Spiritual Advice from St. Basil the Great

(The following directions are taken from a much longer list that Saint Basil sent to Saint Gregory of Nazianzus. All specifically monastic advice has been left out.)

 

  1. The Christian ought to have thoughts worthy of the heavenly calling and order his life worthy of the Gospel of Christ.
  2. The Christian must not let anything blow or drag him away from the remembrance of God, His will, and His judgments.
  3. The Christian must not blaspheme, curse, fight, avenge himself, render evil for evil, or act in anger.
  4. One should be patient, whatever one has to suffer. Even though we have the right to rebuke the one who has wronged us, we must do this not in passion for having been wronged, but in hope of correcting a brother, according to the precept of our Lord.
  5. One must not say anything against an absent brother and slander him, even if what is said be true.
  6. One should turn away from one who decries his brother.
  7. One should not play the buffoon or suffer buffoons.
  8. One should not speak idle talk, for it is neither useful to those who listen, nor necessary or permissible with regard to God.
  9. One must not be a slave to wine or crave for meat, or generally delight in any food or drink, for the athlete ought to observe temperance in all things.
  10. One must not shout, or assume postures or a gait manifesting passion or wandering of the spirit away from the fullness of God's presence.
  11. One ought to moderate one's voice as needed.
  12. One must not retort to another, or treat him rashly or scornfully, but in all circumstances one ought to show fairness and respect to all.
  13. One must not wink cunningly with the eye and assume attitudes or gestures that may grieve a brother or manifest some contempt.
  14. One must not take pride in garments or footwear; that is vanity.
  15. One ought to use inexpensive things for the needs of the body.
  16. One must not spend anything beyond what is necessary and to excess; that is abuse.
  17. One must not aspire to honors, or claim the first places.
  18. Everyone should esteem others more than himself.
  19. One should not do anything out of contentiousness.
  20. One should not envy the reputation of another, or rejoice in his shortcomings.
  21. One ought to deplore the faults of his brother for the love of Christ and feel sorry, but rejoice for what he did well.
  22. If one has to reprove sinners, let it be with mercifulness, in the fear of God and in order to correct the sinner.
  23. He who is reproved or blamed ought to take it with good will, realizing that it is for his own good.
  24. Everyone as he is able should try to heal with kindness anyone who has something against him.
  25. He who has been rebuked for first sins and was deemed worthy of pardon prepares for himself a judgment of anger worse than the previous rebuke, if he sins again.
  26. One should not let the sun set on an angry fit of a brother, lest night separate both from each other and leave an inexorable verdict in the Day of Judgment.
  27. One should not wait for an occasion to mend oneself, because he cannot be certain of the morrow; many who have made many projects have not reached the morrow.
  28. One should not let himself be fooled by a full belly, because it is the cause of nightmares.
  29. One should not be dragged into working immoderately beyond the limits of the sufficient; according to the words of the Apostle, "if we have food and covering, we should be satisfied" (1 Tim 6: 8), for an abundance which exceeds the necessary displays greediness, and "greediness denotes idolatry" (Col 3: 5).
  30. One must not be avaricious or hoard unnecessary things.

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