored up for the righteous, and at the same time the fire prepared for the devil and his angels. Besides all this, he must remember the apostolic doctrine: “The sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory that shall be revealed to usward.”¹⁷

Also he must look forward and say with David: For those that keep his commandments there is a great recompense,”¹⁸ a mighty reward, crowns of righteousness, eternal habitations, endless life, joy unspeakable, and indestructible abiding with the Father and the Son and the Holy Ghost, the true God in heaven; a revealing of face to face; choruses in company with the angels, fathers, patriarchs, prophets, apostles, martyrs, confessors, and those who have pleased God from the beginning, with whom let us strive to be found, by the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, to Whom be glory and dominion for ever. Amen.

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