Many of those who Fell into Delusion Prayed with Prayer with Imagination

Archimandrite Raphael (Karelin). "On the Path from Time to Eternity."

Saint Seraphim (Romantsov)

Schema-Archimandrite Seraphim (Romantsov).

A hieromonk asked Schema-Archimandrite Seraphim about a hermit who, during prayer, imagined the faces of Christ and the saints. The hieromonk wanted to know whether one could be saved by such a method of prayer (forbidden by the Fathers). Father Seraphim replied, "Whether he will be saved or not, I do not know, but it is impossible to attain high spiritual levels with improper prayer. Imagination is a quality of the soul, not of the spirit; it is connected with the passions. The Holy Fathers compare such prayer to the dead of night, where there is no light; a person does not know where he is going, receives blows from the enemy, but is unable to respond or even avoid them." The hieromonk said, "I tried to dissuade him, but it was useless. He said that he learned to pray this way from his spiritual father, whom he considers great." Father Seraphim replied, "Imagining the spiritual world can evoke in a person a feeling of secret pride; he will begin to think that he actually sees this world during prayer." Many of those who fell into delusion prayed such a prayer. In any case, if this hermit isn't deluded, he's on a dangerous path."

The hieromonk asked Schema-Hegumen Savva the same question. He replied, "You're not asking me, but testing me: will I answer correctly? You came to test me, and you've already been told about the hermit. Besides, you yourself had read about such a prayer in the Philokalia." Then he added, "In spiritual life, it's dangerous not only to imagine but also to lie to an elder." The hieromonk was embarrassed, but he lost heart and didn't admit it was true, instead saying, "I wanted to know if there are exceptions here." He replied, "If a monk has childlike simplicity, he believed his father, and recalls certain images he saw, then the Lord may accept such a prayer as an exception."

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On Tears Before Cleansing from Passions

Venerable Ambrose of Optina. From Letter 391. 

St. Ambrose of Optina (1812 - 1891)

You also write that Peter Damascene confused you with what he said in Part 2, Homily 8, about tears, saying that before cleansing from passions, they are nothing other than the delusion of demons. Reread this chapter carefully. It's not stated that way, nor is the meaning correct; you've greatly emphasized it. The main meaning here is impartiality; and he says that the tears of those living among people, preoccupied with sensual, that is, worldly, things, are caused by the mockery and theft of demons. But your efforts related to your treasury duties don't fall under this category; what is done out of holy obedience, according to monastic duties, cannot be called vain care. Of course, even in such cases, one must carefully guard oneself and conduct oneself in the fear of God, guarding one's conscience. It is true that tears, before being cleansed of passions, are not entirely pure, but, according to St. John Climacus, they are purified and made right if, while weeping and crying, a person always thinks of the end of this life and of his presence at the Last Judgment, and of the final utterance therein. And then they also purify the soul of the weeper. During tears, one must guard against vanity and arrogance, which make tears like swamp water, where leeches and other hideous vermin breed. Secondly, during tears, according to St. John Climacus, one must guard against the seduction of unreasonable joy, lest one accepts a wolf instead of a shepherd. This saint expresses amazement at the extent to which the cunning enemy has contrived to transform the source of virtue, that is, weeping, into a source of passions.

If a person can weep, then let him weep wisely, humbly, with heartfelt contrition, and with the remembrance of his sins (but not of carnal details, for that is more harmful), and with the remembrance of death and God's judgment. Saint John Climacus writes that the mental Pharaoh, who is called a roaring lion by the Apostle Peter, is drowned in the water of tears, just as you yourself once imagined. It is rightly said that in the water of tears and tender weeping there is no place for this roaring lion, seeking to devour someone. Mother N. asks whether she may keep the sisters' money for safekeeping. If the ancient, strict order of communal life had been preserved, when the residents were given everything they needed, then this would be inappropriate and could be considered improper; but at the present time, due to the general weakness of both superiors and subordinates, it is absolutely impossible to forbid this. There can be need and a immediate demand for the latter.

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Falling into Sins that Reproach the Conscience Can be Due to Subtle Mental Demeaning of Others

Saint Macarius of Optina (1788-1860)

"Great Russian Elders." Venerable Macarius of Optina.

Consider the actions of your heart and mind: are there any high opinions of yourself, both in spiritual and secular matters—does your thoughts demean others? If you sense such things, strive to quickly banish them from your heart and not give them room. For those who let them creep in, as punishment for friendship with them, God may allow them to fall into sins that reproach the conscience. Have compassion for your neighbors who require your help; pay attention to the poor, the orphaned, and the needy, according to your ability. All this will attract God's mercy to you.

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