A Roman
soldier came to an Egyptian hermit:
— Is
there a hell? Is there a paradise? If yes, where are their gates? How can I
enter the paradise?
That man
was a foot soldier. Soldiers are always simple-minded and clear-thinking. All
he knew was life and death. He did not indulge in philosophy: all he wanted to
know is where to go to avoid the hell and to get into the paradise.
— Who are
you? — the monk asked.
— I’m a
Roman soldier, — the soldier replied. — It’s an honor to be a soldier in the
Roman army. Only a perfect warrior deserves this position. Even the Emperor
pays homage to us.
The monk
laughed:
— Are you
really a soldier? You look like a wretched beggar!
These
words offended the soldier to such an extent that he forgot why he had come to
the hermit. He drew out his sword and was about to kill the monk. The monk
laughed:
— That’s
the Gate of Hell. You will open it with your sword by being angry and proud.
It was an
example that the soldier could comprehend. He was ashamed and put his sword
back into his sheath… and the monk continued:
— And
this is where the Gate of Paradise is.
Translated from: azbyka.ru/days
CONVERSATION