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...Today's religious training does not lay enough stress on 'setting the heart on things above'*.  Instead, more importance is given to 'practical' things.
                                                                              (*St. Paul's Letter to the Colossians 3:1)

...By teaching, even teachers themselves come to a new awareness of the things they teach.

...Teachers should not impose their ideas on the students; rather, each should be allowed to absorb what suits him best.

...It is useless to impose something which the candidate, by his very nature, finds impossible to assimilate.

...A spiritual father is one who helps us to know ourselves and to enter into our heart.

...The Abbot should not use his authority to try to make somebody do something for which there is no seed (by the Spirit) in that person.

...A superior should be an 'Abba' and efficiency of administration should not be the first criterion in choosing him.

...The Abbot should be a father who rejoices and suffers with his family rather than a 'boss'.

...Don Anselm le Bail, my former Abbot, and Mar Athanasios were two people who strengthened me and supported me.  They were, in a way, like the two walking sticks which I carry around with me.

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