Spiritual Practice School

The commandment “eradicate greed” in the broad sense means the following: do not allow thoughts based on greed; do not violate the commandment “do not calumniate” in your thoughts; do not contemplate violating the commandment “do not steal”; especially do not allow yourself maniacal greed; do not envy; do not love money; do not desire to become rich; do not think about means of enrichment; do not dream of wealth; do not consider income your property; do not be mercenary; do not be stingy; do not love possessions; do not have a desire to receive gifts; do not become attached to property, real estate, money, or savings; do not have thoughts of ownership of anything in your mind, not even of personal belongings, clothing, or your own body; eradicate the desire to have a nice thing; eradicate the desire to appropriate someone else’s thing; eradicate the desire to take something that is “poorly placed” (easily accessible for theft or lost); hate luxury; do not pursue sciences or arts for the sake of earthly fame; do not despise your neighbour; do not put yourself above everyone; eradicate pride; eradicate the desire to maintain your own life; dedicate yourself entirely to the Absolute.

The commandment “eradicate ignorance” in the broad sense means the following: do not allow thoughts based on ignorance; do not violate the commandment “do not lie” in your thoughts; do not contemplate violating the commandment “do not commit adultery”; especially do not allow yourself maniacal lustfulness; reject hedonism; do not entertain yourself; do not enjoy; do not nurture tender feelings (towards your own activities, conversations, socialising, being in company, resting, clean water, delicious food, food in general, good weather, pleasant experiences, change of surroundings, travelling, tourism, experiences, beauty and the sublime, music and songs, news, anything new); do not show interest in animals; do not have greed for sleep; do not sleep in complete darkness; do not do anything for the sake of outward appearance or beauty; do not touch the altar or other sacred objects without the appropriate ceremony; refrain from ceremonies and actions with the altar or sacred objects that are to be performed only with the left hand; do not damage or throw away icons and mandalas, sacred objects, or portraits of saints; honour saints from all religions; do not give in to ignorance (for example: “it’s no big deal if I’m a bit lazy”, or “it’s no big deal if I relax a bit”, or “it’s no big deal if I break a commandment”, or “it’s no big deal if I lie in bed a bit longer”, or “it’s no big deal if a child does not live with both biological parents”, or “it’s no big deal if a child lives and is raised in a state institution”, or “it’s no big deal if I have an abortion”, or “it’s better to have an abortion than to later abandon your child”, or “it’s no big deal if I go for a walk a bit”, or “it’s no big deal to dream about sensations and desires of the body, soul, and heart”, or “there’s nothing wrong with enjoying lustful thoughts”). Maintain chastity in thoughts; do not put a loved one above the Absolute; do not put an agreement with a person above an agreement with the Almighty; do not put any agreement above the Truth; do not put any foundations above the Truth; do not put any knowledge above the Truth; do not show laziness (the energy of tamas); do not give in to tamas; do not allow agnosticism (thoughts denying the possibility of scientific knowledge of the Absolute, God, the Holy Spirit, nirvana, and other such spiritual foundations); do not deny the existence of the law of karma and reincarnation; do not allow thoughts that deny the Truth (the necessity of eradicating worldly desires, the necessity and benefit of spiritual practice, and other foundations of spiritual practice); inactivity of bodily senses; silence of the mind; repentance; awareness of one’s fall; feeling of poverty of soul and spirit; desire for prayer, solitude, obedience, humility, confession of one’s sins; careful observation of all your deeds, words, thoughts, and feelings; distrust in your own mind; fear of the Almighty; humility; constant self‑accusation and self‑reproach; rejection and forgetting of false customs; abandonment of erroneous traditions, vows, and rules; recognition of one’s own weakness of mind. Suppress the following: sadness, despondency, distress, melancholy, abandonment of hope for your own spiritual growth, doubt in promises, ingratitude towards heaven for everything that happens, cowardice, impatience, lack of self‑reproach, grumbling, renunciation of the feat of laborious spiritual life, inclination to leave your path, evasion of the burden of the cross – the struggle with passions and sinfulness; laziness towards every good deed (especially spiritual ones); abandonment of religious or prayer rules; loss of memory of the Absolute; abandonment of constant prayer (mantra) and soul‑beneficial reading; inattention; haste; negligence; idleness; carelessness; debauchery; indulgence of the flesh through sleep, lying down, and all sorts of ease; seeking effortless salvation; moving from place to place in order to avoid hardships and deprivations; frequent walks and visits to friends; abandonment of bows and other spiritual feats; forgetting your own sins; forgetting the commandments; lack of diligence; self‑justification through being captive to passions; distraction; non‑fulfilment of promises; despair; changeability of temper; indulgence in passions; lack of conscience; becoming like demons in habits and life; lack of zeal; negligence in the spiritual upbringing of children; self‑love; self‑will; hardening of the heart from successes in spiritual growth; reliance on God’s long‑suffering; hypocritical or cunning repentance; sinful life.