These are seven sayings which abba* Moses spoke to abba Poemen, which, if you keep, whether you are in a monastery or in solitude, or in the world itself, you can be saved.
1. First, as it is written, you should love God with all your soul and all your understanding.
2. You should love your neighbor as yourself.
3. You should mortify yourself from all evil.
4. You should not judge others in any conjucture.
5. You should not hurt anyone.
6. You should, before you go out from the body, cleanse yourself from all foulness of flesh and spirit.
7. You should always have a contrite and humble heart. You can accomplish this by always looking on your own sins and not on your neighbor's, by the saving grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, who with God the Father and the Holy Spirit lives and reigns forever. Amen.
from "The Desert Fathers" by Helen Waddell, with revisions by D. M. Mastroberte
