(Once again, we remind you that we deliberately do not systematize thoughts, do not present “finished theories”, so that the visitor-reader, having visited our pharmacy, does not say to himself: “I understood everything,” “I know!” – for this is death for him, great delusion. Therefore, do not seek systems of treatment (formation of a holistic Orthodox worldview, catholic consciousness) in pharmacies-books – they are not there and cannot be. The system is known (should be known) by the one who catechizes you (your personal “doctor,” your personal friend-advisor). Consult with him about any thought, show him the thoughts-medicines you have or that were advised, imposed, offered to you, and he (your personal “doctor,” friend-advisor) knows (should know) what to do with them, what they are for, what they are from. And if he does not know, then look for someone who knows… our pharmacy doctor can definitely help you, so you can contact him or make an appointment (but do not waste time – seek advice, for this village doctor at the time of writing our pharmacy guide to thoughts of God-knowledge was far from young, so if you delay, you may not find him in Part II). So do not delay repentance, but zealously seek the Truth, the Meaning of Life – Jesus Christ, and the Lord will find you! And will guide you – first through people, and then by the Holy Spirit – to all Truth! Do not waste time, for the days are evil! May the Lord God enlighten you!).
Since the goal, the purpose of human life is Prayer (“That all may be one in the Trihypostatic God in communion-perichoresis with one another, according to the principle of hypostatic being: I in You, and You in Me”), then the criterion of spiritual growth, preparation for baptism with the Holy Spirit is success in prayer, in forcing oneself to pray, in the fruits of proper prayer! The science of catechesis is learning to pray – to be in communion with God everywhere and always, in everything and through everything, to receive Gifts every moment (all reality and everything in it) and to Give thanks! Prayer = Love! To pray = To love! God is Love! Therefore, the goal of life is to become like God in Love, to unite with God, to become Love in Christ by the Holy Spirit!
The basis, the foundation of prayer – attention, reverence, repentance (= obedience, poverty, chastity)! Prayer is love, loving communion of loving Persons-Hypostases with one another. To pray to God-Love means to try to have communion with God, that is, with Love, to try to love God. And loves God the one who fulfills His commandments, His will! Therefore, to pray is to fulfill God’s will, all God’s commandments (for He who said: “do not kill!”, also said: “do not judge!”. Therefore, if you do not kill, but judge the one who killed – you are a criminal before God!): chastely, humbly, with all being, with all forces! Do everything and always for the glory of God the Father in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ in the hope of acquiring the Holy Spirit, union with God the Father in Jesus Christ by the Holy Spirit! Therefore, prayer is not just conversation, speaking, but whole life in Christ, striving to have communion with Christ in everything. Prayer is not just: “Lord! Lord!” with akathists, prayers, canons, liturgies, sacramental rites, consecrations, dedications…, but life according to this “Lord! Lord!”, that is, fulfilling all God’s commandments, all God’s will! Prayer that does not become life is not prayer! Prayer that is not an expression of repentance is not prayer!
Dozens of pages have already been turned from the beginning of the chapter, and you keep talking: Love! God’s commandments! Love! God’s commandments! Love!… But you say nothing about prayer. We have already heard this (Love! Fulfilling all God’s commandments)! – I know that you have already heard this, but I am interested in whether you have grasped it, whether you have understood at least with the edge of your mind – that it is in this said that the all-saving and appropriate lies?! If you grasp the essence of spiritual life (primarily catechesis) – fulfilling all God’s commandments (the essence of which is love for God and neighbor), then you will be able to continue this chapter yourself and give answers to the challenges of time and spiritual temptations, delusions, heresies, blasphemies, substitutes…
Since the purpose of human existence is hypostatic whole unity, mutual penetration, communion (“all Mine is Yours, and Yours is Mine; I in You, and You in Me”), the essence of prayer is to completely accept God (and all that is God’s) and completely give oneself (and all that is one’s own) to God! “Having begged for the unity of faith and the communion of the Holy Spirit, let us commit ourselves, and one another, and all our life to Christ our God”. This is the essence of all ascetic efforts of the catechumens, the essence of all monologues (prayers) before God: mind, will, feelings, actions… to give everything to God, to fill everything with God, the Holy Spirit! Prayers (spiritual life) cannot be learned from books – this is practice-activity, so only actively in the process of learning-catechesis do we learn to pray (with all being, not just with the tongue, saying: “Lord! Lord!”) by living according to Orthodox faith, by God’s commandments! Therefore, we talk about principles, about essence, not about formalities, not about “how” (which (“how”) for each person is unique, individual)! If you understand the essence: “what”, “who” – then you will find your form, your “how” in time, with practice. Spiritual life (personal, prayerful communion of persons-hypostases) is conscious, responsible, prudent, which primarily involves knowledge of the essence of things, knowledge of Orthodox faith! The catechumen must be aware of every step, every action, know “what” I am doing, “why” I am doing, and why this or that “needs” to be done! Then (under the condition of understanding the essence, knowing what result I need to achieve) the form is understood by itself, and creatively adapts to my uniqueness, the conditions of my life, health, service-work, etc. The main thing is not just to do something (according to tradition, stencil, typicon: read prayers, rules, canons, akathists, attend joint services, participate in the rites of Sacraments, etc.), but to achieve the result (union with God, communion with the Holy Spirit)! In every matter, theory comes first, then practice, achieving the goal. The most important thing in spiritual, prayerful life is to grasp, understand the essence of the matter: what is required of me, what I need to achieve, what prayer is and why it (why to pray), and then we can talk about how to pray, about practice (but we do not intend to talk about it in detail – your friend-advisor, the one who catechizes you, will teach you this). So, consult with your doctors (“spiritual” advisors) about how to take the medicines-thoughts, how to heal – or call our pharmacy doctor.