PART THREE

Chapter One:
New House

        A few days later, Rada told Alexey:
        “We should go to the community today: to tell everyone that we are now — before God — husband and wife. We should tell the community, so that it is accepted. Do you agree?”
        “Of course!” — he answered happily.
        … Rada and Alexey went to the community settlement. In the rays of the morning sun, the forest seemed fabulously beautiful!
        “We will be met, do not be surprised!”
        “Be met? But how did they know?”
        “I told grandfather.”
        “But you did not see him! We were together the whole time!”
        “You know that it’s possible to see and feel a soul from a distance. And to talk — it’s possible too. You can already talk with Jesus! And you know that I often speak with my father, Radomir. I have told my grandfather about us. And he has answered me: ‘If so, come to the congregation: it is necessary to declare your union before everyone!’”
        Alexey embraced Rada, picked her up in his arms and kissed her:
        “It seemed to me that I already knew everything about you, but every time I am amazed at what else you can do!”

* * *
        All the community members, from young to old, went out to meet Rada and Alexey. They wished them happiness, love, and harmony with each other and with God!
        Even the space in which they walked between the people, who greeted them, became something special: that is how the simple wishes of good and love, which are sincerely sent by strong souls, change the space around.
        Blagoslav looked at the young couple affectionately. He spoke words that were fitting in the customs of the community.
        Then he led them to the house:
        “Now, this is your home!”
        … There was no limit to Alexey’s surprise…
        They entered the house — small but cozy, and clean.
        Everything inside was decorated in a special way: the house was waiting for its new owners!
        … When they were alone, Rada said:
        “In the past, it was customary for the whole community to build a new house together for young people, who created families. But we do not need to build one: there are several empty houses.”
        “Was it someone’s house? Did those, who lived here, die?”
        “No, they did not die. It was once the house of the blacksmith, Mikula. Do you remember, how he prepared a hot bath for you?
        “And then he was presented with a special forge by the whole community: to make sure that there was almost no sound coming out of his work. And the upper room houses the forge. Now he lives there. He does not have a family. So this house was empty. He told my grandfather that they could prepare this house for us.”
        “Prepare?”
        “Yes. Do you see how everything is arranged inside? They tried to bring everything, needed for us, as a gift! Here are the table, benches, different utensils, and candles — everything that is useful in the household! There are also books on the table — this is for you from grandfather!
        “All the community members prepared their gifts for us — what they could: someone gave — the towel, someone else — the dishes, someone else — another kind of utensil. My grandfather — he has brought books for you: he knows that you like to read!”
        Alexey was at a loss for words. He had never before experienced anything like this! People, who almost didn’t even know him, did all this for him! Of course — for Rada too, but also for him. How can he thank them all now?
        Rada finished her explanation:
        “For many generations, we have lived as a community. It’s like a large and friendly family. And the customs here are good!
        “Now you will have to be accepted into the community — by the common agreement of all the members. Grandpa will decide — when.”

* * *
        Later, Rada went to her grandfather’s house.
        They embraced gently.
        “At last!… You love him, I see! And he loves you! This is great! Yes… it all has happened so surprisingly!…
        “Teach him — and further!
        “I myself did not expect that a person could change so quickly!”
        “Yes, I love him, grandpa!
        “I used to think that it was only I who taught him. But I have also learned a lot from him!
        “He has the intention of writing a book about how to wisely structure the church in the state and about how to live righteously before God. Will you help him?”
        “But who will read such a book right now? People are illiterate!… And those, who are literate, — they are ready only to make reprisals over dissents!”
        “Jesus has asked him to do this.
        “It is possible that this is necessary only for him: to write down and at the same time comprehend, to connect everything former with everything new, which he has learned. Or maybe, it is part of a plan for the future too… I do not know yet…
         “Alexey is not used to living for himself, for his own happiness solely! He lives his whole life — for God, and has dreams to help people! He considers it unfaithful — to use the new knowledge and understanding of how to live — only for himself. He cannot even think that happiness is only for himself! Because of this — I love him even more! And in this is the cause of the very special shining around him!”

* * *
        Alexey went to the hermitage to gather the most necessary things for his new life.
        He also visited the village.
        After that incident with the healing of the boy, Tikhon, and all his long walks to the forest — Alexey was seen with special respect: many almost considered him to be holy. The new attitude towards him was completely different now — in comparison with what it was before, when he repaired leaky roofs or climbed into water wells to clean them!
        Alexey was internally amazed at how everything seemed to be shaping up!
         He also went to the house of Efimia. Everything was fine there! The youngest boy was growing up, and he was no longer sick. Dunyasha and Timothy could help their mother quite well in everything. Much has been accomplished in their lives! And Efimia herself became calmer and more joyful. She understood that God loves them, keeps them — and now lived in gratitude to Him for all of this!
        Timothy and Dunyasha met Alexey — as if he was a very dear friend! Alexey was amazed: he had hardly spoken to them since that miraculous healing!
        He told them that he would be going far away for a long time.
        And then he came up with a way on how he could get news about life in the village. He asked the children — if there would be any need or should something important happen — that they should put a sign in the hollow of a big tree, which Timothy and him knew about on the bend of the river. Alexey gave the children two small pebbles — one dark and the other light. If trouble or need arise, then the dark stone is to be put in the tree, and if his presence is needed for something joyful, then they should use the light stone.
        For the children, such a game — secret and important — seemed to be very interesting, and they promised to perform it!

* * *
        Then Alexey once again returned to the hermitage. He went to the grave of the elder Nicholas: as if saying goodbye to the past. He sat down on a hillock, and was quiet for a long time, remembering their life together for the many years of his apprenticeship…
        Then he began mentally, as if in a confession, to tell the elder everything about his new life…
        Suddenly he saw and heard the elder Nicholas:
        “Why then did you come here? You now are not afraid to see Jesus! Why are you afraid of me?”
        “Well, it was not expected…”
        “You told me your thoughts, but did not expect to see me, right?”
        “So, have you heard all the confession about my life, about my thoughts, and my dreams? Are you judging me?”
        “No, my son, I have never condemned anyone, and you — least of all! No one will travel your path for you! Perhaps, it is destined for you to do that, what you dream about — for people and for God! Maybe the importance of my earthly life was, namely, so that I could prepare you for this…
        “Do not be afraid! In the heart — you will always feel the Truth from God! And the courage to live according to that Truth, has always been a gift of yours!”
        … The elder Nicholas blessed Alexey, as if in the old days… Then he disappeared…
        Alexey got up and went to the community.
        A new life was waiting for him — and he was ready for it.

       
Chapter Two:
On Discernment, on the Power of a Soul, 
and on the Temptations of Pride
       
        Now Alexey had many opportunities to talk with Blagoslav. He often raised the subject of the possibility of transforming the religious life in the country.
        For Alexey, these were not just conversations, but also an attempt to understand how it could be done in reality, taking into account the knowledge that he had now acquired.
        Blagoslav did not avoid these conversations. On the contrary, he told what he knew about the past history of the state. And sometimes — he expressed his opinion about the current situation in Russia.
        Looking at Alexey, he often seemed to recognize his son, Radomir. They were united by the desire to actively replace the darkness of spiritual ignorance — with the light of true knowledge of God, to tell people about the essence of good and evil, and about how the fate of each person is built — on this basis.
        Sometimes, when Blagoslav strove to “bring the dreamer to the ground”, he saw that, on the contrary, the certainty became even stronger in Alexey that it would be possible to overcome seemingly insurmountable obstacles.
        Refusing to even try to influence what was happening in the country was seen by Alexey as wrong:
        “Does it mean that we should live like this for years? And do nothing to help people: to stop the horror, the cruelty that many people are doing today — as if in the name of God?!”
        “How did you manage, Alexey, to enter the monastic life, if you are so concerned about the worldly order and the welfare of people? You were born into the nobility, and you could have become an adviser to the king…”
        "But I’m not talking about worldly prosperity,” — Alexey smiled, — “but about the righteous spiritual law for lay people and for those people, who accepted the church vows onto themselves and want to serve the Lord! Without it, no peace and prosperity can come to the state! Without the true spiritual knowledge — worldly life is so meaningless! And, under such conditions, it is impossible for there to be real order in the church!”
        “So, do you want to add one more new faith to those which already exist? Do you think that all people will accept it, if you devise this?
        “But — it will not happen like this! Everything will be turned inside out — and only a new war with new ‘heresies’ will be accomplished!…
        “Look: the Bashkirs are rebelling now… They name the One God as Allah, but even up to this day they still rely on their shamans and their ‘gods of old’!
        “And how many other different nationalities live in the country, and each one — professes their own faith! Can you guess?
        “Will you offer your new faith to all of them? Do you think that everyone will want to believe in your version?
        “And do you think that you’ll be able to eliminate the split in the Orthodox Church by only your one book?…”
        “I do not know yet what to do…
        “You say truly that it’s impossible to unite everyone by one faith: only new violence will come!…
        “But it’s possible to issue such a law so that people will know that One God is behind all beliefs! And — so that persecutions and killings because of faith are banned!
        “They say that the young king is now ready to establish new orders in everything. He began to change life in the country! Maybe he could do useful things in spiritual matters as well?”
        “Yes, I have heard about this!… He ordered the boyars* to shave their beards, and to wear the same kind of clothes as Latin people do — both men and women… I do not see a big meaning in this!…
        “He also ordered to build ships, he wages wars to show to the whole world the greatness and power of the country… But will it work out well, if all the neighboring states become afraid of the power of our country?… I do not think that this is good!”
        “That’s why it is necessary for him to be given these spiritual life reforms! It is also necessary to tell him that it is shameful for a great state to continue serf slavery, where people can be sold like livestock!”
        “Well spoken! But who will listen to you? They will only kill you!…
        “And you still do not have the strength to rule countries and to advise the rulers how to properly conduct matters of the state!”
        “And what? — is there such a force?”
        “There is… But it is used only rarely, when they use it for good…
        “It is good when God protects one from personal might, which one cannot yet comprehend and endure!
        “Understand, God gives to everyone the strength to live and make good decisions — and that is good! But if one’s strength exceeds one’s understanding, then great troubles can come from that: with the person individually, and for others nearby!
        “I’ll tell you a little story, and then you should think for yourself!
        “There was once a very ancient time, when for the Magi, who possessed great strength and skills, it became necessary to decide: what to do so that their knowledge would not be lost in the darkness of ignorance…
        “I told you already before that some of them, the wise among them, went to the forest, and began to live secretly, and then that knowledge was passed on to the worthy righteous successors and keepers — from generation to generation…
        “But there were also those who decided to share some particles of their knowledge and skills to at least some of the outsiders. They accepted the beliefs of the new rulers ‘for appearance’s sake’ only, and tried to include scraps of their knowledge into the new rites and rules…
        “Some of them possessed great strength of the soul… And where there is power — a multitude of temptations appear in using it.
        “Ingenious are the temptations to the pride of man! There are many dangers, from which the purity of the perception of the Divine can be very easily lost!
        “For example, some of them accepted the new faith only ‘for show’ — as if to preserve the lives of their people and their valuable knowledge… But that lie — entered into their lives!… And, that lie imperceptibly enslaved such souls even further: here — people distort the truth — as is for the benefit of the other people, there — they add a little fiction to the truth…
        “Carrying on in this way — some of them became dishonest altogether…
        “And they justified it by saying that they are doing it for the good of people and to save the lives of many…
        “Others among them were tempted by earthly riches…
        “And some even made pompousness predominant in the religious management…
        “Some — wanted to win in the battles of ‘our’ people over the ‘strange’ people…
        “It happens that it’s easy for souls with great power to achieve what they want… And the result is often sad… The unclean minds of such persons distort the understanding of the Truth!
        “Even the Revelations perceived from God — can start to be falsified by a selfish mind, and such a person can even ‘attach to God’ his or her own opinions…
        “Usually a person, blinded by pride or vanity, does not notice this process happening to him or her. Imperceptibly so — lies and truths get entangled!… And one, who is a great and strong soul, rarely has doubts in oneself! Too sure this one is — in his or her own ‘rightness’!
        “That’s how a leader among people turns out to become a person, who does not doubt that God acts through him or her… And such a person convinces everyone of this…
        “From the greatly increased self and pride, one is very near to falling into rudeness, hatred, and tyranny!…
        “White magic and black magic — what differences do they have? What do you think? Are the goals of white magic good, while the goals of black magic are sort of like evil? And who will distinguish the border between them? Are you starting to understand what I’m getting at?”
        “Yes, but how to understand? How not to be mistaken? Should one not at all touch the knowledge about the Power of the Divine? Should one not use that knowledge?
        “In Orthodoxy, this is called a temptation or seduction, that is, the machinations of the devil… And they are afraid of all the fears of such temptations! For such a soul, they consider it a perdition — with eternal burning in hell as punishment!
        “Even the thought of admitting that God can be heard and seen — the priests are now afraid of… If one has developed in oneself the ability to see and hear such visions and voices — then this one is ‘from the impure one’!…
        “But Jesus showed the Might of God! And He did miracles for people — for them to believe Him! And it was obvious to them that this Might is from God!”
        “Yes, this was the Mission of Jesus… However, not all people had recognized Him then. There were many doubters wondering: is He from God?
        “But look: Jesus, indeed, had the Power — to avoid the death on the cross, to punish the executioners in front of all those people… What do you think: why did He not do this?”
        “In fulfillment of the prophecies… And in order to show the power of love and faith…
        “And also — He showed the greatness of forgiveness to those who persecuted Him and killed His body.
        “And the miracle of the Resurrection — without the death of His body — would not have been revealed!”
        “Yes, that’s right! Jesus showed much to people — both Love, and Humility, and Power!
        “But what is now going on with His Teachings all over the Earth?!
        “There is still much that you, Alexey, have to know — in union of the soul with God! Do not rush! And then — both Wisdom and Power will prevail!
        “And it can’t be yours — this power! It is God’s!
        “Also — it’s not easy: to live when all the people around you are like children to you!
        “For me, only our community members are like relatives! And the rest of people — I’m just now learning to love them with God’s Love. And you — as you have decided it — are: ‘The Orthodox priest of all Russia!’… I’m kidding, of course! But how much responsibility such love imposes — you still have to understand!
        “You are now learning to weigh every step, every word, and every action! You have already become a not so small soul! And your every thought, emotion, decision, and action — not only leaves a little mark in the space of the universe and dissipates after. But you can already significantly influence many events and fates connected in a certain chain… Take responsibility for this! Act as if with your every word and deed you could give life! Do so, so as not to be ashamed — both before people and before God!”

*  A boyar is a high-ranking member of the old aristocracy of Russia.
       
Chapter Three:
The Healing of Rodion

        Soon Alexey was accepted into the community by the common consent of everyone.
        He was now trying to help each of his newly acquired brothers and sisters in whatever way that he could.
        One day, one of the people living in the community, Rodion, became deeply troubled.
        He had come to the community only three years ago.
        In the past, he was an Old Believer, a “schismatic”, who managed to escape from his executioners. He, dying in the forest from exhaustion and wounds, had been found by the community members who were patrolling the surrounding area.
        He was saved from death, but only partially healed. Rodion was allowed to stay in the community, because he had nowhere else to go. But he still had not become an accepted member of the community. And his health was severely impaired and did not recover.
        Alexey decided to try to help him.
        This was not his first attempt in healing other people.
        He had already previously tried to apply those new healing skills, which by that time had already been taught to him by Rada, when he spent part of his time in his hermitage and sometimes visited people living in the village.
        Although it was only a small amount of experience, it was nevertheless successful and inspired Alexey.
        So, Alexey decided to try to help. He saw suffering, both spiritual and physical, in Rodion. This was not something that Alexey could pass by indifferently!
        That day, Rodion was particularly bad. He was sitting on a rock near a spring, gathering the strength to get up.
        Alexey brought water to his house… He went inside and helped groaning Rodion to lie down.
        Alexey asked him if there was anything else that he could help him with.
        And there was so much sadness and pain in Rodion’s eyes that Alexey sat next to him on the edge of the bed and began to listen to his bitter words:
        “But how can I be helped?… It seems that I do not have long to live in this world! My body, after those tortures, will not be able to be healed… My end is near…
        “God does not give me a happy life in this community, although I had dreamed and hoped that I would accept this new life with this new faith, and be able to see and understand God…
        “Maybe I’m sinning because I left my old faith, what do you think?
        “Do you not doubt that maybe you also made a mistake, by rejecting the faith in which you were baptized?”
        "But I did not renounce my faith! I believed in Jesus — and now I also believe in Him! And now, I do not just believe, but I see Him, I hear Him, and I try to learn the great Wisdom and Love from Him! The Advice on how to live, on how to behave — I can now ask from Him. Is this a renunciation? On the contrary, much of my knowledge has now been added to my old belief. And my faith has been strengthened! My understanding has expanded!”
        “And what? Is there no doubt in you at all?”
        “Of course, there is… Only I do not doubt in my faith, but only in the correctness of my understanding. And — in whether the knowledge is learned and applied correctly… Such doubts are needed to make fewer mistakes!”
        “But I have no rest in the soul! Sometimes, I remember my wife, and my children who were killed… My Pauline — decided to keep the old faith! The children who were born to us — were called ‘illegitimate’… And I remember their killers — up to this day!… And our ‘friends’… Out of fear for their own lives and the lives of their families, they betrayed me and sent me to a trial ‘as an instigator of mutiny’… I cannot forgive them!… There was not even a thought in me about a ‘mutiny’!
        “I understand intellectually that all of them should be forgiven… I should forgive and forget!… But I can’t!…
        “Perhaps it would have been better if I had accepted my death back then? Of what value is this present life of mine to me?!”
        “And do you often have such thoughts, Rodion?”
        “Yes, often… How can I not think this way? Here everyone in the community is healthy and happy… And I — out of some kind of mercy — am allowed to live here… I’m a stranger here! Although all of them have accepted me with kindness, and they are trying to help…”
        “And have you not thought that the cause is in you yourself?”
        “That’s what I’m telling you about…”
        “But you do not speak rightly, you do not think correctly!…
        “Rada taught me how to correctly guide thoughts and emotions when I want to heal my body or another’s body. Or — when one plans and builds a new life.
        “Understand: for the sake of approaching God and serving Him — it is worthwhile to live, if God prolongs your life!
        “Can you imagine if Rada were to hate her father’s killers every day and if she were to remember them every day?
        “The contact of her father with her often happens, although without a body. He is happy! And she is too! From the love, which is between them, — there is always joy! And not sadness!”
        “… But I do not know how to see my beloved ones, I can only mourn for them… And I cannot see Jesus… And I cannot heal my body… Though your Rada taught me that, and others also taught me…”
        “That’s what I’m trying to tell you about!
        “I used to say prayers when healing someone, but at the very bottom of my heart I did not believe that it would happen…
        “And Rada taught me that during healing, one needs to see and feel the bodies of oneself and of the one who is to be healed as completely healthy, as it will turn out. And then — one needs to unite the strength of the soul with the Power of God — and send It to the body, so that the recovery can become a reality!
        “In this case, the faith, knowledge, and strength of the soul and God’s Providence — must unite into one! Only then the transformation and healing happen! If you still have thoughts in your mind about the impossibility of this and about the vainness of your efforts, then they stand up, like a stone wall blocking the way. How can you heal your body, if you yourself often think that it cannot happen, and that it would be better for you to die? You only briefly try sometimes to light the body with a healing Light, to rid yourself of infirmity and suffering…”
        “But how else can I do this? I myself cannot even imagine myself healthy… There they all are able to heal, but they could not cure me completely… How can I do it myself?”
        “Do you want me to try? Right now!”
        “Do you want my body, which was crippled by torture, suddenly to be free from pain and infirmity? Even Blagoslav could not do it, and you — can?”
        “God endows the person, who is ready to serve Him, with the Great Power! If you accept God’s help now without a doubt — you will be well! If He wills it.”
        … A clear confidence and a certain radiant joy came from Alexey. Thus, Rodion — with surprise and trepidation — agreed.

* * *
        It worked!
        At some point, it seemed to Alexey that there was not enough strength, and the Stream of Divine Power had weakened… But Alexey put all his faith, all his love, as if sweeping away all the obstacles preventing the healing…
        It was a miracle for Alexey himself, and for the one who was healed…
        … Alexey left Rodion’s house, staggering from the sudden fatigue… He hardly reached his hut.
        Rada had seen him and asked worriedly:
        “Are you all right? What has happened to you?”
        Alexey wanted to answer that everything was fine, but suddenly his eyes darkened and he fainted.
        … He woke up in bed.
        Rada sat next to him and her gentle fingers touched Alexey’s face.
        “Why did you do it?!… Do you think that here, in the community, everyone is so indifferent? Or that no one can heal, except you?
        “Be quiet, lie still! I see that you did not think so!…
        “Every disease has a reason. For any healing — its time should come…
        “Do you understand that you, on yourself, on your body, have taken everything that Rodion should have undergone for understanding and full recovering?”
        “Please, do not heal me yourself now! I’ll manage… If I’m the one who is to blame, then answer me…”
        From the words of Alexey, Rada even had tears…
        She hugged him, pressed herself gently to him, and kissed him…
        “Don’t be afraid for me, my dear, my beloved! Forgive me for scolding! I was very scared for you!
        “Now I will teach you how you will need to be treated. And I will only help very slightly… And about me — do not worry: it does not hurt me!
        “Do you remember how I showed you the Atmic Force, Which is perceived, as if in a deep well, filled with shining Whiteness? And I showed you then how to awaken this Light and let It into the body.
        “Then I explained how this Atmic Force helps in the meditations of Mergence with God — for It is the Reserve, Which is accumulated in man precisely for the mastery of life in the Divine world.
        “This Divine Power can be used for healing: for your own healing, and for healing others. See: I now help you a little to awaken It and to let It into the body.”
        Alexey saw by the soul very clearly everything that was happening and was aware of everything.
        The blissful state of dissolution in Transparency… Then — the Strong Stream of the shining Light from the special Repository began to rise up…
        As if through a thick glow of transparent light — Alexey heard Rada’s voice:
        “Now fill with this fluid Light every corner in your body, including your hands and feet. And it is also necessary to wash everything in the head with this Stream, so that through the body — as if through an empty shell — this Light can be poured through and can pour out behind the head.
        “You now think by the soul, and therefore the Divine understanding about many things can come to you. You — just try to let it all happen…
        “Feel how much God loves you! Let everything, which is separate from God inside of you, merge and dissolve completely with the Divine Light…
        “If you suddenly need something — then I’m here, just call me…

* * *
        The next day, Blagoslav went to see the recovering Alexey.
        Alexey tried to stand up to meet the guest.
        Blagoslav stopped him:
        “Lie still! You need to restore your strength!…”
        “I’m almost healthy!… Rada gives me healing broths and helps me as if I were a small child!”
        “Well, fine!”
        Blagoslav involuntarily smiled affectionately, then tried to take a severe look, as if trying to hide a smile in his snow-white mustache and beard. But such a formidable look did not happen on that day, although he came as if to instruct Alexey to be more careful when he heals people.
        Blagoslav was filled with some special reverent tenderness for this man, who — by the Will of God — so surprisingly had entered both his life and the life of their entire community.
        Afterwards, Blagoslav looked at Alexey in a special way: not with the eyes of the body, but with clairvoyance, checking the state of the energies in Alexey’s body:
        “All right, everything is fine already,” — he summed up the result.
        After a pause, he added:
        “You scared Rada!… And I, it must be said, was surprised!
        “Understand, Alexey: you must not heal people without asking God, without analyzing their fates! You already heard about this more than once, and understood it when listening! And now — what have you done?!
        “The fact that you take the pain on yourself — it’s not so bad… But the second half — well, you can damage that soul if you do this without the necessary transformation of that soul!
        “It is wrong to interfere into the fates of people without God’s blessing! And when you undertake this work, then it is necessary to do it together with God and with deep understanding and responsibility, but not just because of the desire to help the sufferer at any cost!
        “The souls, which live in bodies, are very different! Some still only begin to learn thinking and understanding, others — are even completely unreasonable and even the simplest knowledge is not feasible for them yet, and it even is not necessary for them! There are only a few souls who have already accumulated strength and wisdom.”
        “So, was it not for Rodion’s benefit that it was done?”
        “No: it was for the good! You have managed to heal both the body and the soul!
        “God turns everything around you into something good, He creates wonders through you! This is what I am now amazed by! But just do not think that it will be always this way again, if wisdom is not added to you through these events!
        “And with Rodion — everything is alright! He asked about you more than once: worried that, because of him, you’re sick!…
        “Yes… The power in you is no longer little!… And God helps you in a way that not everyone has experienced!
        “Diseases — are not given in vain! And they are not always punishments!
        “And now you have understood a lot, I hope.
        “Often, people, who became great healers, became as such because of great diseases in their own bodies, from which they sought salvation. And sometimes — it is through illness — that God explains to man what is now to be realized.
        “Sometimes it happens that in order to help a person, one needs to see the past lives of this soul, to understand: why his or her fate has been made as such?”
        “Rada told me about the fact that souls are incarnated many times in bodies and live more than one earthly life. Only I do not know how to see this…
        “And why is it not mentioned in the Bible, in the Gospels? Why is this?”
        “In different earthly religions, there is usually only a partial reflection of the Truth. In some — the reincarnation of souls into new bodies is mentioned, in others — there are some right words about the Divine Consciousness, but there are no other important words. Usually, in specific religions, there is also present that which people have brought into it themselves — the rites and beliefs from their own understanding, and often — from their own self-interests. There is also that which the priests removed from their religious books — according to their understanding: as incomprehensible or unhelpful for establishing a cult.”
        “And why do people not remember that they lived on the Earth before? It would be easier to repent and heal — if one knew what was sinning before…”
        “Only an adult and a wise soul is able to understand and repent!
        “People can recall their past lives only when they are ready for these kinds of memories. When anything from this memory is necessary to the soul, God can show fragments of those earthly lives.
        “But children or souls that are still young and weak — cannot bear such knowledge!
        “Imagine how life would become a nightmare for a person who is not strong enough yet as a soul, who rushed to the good — but would suddenly remember that he or she committed grave crimes in a past life… This is not endurable for the soul which has not become strong in the good! Such memories can damage the mind!
        “But everything in the universe is organized by God wisely and for the good…
        “Difficulties in the fate of a soul are often a remedy for the evil committed in the past. They can be manifested, for example, in diseases of the body as early as the moment of birth…
        “And the memory of great achievements in past lives can also not be useful to the soul, for it can provoke both pride and vanity.
        “See also that those qualities, which the person has already cultivated before in himself or herself, — they will always be in him or her!
        “There is some kind of special repository for all the most valuable energy that the soul has accumulated over many lives in bodies. This shining Stream, by Which you have now healed your body, is the Treasure that God had saved for you in your many incarnations. This is the Secret Divine Subtlety in man. In India, this Energy is called Kundalini. This Force was accumulated for you — just so that you could feel yourself as One with the Divine Primordial Consciousness. You have experienced it many times in the past in brief moments — and so the soul gradually learned to be Divine! Now you can do it completely consciously! The time has come!”
        And then Blagoslav told Alexey much about the possibilities of interaction with this Divine Force, which can be learned in the future. They also talked about how to ask God concerning the causes of illnesses and look into the past of each soul — to help intelligently, wisely, and effectively.

* * *
        Rodion, once again came to ask about Alexey’s health — and met Blagoslav, who was leaving the hut.
        Rodion said embarrassedly and guiltily:
        “How is he? I did not want that… He himself suggested it…”
        “Do not worry, Rodion! No one blames you!….”
        “But how is it that I am well, while Alexey…?”
        “It’s okay, he will get better! He is already almost healed!”
        “I had never before seen someone like him before… I did not even know that there are such people…”
        “And now, Rodion, I also learn from Alexey… I thought a lot how to help you, and I could not understand it! But he has seen — and helped!… I speak not about bodily healing! But he has brought you back to the positive life!”
        “Yes… I understand this… For me, Blagoslav, maybe, it is not fated to grow up to your wisdom and skills… But I know now what I should live for! I will try to become like Alexey! Then, maybe, he will not have cured me in vain!”


Chapter Four:
Joint Meditation

        One of the traditions of the community was to conduct joint meditations.
        That day at dawn, everyone gathered in a clearing.
        All of this was new for Alexey. And that’s why it was especially interesting for him to participate in both it and in everything else, which Rada had told him a bit about before.
        Blagoslav went out to the people in a new white shirt. With an earthly bow, he bowed to all sides of the world.
        He stood for a while without a word, while a kind of transparent silence seemed to gather around him.
        It was especially wonderful for Alexey to see how Blagoslav himself changed, when he conducted this meditation for all. From a person endowed with great personal power and a lot of knowledge, he turned for a time — into only an individual broadcasting from God. Everything personal disappeared in him, it dissolved — and a passage was opened for the Divine Words and the Flows of the non-material Light-Fire. He — by himself — opened the expanses of the Divine worlds: it was as if the gates had been opened into other layers of the universe!
        Alexey was already used to those Manifestations of the Great Divine Souls, having male or female Forms, Who were the Incorporeal Participants of what was happening. Old Slavic Divine Teachers gradually became as easily perceivable for him, as Jesus.
        At first, Rada, when teaching Alexey, tried to use the familiar names for him for the Divine Manifestations, — but later, both she and Blagoslav told him a lot about the ancient Knowledge, preserved for thousands of years, and about many Divine Souls.
        The understanding that the same Divine Messengers could be called differently by people of different countries and that throughout the history of the Earth there were many of such Messengers for different nations — was no longer stunning for Alexey.
        … Blagoslav was beautiful, standing in front of the people and broadcasting from God!
        His speech was flowing fluently! From the great Depths, where the Mergence occurred, the words were raised which filled the listeners with deep peace and a sense of oneness with everything. These words… — were merely just sounding with the help of the material body of Blagoslav.
        The former sometimes stern old man disappeared without a trace: his face, his eyes, his whole body were now shining with a special Light, visible only to the sight of the souls, but felt by everyone, even by those who had not yet reached the fullness of clairvoyance.
        He spoke from God, not from himself, and all the souls that were present, listened to him — in a special silence and with great reverence.
        He was the open passage for the Flow of Divine Power, Love, and Wisdom.
        Blagoslav smoothly led everyone into a common meditation, in which the consciousnesses of the community members were connected with the Divine Light in the Depths, which was accessible to each of them.
        It was as if a powerful and smooth river of Light flowed. And which everyone entered according to the level at which each one was capable. And this Stream of Light allowed those, who were already ready for more, to flow into the Ocean of Divine Unity and dissolve in It.
        By performing the meditation together, the perception of each soul during the meditation was able to increase with particular strength and brightness.
        Living God was evident to all, He filled their bodies, and permeated all the space around with Himself.
        The passage into the Divine world, which was revealed by Blagoslav, was brightly shining in the space of the universe — and through this passage it was easy to plunge into the Divine Subtlety and Shining Light.
        Even those, who were not yet very great souls, experienced the greatest Bliss from contact with the Divine Consciousness — the Majestic, All-Powerful, and Almighty — which, at the same time, is kind and gentle, called Rod Initial or Svarog in the Slavic language…
        The love and unity of the Divine Souls and the souls, striving for Divinity, — were so beautiful! Through such joint meditation, everyone present could advance in one’s own development, gaining the experience of being in Divinely refined states.
        … When the meditation was over, the state of the great transparent silence of the space was preserved for a long time…
        … The community members gradually left the clearing.
        Alexey still tried not to lose the amazing feeling of the soul, which had thrown off the “earthly fetters”. It seemed to him now that this state was so near and dear…
        He sat at the edge of the clearing, leaning his back against a tree trunk.

* * *
        Suddenly, he recalled that he had experienced something similar to this unity of souls among ascetics in joint meditation before… But when?
        The images surfaced as if by themselves, and Alexey became as real a participant in them as he sometimes was in dreams. But it was not a dream…
        … He saw himself in one of the communities of the first Christians. It was him, but, at the same time, not quite him…
        Alexey moved into another time and space; the present material world around him disappeared from his perception entirely.
        The one, who Alexey now was, participated in the meeting of that Christian community.
        He felt like a mature, slender man with a surprisingly clear gaze.
        The congregation was being addressed by the head of the community, who was preaching the Teachings of Jesus.
        The Divine Lights embraced the speaker and all of his listeners. The Light was flowing through his body. This Light filled the spiritual hearts of the listeners and helped facilitate the union of souls in the one Heart of Christ
        How immensely each such soul rejoiced from contact with this Great Divine Light! How much they all were filled with the happiness from the sheer sensation of the Presence of God in their bodies and everywhere around!
        Alexey felt himself as a slightly different person, but, nevertheless, it was he himself…
        He was there as one of those Christians who loved Jesus and who aspired to live according to His Teachings!
        Everyone else was also illuminated by this inspired aspiration.
        … The pictures of that time period came to life: the people, their dwellings…
        They wore modest, clean clothes, and their way of life could be described as meager and poor. But it was not so at all! Their life was complete: full of food for souls and of the desire to live with Christ in every spiritual heart! It was a spiritual fulfillment which made their life so happy!
        There were men, women, and children in the community, and they were all like one family to each other, although they were not physically related.
        … After the speech of the head of the community, the people, in turn, repented to all the community members of their wrong thoughts or actions, which they themselves considered unworthy. Everything that they noticed as evil in themselves, was revealed so that it could be eliminated. Sometimes they asked for forgiveness for such actions and thoughts which most people would not even consider sinful. They all tried to reach such crystal purity and honesty before God and before each other!
        And everyone, who listened to the confessor, was looking inside of oneself for even little traces of the same vice that could have caused such a sin, and he or she aspired to cleanse oneself of such a possibility.
        How sincerely they all loved each other! How much he loved them all! How strongly they aspired to the acquisition of life in the Kingdom of Heaven!
        … And then he saw soldiers with spears and swords…
        He heard the cry: “Romans!”
        There was no panic. The people did not defend themselves. They were ready to die — following their beloved Christ…
        But when the warriors became rude, driving everyone like a herd of cattle and tying them up, some children began to cry, and several women succumbed to fear and began to scream.
        The head of the community began to speak, trying to reason with the attackers and calm his own people. And he was immediately killed.
        That man, who was felt by Alexey as himself, rushed to cover with his body the lash of a whip to a woman, who was pressing a baby to her breast. He tried to say something to stop the attackers, but his body was pierced by the tip of a spear of one of the riders.
        … He saw his bloody body from above… Then he lovingly thought about Jesus — and saw Jesus stretching out His Hands for an Embrace…

* * *
        Alexey returned to the reality of the present day: “What was that? Was that reality? Was it really me? But how is this possible?”
        Blagoslav came up to him:
        “Well, now do you know how you lived in a different body before?”
        “Is it possible to see the past like that?”
        “Yes… You are now aware of this!
        “The ability of the human soul to comprehend and cognize — is very large. You can see your past, the past of another person, and the past of whole countries, and peoples…
        “But you do not need to get too involved in developing these abilities right now. It’s enough that you have cognized the real possibility of this. When it will be needed, God will show you everything that is necessary. Now you know this already from your own experience — and this is enough for now!
        “Always — in eternity and infinity — people should seek the One Divine Origin, the Primordial Consciousness! You should devote your efforts towards this. It is the ability to be in Unity with It, having dissolved the self-separation in It!”


Chapter Five:
The Living Earth
       
        One day, Rada told Alexey:
        “Now I must show you the Earth!”
        “What does it mean, ‘to show the Earth’? Explain!…”
        Rada laughed:
        “Well, not these pieces of soil that we are accustomed to feeling under our feet and which we call ‘earth’ — but, rather, the Mother Earth!… I must show you the beauty and greatness of this Earth of ours!
        “My father taught me this when I was a girl. It is very important not only to understand this with the mind, but to see this with the soul!
        “Get ready! We will have to climb a little higher in the mountains — and live there.”
        … It was a special trip!
        They walked lightly. Rada easily provided their need for food. And it was delicious and nutritious, and there was always plenty! She deftly, like a little boy, could climb a cedar and pick up cones full of nuts. Or she could collect plants with edible leaves or roots. And also — mushrooms, which as if ‘ran out to meet her’!…
        “How do you find all this? It’s as if you are not even looking for it, but you know where everything has grown!”
        “Of course, I know a little: such as what grows best in certain places. But, more than that, God knows: what is best for us to eat today as a meal. So, I’m collecting these little gifts of His!”
        … Rada smiled tenderly and continued:
        “But more important are His Higher Spiritual Gifts: which He reveals before us today!”

* * *
         Over the course of many trips, gradually expanding the horizons of Alexey, Rada explained and showed him the new levels of cognition, the new layers of knowledge about the universe, in which they were walking as bodies and living as souls.
        They gradually walked up the mountains, stopping at the places, which were chosen by Rada as particularly convenient for the perception of Alexey of what she told.
        They again and again admired the beauty of the majestic expanses that were opening before them. And every time Alexey was filled with the feeling that his love for all this beauty and for the greatness of nature — was becoming more and more extensive!
        … That morning, they got up before dawn and were walking in a light predawn fog. The forest around them had receded — and they came to a gentle ledge, which, like an island, rose over the white sea of fog.
        The fog covered everything below — like a fluffy white blanket. Only some of the tops of the trees came out of it — like little islands…
        And then… — the sun began to rise, coloring everything in golden-pink shades! How marvelous was the beauty of the Divine Creation!
        “Try to feel and then fill with yourself-soul all the space which is seen by the eyes!
        “And further — that which is not visible to the eyes!
        “It is important now to see with the vision of the soul how large our Earth is, although only a small part of its surface is opened before the sight of the body!
        “Look: the immensity of these spaces — is now filled with our love: the love of ourselves-souls!
        “And a loving soul can easily cross the boundaries of the material world — and sail into the expanse of the Divine Light!
        “Now — with a loving spiritual heart — cognize that our Mother Earth is alive! Every person is her son or daughter. And not only people, but all beings, living on its surface, are the children of both Mother Earth and God-the-Father! They — gave us the opportunity to be born and to develop here: in this wonderful and beautiful created world!
        “And we are connected with the Earth in much the same way as, for example, trees.
        “But trees feel this always, because their roots do not let them forget about it.
        “People also have their ‘roots’. But these ‘roots’, which connect us with the Earth, can be seen only by the soul, not by the bodily eyes.
        “And a person can learn to feel both them, and also — the Heart of the Earth, which consists, of course, of the subtlest Divine Fire!
        “In this way, we are connected to the Earth!
        “At present, only very few people understand how tightly we, who live here, are connected to our Mother Earth herself — the living and feeling great Soul!
        “It only seems that every person exists by oneself… No: people have an influence on the Earth — and the Earth responds accordingly.
        “In the past, very many people worshiped Mother Earth. Perhaps, that worship was naive… But its essence was true: it was love-gratitude to the Earth!
        “And now — it is very important for you to realize the same thing!”
        … The rising sun warmed the air, the fog gradually dissipated, and the dew evaporated.
        They had breakfast, and then Rada suggested:
        “Lie down here now! This is a very good place! Here it is easy to feel that we are lying on the surface of the Earth only with our bodies, and that these bodies of ours are only tiny particles of the whole Creation… And — that the love of Mother Earth is in the Depths!”
        … Alexey lay down — and easily sank into that Light. It was so amazing: to be in the Sea of Light, Which was under their bodies and seemed to have no borders! And it was easy to merge with this Light!
        Rada continued:
        “Moreover: the Earth has, as it were, its own spiritual heart. This heart consists of the Divine Fire! It is in the center.
        “You can connect with this Heart of the Earth! You can immerse yourself in that Shining Love of the Heart of the Earth by the ‘root’ that goes from the spiritual heart inside the body — into the Depths!
        “This is a special center, the Fire Core of the Earth!
        “It is namely through this Center that one can easily penetrate into the Sea of Divine Fire of our Creator — far beyond the Earth.
        “And then — we can ascend into the world of human bodies, being in Unity with this Divine Fire.
        “This is exactly what our Divine Teachers do. They can manifest Themselves to people, who live on the Earth, for example, in the form of not high shining Appearances, in order to be visible for the worshipers… And They can also be much larger — like huge Mountains of Light Which rise over and above the Earth.
        “Feel that the human soul, filled with love for God, is like a little temple. But the Earth is the great temple. And the Undying Fire in the Heart of Mother Earth burns in the altar of this temple!
        “The Heart of the Earth belongs to everyone who has cognized it…
        “Feel the Heart of the Earth — as your own heart!
        “In this way, the Love of God for everything in the Creation — gradually also becomes your Love!”
        … Rada for a long time let Alexey experience all this.
        When everything personal, the “individual” disappeared in this Dissolution, she continued:
        “And now try to rise — from those Depths — as the Fiery Love of God!”
        … Alexey realized that he was now allowed — from the boundlessness of the Creator’s Love — to bring the Light and Love into the world of the Creation, like a Ray from the Great Sun.
        A huge shining Appearance with Alexey’s Face and Hands, caressing all the living, rose to the sky. At the same time, His continuity with the Great Source of the Light-Fire was preserved. This was Its Ray, Which never breaks.
        This Source is the Creator!
       

Chapter Six:
Freedom from the Body

        When Rada and Alexey were already on their way back, one more significant event happened.
        They walked along the river bank, since only along the riverbed was there a slightly noticeable path.
        Alexey asked:
        “Why can’t I remain in that Oneness with God, which a few hours ago seemed unshakable and forever achieved?”
        “Do not be upset, it’s natural! The soul is gradually overcoming its path to Divinity! For you — it is happening very quickly, you do not even realize yet, how quickly it is!”
        … Suddenly, around the turn, three strangers appeared.
        These three men, it seemed, were frightened that they were noticed, and this made them very aggressive.
        Alexey began to think that this encounter does not bode well. For a few seconds, he tensed internally, searching for a way how he could protect Rada in the event of an attack by these people.
        But Rada, on the contrary, seemed to start filling the space with a soft, gentle, and dense calm.
        She took Alexey by the hand. Her calm filled Alexey with the confidence that everything would end in peace.
        Rada bowed to the strangers with an earthly bow.
        Alexey followed suit.
        She continued to envelop the space with caress and calm.
        She said a greeting:
        “Peace to you, good people! Health to you and good fortune!”
        … The strangers stopped in hesitation.
        “And to you, then — peace too! We are miners, we got a little lost,” — one of them answered for the three.
        Alexey examined these people more attentively. They looked like runaway convicts: unwashed, in tattered clothes, with traces of beatings. What they said of themselves was clearly not true…
        But Rada listened calmly and benevolently to those words. Then she drew a map in the sand using a twig, showing: how the river flows, where the paths and the roads are, and where the outposts are — everything was told in detail. She also explained to them which landmarks to go to, if they wanted to be unseen.
        “If you go here, and then walk for three days — you will find a hunting lodge. The people, who are there, always leave a small supply of food and clothing. And further to the north — there are places which are untrodden and wild.
        “Maybe you’ll find some ores there…”
        … Then she tore off some meadowsweet leaves and gave it to the one who listened most confidently, and said:
        “These leaves — treat wounds, and remove inflammations. You should brew them — and drink them for three days. They can also be applied to wounds: and the wounds will then heal faster!”
        “But in what do we make the decoction?”
        … Rada opened their canvas bag and took out the clay pot, in which she had cooked food with Alexey, and gave it to them.
        “If you put it on hot coals, but not on a hot flame, — then it will last a long time, and it will not burst!”
        … They then parted ways…
        The strangers disappeared from sight…

* * *
        After a while, Rada said, as if apologizing:
        “I was in disarray: I did not notice their approach…
        “They are not robbers! They are miners! They have run from the mine. From the Demidovs’* or from a government factory… The labor there is worse than the hard labor of servitude. Did you notice that ore was absorbed into their skin — and that it can never be washed out? They hide themselves from everyone…
        “They could have killed us, of course. These people are waiting for only evil and misfortune from everything and from all around!
        “And they were almost ready to pour the power of themselves-souls — into hatred!…
        “But they still did not want to enter onto the path of evil.
        “So I tried — to use peace… It seems, it was successful.”
        “Yes… You are great in this! You can understand everything about every person at first sight!”
        “It’s because I’m looking with the soul together with God. Then — the other person is as if seen in all completeness, with all the bad and good that is in him or her.”
        “But I can only do this sometimes: when I clearly perceive God in myself.
        “But today…
        “I have never had fear for my life.
        “But now — I’m afraid for you! Not that I’m afraid, but that for a few moments a fear began to arise that I could not protect you. How to deal with this?”
        “It’s not easy! That is why, probably, people had invented monasticism, so as not to be bound by bonds with other people. And many of the Magi in earlier times in Russia did not form families, so that personal things could not interfere with the Divine in them.
        “But I would not like to give up everything that I have with you now… How long we will be together with bodies on the Earth — only God knows! But this love of ours — it is for the good! I know it! I feel it in my heart!
        “And we should not be afraid for our bodies! We must do everything that depends on us to protect our beloved ones. But, if we cannot, then we must be able to accept the death of bodies: both our own and of those whom we love with our hearts.
        “It is not simple! I thought about this a lot. I looked at my grandfather and saw, how sad he was about my father’s departure…, although he knew that papa was now in the world of God!
        “I thought much about you and myself: how to behave, if not I, but you, that is, your body, were to be threatened by death, and I could not prevent it…
        “For this reason, apparently, these people met us: so that we would talk about this…
        “Yes, the freedom of the soul from a living body is possible! This is the great Freedom in the Mergence of the human soul — with God! You’ve experienced it more than once, you know this Great Glory! But it’s possible to learn living in this Unity always and to not lose it, even if danger threatens the body!
        “If it is necessary, you can simply leave the body…, of course, if God will allow it, and — to enter the Unity with the Divine world forever!”
        … Rada was silent for a long time, then continued:
        “Now I’ll show you one exercise that my grandfather already taught me. It allows one to gradually change the state of that part of the soul, which is firmly connected with the body from birth. In this way, you can gradually remove the ‘lower human nature’, for which the fear of the body’s safety, hunger, thirst, and much more — are necessary for the body to survive in this world.
        “In order not to lose the Unity with God in different situations, a person, who has already learned the Unification with the Divine world, can learn to completely subordinate the body and mind — to the unified will of the soul and the Will of God, which are in indissoluble Mergence.”
        … They went out into an open space, from which the river, meadows, and the forest were seen far away…
        “You are now looking at these beautiful expanses. Choose something noticeable in the distance.
        “Now see how the power of attention directs the awareness of yourself-soul — through the eyes of the body. It’s like an invisible transparent part of you rushes to where you intentionally have fixed your eyes.
        “And now do the opposite — send the look of the soul into those Depths of Light, which have been cognized by you in recent days…
        “Feel: how little the body is, and how, on the other hand, the Divine world is great, unlimited, and filled with the feeling of Love and Unity! Feel the complete dissolution, the disappearance of the isolation of oneself-soul in the Creator of everything! Let there be only the Oneness with Him, only He!
         “In Him, the eternal life is! In Him, the Freedom, Joy, and Bliss are! In Him — it becomes clear that the soul and God are One!
        “And now many times follow the path that the soul makes when the attention is shifted back and forth between the dense world and the Divine world. In the body, a clear passage is revealed — from one world to the other. Spill over through it, not connecting with the body, but just passing through it!
        “Then you can learn to ‘flow’ through all the important energy centers in the body, and in any direction in relation to the body. It cannot be accomplished immediately, but gradually…
        “The vast expanse of Divine Love — is everywhere: upwards from the body, and downwards, and in all other directions!”
        … It was very interesting for the perception of Alexey! He — as a soul — “floated” through the body, remaining free from it…
        … Rada continued:
        “Yes, you do it correctly! It’s necessary to rise from the Depths, without ‘condensing’, without leaving the subtlety of the Divine Love!
        “Feel that, when there is no more of the ‘former you’ in the body, then God can look through your eyes and shed His Divine Love-Tenderness through the realm of your spiritual heart — into this visible world, and also — that He can pass the Light-Power through your material hands…
        “It needs to be mastered! Then — it will be possible to have a body, through which God can manifest Himself in all fullness, when it is necessary to Him.
        “My grandfather told me that, if one manages to learn all this, one — as a soul — can leave the body, so that the body, for example, does not feel pain… And if the body needs to die: that is, if the time has come — then you can, without pain and without fear, leave it, like unnecessary clothes, and never return to it…
        “You must know that if it is necessary, I will be able to do this, and no torturers on the Earth can prevent it!
        “Like this, my father left the body — and entered the Divine Unity.
        “Now, I also have to teach you that! Then it will be easier to pass those tests, without which — in the life on the Earth — usually one does not live.
        “Yes…, now it seems easy to me… But if I were in a prison cell or before the executioners… — I’m not so sure if it will be… It would be nice if neither you nor I have to go through this…
        “But something else is important! Behind all the hardships and sufferings of this world, there is — on the other side of the world of matter — the Great Rest, the Calm of God, His Eternal Bliss, and the Unity with the Creative Power!
        “And you and I already know that!
        “And yet — from such a Mergence, the Divine Co-Creation is possible. So —you will write the book, so that, through it, God can say what people need to know now!
        “So — in this Great Mergence — we — as souls — can always be together, even if our bodies are separated…”
        … Rada suddenly stopped, as if she saw something in the distance.
        Alexey embraced her caringly and gently, as if trying to protect her from any misfortune by that new state of himself-soul that he had cognized.
        “Did you see something?”
        “No, it seems… I talked about a separation — and have scared myself…”

*  The Demidovs’ were a prominent Russian noble family who made their money from metal products. (The note of the corrector of the English translation).
 
Chapter Seven:
Religious Rituals
       
        Alexey began the work on the book “On the Arrangement of the Religious Life of the Russian State”.
        It was progressing easily. The words came as if by themselves, and the lines were smoothly falling onto the paper. Everything that he had understood over the course of the many years of his spiritual search, was now coming to fruition.
        With each passing day, the work progressed. For example, Alexey wrote down the following thoughts:
        “Every human being is endowed — by God — with free will! And no one has the right to force one’s faith upon others! There should be no oppression and, even more importantly, no killing of others, who worship God in other ways — by people who have their own beliefs.
        People should not be forbidden to worship and praise God as their fathers and grandfathers did, if those people desire this. Such prohibitions are as absurd as forbidding people to speak their native languages — instead of teaching them to speak in that different language, which is also understandable to others, who live side by side, and which would help in mutual understanding and agreement.
        And the understanding should be universally inculcated that it is One God, the Creator of all things, Who is worshiped by all, who are sincere in their love and reverence to Him, regardless of by what name or names they call Him.
        This knowledge, when cleverly preached, will gradually reduce contradictions and enmity between communities of people with different beliefs and different religious rites. It can bring peace and harmony in spiritual arrangement and in living side by side — for all people of the Russian state.
        There should be a limit only on those cults that are harmful to the health and lives of people — of both the believers themselves, and of those who believe otherwise.
        The killing of people or causing them other kinds of harm because of their beliefs is unacceptable! This should be stopped — so that enmity and hatred, strengthened in the memory of generations, do not multiply.
        It must be understood by all people through spiritual education.
        There is only one God — the Father and the Ancestor of all. This understanding, assimilated from childhood years, will facilitate the education of the new generations of people, for whom hatred to dissenters will be disgusting and unacceptable.
        If at present, the people, who come from other states, are allowed to profess their own faith and serve the glory of the Russian state — then why not share this kind-hearted attitude with the people who were born in Russia?”

* * *
        Sometimes Alexey went to Blagoslav with his questions. He asked how to make the deep knowledge clearer to many people:
        “Why are there rituals in all existing religions?
        “Why do these rites sometimes substitute Living God?
        “Is it possible to live spiritually without ceremonies at all?”
        … Blagoslav was silent for a couple of minutes before replying. Then he spoke, demonstrating that he had thought much about the harmonious arrangement of the religious life of all people:
        “Rituals are not always evil… Rituals usually arise from the aspiration of Those, Who have already attained, to convey Their understanding to those who do not yet see, hear, and sense God.
        “The rites, in most cases, come from attempts to convey to the multitude of young souls the state of redirecting the attention from the dense world — to the Divine World.
        “Unfortunately, the spiritual essence of such ceremonies is usually not kept for long by people…
        “The rite of the sacrament is an example for you: if people have communion, that is, they took on symbolically the Blood and Body of Christ — that means they had become parts of the Whole. And therefore, after this ceremony, the One Blood of Jesus must be felt by everyone in themselves. Then they all must perceive themselves and each other — as brothers and sisters in Christ.
        “In particular, one cannot raise an arm to the other person: because there is in that person the Divine Flesh and the Holy Blood
        “And, if in the person himself or herself there is now a Particle of Christ, how then can this one have sinful thoughts or do unrighteous actions?
        “I want to show you through these examples how the memory of a ritual that has been performed should help one to live with God all the time!
        “But for many, is it so right now? How many people understand this rite? What do you think?
        “Or, here is another example: many nations worship fire, they commit all sorts of fire ceremonial acts — but they not only do not see the Divine Fire but even do not remember about It!
        “Although, in fact, by even just contemplating for a long time the flame of an ordinary fire, one can calm one’s mind and even cleanse the body’s energy a bit…
        “You yourself understand how easily rituals lose their intended meaning!
        “Sometimes you cannot even guess, what meaning these rituals should carry!
        “Rites would not be harmful if the intentions of those, who perform them, were pure. And — if the hearts of God’s worshipers were open!
        “But symbols always lose their meaning very quickly…
        “And always very soon there come greedy people who want to extract benefit from such rites and obtain power over others.
        “Thus, those rites, which exist with a substitution of the meaning, arose…
        “For example, instead of eradicating the ‘animality’ in themselves, people began to ‘bring to God’ bloody sacrifices, that is, innocent animals…
        “And priests, who have lost God, always find ways to take advantage of the sincere worship of people — and begin to ‘accept’ those ‘victims’… They use those ‘sacrifices’ for themselves, saying: ‘After all, we are servants of the cult!’…
        “A rite can replace the communion of the soul with God! Herein lies the sadness: a symbolic action with a lost meaning — displaces the purposeful transformation of the soul!
        “I could give a lot of such examples… But another one is more significant…
        “Man can speak with God, even when standing before an icon, if he or she means the Living God behind that symbol!
        “And sometimes the Divine Souls can even adopt those visions, to which people worship — with all their hearts, but they are not ready yet for more. Those Souls answer in symbols, understandable to each such human soul, — to their appeals and prayers…
        “So, for someone — the icon seems to become alive!… For another person — other images become visible by the soul. By them God wants to render help to a person in order to support the right efforts or to keep him or her from making mistakes.
        “That is why people, while only just approaching the perception of the Divine World, sometimes have visions of the images, to which they worship.
        “And if the aspiration of others is directed at the impersonal Aspect of the Divine, then they do not see images, but perceive immersion in the Light and dissolution of oneself in It.
        “All this exists at the disposal of those Souls, Who — from the subtlest worlds — manifest to worshipers what is most tangible easily perceivable for them, in order to guide such souls along the path of cognition.”
        “But there are demons, and they, too, can take different forms…”
        “Yes, evil and strong souls may take different forms. They feed on people’s energies of fear or arrogance. The low attracts the low…
        “This fear of demons and devils sometimes becomes the main tool of the priests to control the crowd of blindly believing young embodied souls.”
        “But people should know that infernal creatures exist…”
        “Yes, they exist. And it is important to understand this.
        “But the only weapon that protects human souls is the love for God!
        “The state of pure love defends one from the beings of hell and makes the soul unattainable for their touches!
        “And any intensified attention, directed to evil, and also the arising mystical fear — turn souls into ‘tasty sacrifices’ for demons and other entities, which are attracted and are nourished by the emotions of fear, hatred, or complacency…
        “It is necessary for people to understand that God never wished for people the sickness and suffering, He did not devise hellish torments… People themselves create those states for themselves and for others! People doom themselves to sufferings!
        “But even by suffering, God can help in cleansing the body and soul — and get rid of torment!
        “It is very important to understand that God does not punish people! God wishes happiness for people! The Great Parent — like any kind earthly parents — desires only the good for His children, helps to get rid of the bad qualities in souls, and heals them from errors and vices!”
        “And how to explain, where does evil come from? People used to think that it comes from Satan. And both evil and hell — they really do exist!”
        “It’s as if you have not seen evil?”
        “I have seen it…”
        “Hell is that evil, which is carried in themselves by embodied souls and is sent from them towards other beings. Then, such souls, when they are without bodies, are the inhabitants of immaterial hell, which is the world of darkness and suffering. They multiply this world by themselves.
        “By combining the manifestations of evil in a single image, people created myths about ‘the chief of all the forces of darkness’ and called him by different names… But God has no ‘enemy’, who could be equal to Him in strength and skills, and whose intrigues allegedly seduce people and make them bad!
        “There are souls that have many disgusting qualities. They are in opposition to the Divine Principles of Love, Harmony, and Beauty.
        “Evil has homes and places for growth — in souls burdened with vices. Such souls can be very big — and then such carriers of hatred and anger can be called devils.
        “The pleasure from causing harm to others — can be obtained by only perverted and deviant souls. They do not know about the real happiness from giving their love, from making others happy! But they immeasurably crave satisfaction only for themselves. It is namely this insanity, this spiritual blindness, and this raging of low passions — that are the causes of hell, in which such souls are immersing themselves by their thoughts, actions, emotions, and aspirations.
        “So the souls build their destinies — both in their present life in bodies and in the life after the death of their bodies. They remain the captives of those states, in which they lived during the past life in the body.
        “Then, in order to redeem themselves by understanding and transforming the evil in themselves — into goodness, the hellish souls again get the opportunity to come to the material world…
        “The evil in this world is inevitable: otherwise people, who understand the perniciousness of hatred and fear, meanness and deceit, — would not strive for freedom and purity, joy and love! And the Heroes of Good would not grow!
        “Try to explain all this for people — at least in part — with simple and clear words!
        “The main thing is that love for the Creator and approaching Him — casts out fear! A strong faith-aspiration defeats doubts! And the life’s spiritual experience gradually turns faith — into knowledge!
        “But every soul does not quickly grow up and gain wisdom.
        “For example, even images and symbols from meditations can turn into just mechanically repeatable actions…
        “I myself, even in our community, saw how easily it is possible: to turn the right meditation into a kind of rite, which is habitually performed by a person only because everyone around does this…
        “Now, in your meditations, you can see all the stages of how a soul, before entering the Mergence with the Creator, makes efforts which bring him or her closer to the Creator.
        “If one loses — behind patterned actions — that love-aspiration, reverence, and tenderness, which allow one to approach the Divine and to enter Mergence with the Primordial, — then very soon meditations can become… too similar to rituals!
        “Only when people have already grown as souls, and when they love God with all their hearts — only then, will they not get off the Path, substituting the desire for Mergence with the Creator — with just ordinary actions!
         “Yes… how different are the souls that live on the Earth in bodies! And there are only a few of them, who, like you, can quickly perceive all the knowledge! For this, the soul must grow up, mature, grow in wisdom, and develop in oneself the aspiration to God — as the Main Goal in life!
        “Little children turn everything — into games…
        “There can be also games of adult (by their bodies) people — for them, it would be useful to strengthen the memory about God and recall rectitude.
        “And also there may be harmful games, perverted by priests…
        “You, Alexey, have great strength of the soul. For more than just one life, you have been striving to God! You had more than just some techniques and skills that would allow you to acquire the complete purity of perception, clarity of understanding, and the fullness of Mergence with Him!
        “But for the young souls, which are less ready, — all of this will be incomparably more difficult. And they cannot overcome all of this during one life, even if you tell them everything that you know now!
        “Do not think that any person in a short time can be taught everything that you so easily and quickly mastered! A young embodied soul cannot quickly reject the ‘earthly’ in itself and soar to the Divine, just by simply desiring this!
        “Look: this is a forest nut… If you try to remove the shell of the young nut in order to more quickly ripen it — it will not work! While the nucleolus is not ripe — the shell and the ripening fruit are still fused. Only then, when the time has come and the nut is ripe, — can you remove the dense shell and extract the nucleolus.
        “Or — if you crack an egg, which has just been laid by a bird, then there will not be a chick in it…
        “And a chick cannot fly up until its wings have become fully fledged and have grown stronger!
        “But the sequence of meditative techniques and even correctly understood rites can facilitate the spiritual Path and speed up the progress…
        “Remember all this — to bring the help to people!”
        … Alexey, carefully considering and weighing every word, continued to write down how spiritual leaders should help people.
       

Chapter Eight:
Parting
       
        Once, Blagoslav said to Alexey:
        “We must leave this place. The surroundings are now uncomfortable. I have begun to feel danger. It is necessary to go to Siberia, far beyond the Ural Mountains. It will be calmer there: easier to hide…
        “In the last year, I have sent three of our people to look at that region. They have found good secretive places. We will wait till winter is over here, and go in the spring…”

* * *
        Soon after this conversation, Alexey visited the county town. He bought papers for his manuscript and a few other small things that the community members had asked for their needs. He also brought with him some alarming news:
        Several military detachments are moving from their places from the south. Having completed the suppression of the Bashkir popular uprising, they must now accompany the voivode and the church clerks who will seek out and register the “dissenters” throughout the district. There is such a requirement: to conduct a census of all the Old Believers in order to tax them with a double tax… The former decree, the so-called “12 Articles of Tsarevna Sophia” about how to punish “dissidents”, was abolished. Instead, new decrees were prescribed which were, sort of, softer. But all, who do not obey, — will be punished with death and other punishments. And how all of this will actually be implemented, it is not clear yet…
        It is also said that they will be looking for a community here. A denunciation was written that the “heretics” have taken refuge here. This place was pointed out by some man. He heard that there was a community situated here. He had a conversation with a man and a woman from that community. And that man seduced him into “heresy”…
        … Alexey told all of this to Blagoslav.
        “I have found out about this… And I was not informed of the details, of course.”
        … Blagoslav said with a pain in his voice:
        “This is that danger which I had been feeling now for a long time…
        “Now we must leave — without waiting for spring!
        “Now we will gather the council, and you must tell everyone what you know!”
        … At the council of the community, Alexey suggested:
        “If our houses are found, even if they are empty, then they will seek and pursue us. I think that I will show them the place where the community of Old Believers was burned several years ago. They will believe me. Maybe then the trouble will pass…”
        Blagoslav shook his head:
        “It is necessary to leave anyway!… Better — now! They may not believe you…”
        … At the council of the community, everyone decided to leave…
        Later, Blagoslav asked Alexey:
        “Will you leave with us now?”
        “I think that I need to try to stop those who are looking for our community… I will try to ward off the danger from all of you: so that they do not pursue you. I will have such an opportunity. And after that — I will catch up with you…”
        … He paused for a moment, then said:
        “However, maybe, — quite after…
        “This madness of hatred to other faiths must be stopped! If I do not make up my mind, then I’ll regret this for my whole life!
        “I’ll finish the book! There is only a little bit left! I’ll go to the new capital, and I’ll try to meet with the tsar! I will say what I think about the spiritual reforms, which are necessary! I will give him the manuscript!…
        “And then — God will decide what happens next…
        “If I’m alive, I’ll find all of you! Rada has already taught me how it’s possible to find any place on the Earth, where the beloved people are…
        “Do you bless this plan?”
        … Blagoslav was silent… He was silent for a long time… He listened to God…
        Then he spoke very slowly and quietly, but the words sounded somehow special, as if many of the Highest Souls in the universe listened to him:
        “I myself would tell you: ‘No, come with us! You cannot correct anything in this world! Only you yourself will perish, and will make Rada unhappy!…’
        “But my will must not be executed now, it’s not for me to decide!
        “The possibility that you will be able to change the course of the history of the Russian state — is very little. But it’s possible…
        “There are such key moments when the deeds and decisions of individuals can guide events into a new direction for centuries…
        “It’s like forks in the roads of countries, even of whole civilizations…
        “At such moments, very much depends on the choices and actions of specific people!
        “God usually does not make decisions instead of people. Therefore, the people receive the kinds of governments, of which they are deserving.
        “But sometimes the Divine Messengers change the course of Earth’s history a bit…
        “You are not a Messiah: you did not master everything which we could teach you.
        “And yet, from you and from what you want to try to accomplish, much can be changed in this country. And I have no right to dissuade you…
        “You decide!
        “What Rada and I should do is not to force you to a decision, but let you realize your choice — according to how your heart will tell you and how you will understand God!
        “I hope that you will return to us, to Rada… But I will not build illusions.
        “I will await you! All of us will wait for you and try to help you to the extent that is it is possible for us to do at a distance as souls.
        “If there is an opportunity to change the living conditions, in which the new generations of people, coming to the Earth, will be born and brought up, — it is worth trying!
        “Just remember that each person, whether performing ordinary earthly works or even special feats, must oneself, first of all, become a Divine Soul! No matter how much you talk about it to others, nor how many books you read, nor how many manuscripts you write — the result of this life is weighed in the World of God as follows: ‘Have you already come in — or have you not entered yet?’. If It has been reached — then the Main Feat of life here on the Earth has been accomplished! Do not forget about this, trying to help all people!”

* * *
        Later, Alexey spoke with Rada:
        “Darling! I had thought that I would still have more time to be with you, time to learn, to become stronger, and wiser…
        “I did not know that everything would end so soon!…
        “Will you forgive me? Will you allow me to go? I cannot do otherwise!”
        … Rada silently looked at Alexey. Her love was greater than the sadness of having to be separated by bodies… Her love was so strong that she gave the freedom to her beloved…

* * *
        The community went over the Ural Mountains, to Siberia…
        Blagoslav calmly and confidently led the people.
        During the night, Rada sat next to him near the fire, snuggled up to her grandpa, and said quietly:
        “I will have a child, a son. I know that there will be a son — the son of me and Alexey…
        “I did not tell him…
        “It would have been very difficult for him to cope with the choice, if he knew about that…
        “Grandpa, you know how to see the future! Tell me: will he return?”
        “It’s impossible now to determine this… This will depend on how the future is now being created by many people…
        “And you have contributed your part: you have released him — the most beloved person!…”
        “But what if I let him go to his death?”
        “It may happen so… Both you and I know this… We also know that without bodies, life — for us — continues in the Light of Love of the Divine Existence…
        “We also know how difficult it is sometimes to live far away from the beloved, even though we are already entering the Divine world…
        “Such trials are given to us not as punishment, but to make us stronger and wiser…
        “What is the meaning of life for us now? And how to sum it up? Did we, having left this world, become Particles of the World of Divine Love?
        “To become One with God — one needs to learn to love as God loves! To love — with Him, from Him!
        “It is necessary to let go of a small love — in order to become the Great Love! It is necessary to reach — and to become the Divine Sun, Whose rays shine to this world. And to also become — the Heart, which is merged with the Primordial!
        “Our help to those, who follow, is to be poured, like the light from the Sun, at every moment of such life — both while we are in bodies, and after, when we no longer have bodies.
        “And those, who turn away from darkness, receive that help — and they turn their eyes of the souls to God. They then begin to see the Light and gradually rush to the Creator — with all their being, with their whole lives!”


Chapter Nine:
Road to the Capital
       
        Alexey returned to the hermitage, where he had lived before with the elder Nicholas, and continued to work on the book.
        To be aware of everything that will happen in the district, he asked Tikhon, the son of Efimia, to gather and tell him all the news.
        Tikhon went in and, with bated breath, watched spellbound as smooth lines appeared under the pen of Alexey on paper.
        When the voivode, church clerks, and troops arrived, Alexey managed to convince those who were to make the decision that the denunciation was based on old rumors: the informer just wanted, apparently, to curry favor and told about the long-gone cases… Alexey showed the place where the Old Believers’ camp was burned formerly. The soldiers, exhausted by the long military campaign during the suppression of the Bashkirs’ uprisings, were now glad at the opportunity of not having to hunt for heretics in the forests and swamps for many miles around.
        Everything turned out all right.
        Now Alexey was comfortable about the community members.

* * *
        The book was easy to write. Sometimes Jesus was present in the cell, filling Alexey’s heart with Himself and directing Alexey’s thoughts.
        Sometimes Alexey brightly felt Blagoslav, and perceived his new wise advice about having patience and caution when choosing which words to use.
        And Rada… Alexey was struck by how she could almost always be calmly and affectionately nearby, filling the space with transparent tenderness.
        He told her his thoughts and dreams…
        Rada, even without being near with her body, continued to help in the further development of meditations on the Mergence with God.
        Alexey learned how to stay as long as possible in those states when the soul, opened for God, could perceive God’s Will. He studied that God’s Love could easily flow through his material body — so that the intellectual process would be filled with God’s Providence.
        To live in the unity of the mind with God — this had previously seemed like a great miracle to Alexey, when the elder Nicholas had explained to him about this state of the soul. And now… — it was a reality! Even though he could not always live like this, he was still able to do it at least partly!
        Now Dunyasha and Timothy often visited him.
        Looking at the work of Alexey, they asked him to teach them to read and write.
        Alexey taught them — and saw how an enthusiastic desire to learn — can quickly transform children.
        Soon his work on the book was completed.
        Snow began to fall, and everything frosted over… It was time to go.

* * *
        At first, Alexey traveled with passing convoys carrying iron, copper, and salt. There were also cannons and rifles in the convoys… The continuing war required more and more weapons, and the new industry factories in the Urals now multiplied, and grew stronger and larger.
        Endless expanses, thick forests, poor villages, dirty county towns, small churches, and rich monasteries…
        Gradually the inns became more crowded.
        Alexey now traveled by post-chaise, which was much faster.
        He had money for the road. This was taken care of by Blagoslav. He had insisted on this and allocated to Alexey money from the community. In this, Blagoslav was, as always, reasonable and practical; he did not listen to Alexey’s refusals.

* * *
        Alexey recalled, as if summing up the events in his life, how everything had changed since the time when he had been expelled from Moscow.
        He also recalled how, in his youth, he had dreamed that he would one day be able to accomplish what he had just decided. He smiled now, thinking of that former young dreamer…
        Alexey thought about how to get an appointment with Tsar Peter, how to talk to him. He tried to recall some influential relatives or acquaintances of his late father. But this did not seem promising: it was unlikely that any of them would even recognize Alexey or that they would agree to present him to the sovereign.
        People said that the king was easy to handle, that he could talk with a non-ranking carpenter or blacksmith. But that sometimes, he may be quick-tempered and angry.
        It would be necessary to find out where he is in the new city under construction — so as to directly address him. There, it should be easier than in Moscow…
        After thinking about such things, Alexey again confidently plunged into the Divine Light — and there came a calm knowledge that everything is in God’s Hands! Alexey then — together with God — embraced the vast expanses with a hearty love! It was as if the whole space — from the remote Siberian taiga, where Rada and all the community members were now, all the way to the new northern capital of Russia — was now contained in the spiritual heart, connected with the Love and Peace of the Divine Depths.

* * *
        A violent blizzard began.
        The driver-coachman decided to wait out the bad weather at the inn.
        He went to unharness the horses.
        Alexey shook off the snow, went to the house, and entered. He wanted to ask the owner for a room for the night…
        But, it seemed, that the owner was busy with a new lodger…
        A richly dressed, large-built man in a disheveled but new European styled jacket, without a wig customary for that attire, was shaking the innkeeper, who was faintly trying to resist.
        “Do what you want to do — but find a doctor! Find one — wherever you can! Immediately!”
        “Your grace! Where will I find a physician? We are in the middle of a snowstorm and a blizzard! What doctor will come? There are no doctors here! They are in the city only!… There was once just a soothsayer who healed here, but she died last year! Only the barber pulls out teeth here… But, how to treat the daughter of your grace, he hardly knows: he was never taught!…”
        “She could die… Do something! Find a healer! If you will save her — I will load you with money, but if she dies — then you will suffer!”
        “But what can I do?”
        “Tell them to harness the horses, and send to seek a doctor!”
        … He forcibly shook the owner of the inn for the last time and then let him go. The owner could barely stand up. Not knowing what to do next, he looked around fearfully.
        The rich guest sat down, clasped his head in his hands and groaned. Tears welled up in his eyes.
        At that time, a boy of about eight ran out from the room, he was also in a rich modern outfit. He uttered in despair:
        “Dad, dad! Dasha is very bad, she’s dying! Dad, I’m afraid!…”
        … The boy approached his father and stopped in hesitation.
        Alexey felt that he could intervene and try to help.
        He touched the rich guest on his shoulder:
        “I have with me some medicinal herbs, and sometimes I helped people when there were ailments, and not just by prayers. If you permit, I’ll look at the sick one, maybe I can do something for her…”
        “Yes! Yes! Now! I beg of you, save her!”
        … Alexey entered the room, where, on the bed, a blond girl of about ten or slightly older was tossing in the heat and groaning…
        Alexey was quite able to cope with the girl’s illness. The Light and Power of God flowed confidently through the hands of his body, purifying and restoring her health.
        Her life was no longer in danger, her fever diminished, and the healed girl fell into a calm sleep.
        Now Alexey’s efforts were aimed at ensuring that everything that happened did not seem to be a miracle. He treated the recovering girl with infusions from the herbs collected by Rada, and talked about the important things, using simple words, which would help the soul to go through the purification that was necessary…
        Soon the girl was completely healthy.
        “God Himself had sent you!
        “The children were asked to look at our new house in St. Petersburg! I took them with me!… If it were not for you!… Now you must come with us, I will not accept a refusal!” — the count thanked Alexey.
        … Alexey agreed to go with the count and his children.
        The covered wagon had comfortable seats, was upholstered inside with velvet, and had nice horses… Everything was as if happening by itself, easing the way to the capital.
        On the way there, the count asked Alexey:
        “Were you, father Alexey, a parish priest? And for what reason are you going to the capital?”
        “No, I did not have a parish, I lived as a monk in a monastery, and learned from an elder, I was going to accept a schema*.
        “I have thought a lot about all of this. Here is my book written about the organization of the spiritual life in the country. I would now like to present it to Tsar Peter, so that it would be possible to implement good reforms.”
        … The count offered his help in order to introduce Alexey to the tsar.
        He told Alexey a lot about the mores at the court, about the innovations of Tsar Peter and about the powerful opposition to his reforms from many boyars and church ministers.
        On the way, Alexey spoke with the count’s children.
        The smart boy and gentle and affectionate girl were very interesting fellow travelers for Alexey.
        All this led him to thoughts about how important it is for children to be educated properly.
        Upon his arrival in the capital, the count hospitably offered Alexey a room in his house. He promised to arrange it so that in a short time the sovereign would receive and listen to Alexey.
        Alexey was given a room.
        He again plunged into the work on the manuscript, supplementing his work with a chapter on teaching children of different classes. He wrote inspirationally about the benefits that good education will bring to the prosperity of the country, if its children grew up receiving a good education and with the strength of rectitude in the souls.

*  A higher step of monkhood in the Orthodox Church.
        

Chapter Ten:
Meeting with the Tsar
       
        And so, Tsar Peter received Alexey:
        “What kind of favor have you come to ask?”
        “It is not about a favor… But, rather, about the justice and well-being of the people living in our country.”
        “Do you think I’m unfair?”
        “If I had thought so, would I have come to you, my lord?”
        … Alexey began to talk about the need for reforms in the spiritual life, about the cruelty and rigidity of certain rules, which should be eliminated. He spoke about the importance of change, and also that people, free from these kinds of restrictions, should make up the people of the renewed state. He said that freedom of religion should be established, because One God has power over all people.
        To much of what was said, Peter nodded in agreement. He especially liked what Alexey said about education, about teaching children of all classes.
        But when Alexey moved in more detail to the reforms of the church organization, Peter ceased listening and stopped him:
        “I have long thought that a reform is needed; a project was started by bishop Fyodor. He is an educated man, thinking sensibly. We will give him your manuscript. Soon he will return from Pskov. You will have to meet and explain everything to him.”
        Peter took the manuscript, inscribed his signature, and ordered the transfer of consideration for this project to bishop Fyodor.
        The conversation ended.

* * *
        The count with the children had to return to Siberia.
        Alexey wholeheartedly thanked him for his help and hospitality.
        He now moved to a hotel and waited for the meeting with bishop Fyodor.
        … But Alexey had an almost obsessive feeling that it was time for him to leave this place, and that he had already done everything possible…
        “But how can I leave without bringing the matter to an end? After all, the tsar himself instructed me to tell all the details about the reform of the church to bishop Fyodor!…”* 
        … And around, a dark, stuffy atmosphere was getting stronger. It was similar to the time when Alexey was about to be expelled from Moscow…
        … When four men armed with daggers entered the room, Alexey immediately understood everything.
        The massacre was so rapid that Alexey barely even felt the pain and easily left the body.
        One of the murderers said gloatingly over the bloody body:
        “Now these heretics have been dealt with!… One villain in Moscow was burned at the bonfire as a warning — but it did not help: in return — new ones are breeding!…
        “Since the tsar is merciful to them, then we ourselves will now have to do God’s Judgement!
        “They will not crush the faith! It will not work! We will destroy them all!”
        … And Alexey — in the solemn Radiance of the Divine Light — was accepted into the Embrace of All the Perfect Ones!
        For him, a new time began — the time of the Divine Life without a body.
* 
A few years later, in 1721, tsar Peter-the-First carried out significant reforms in the church life. The “Spiritual Regulations” was adopted, and the Synod was created.
But almost all the changes and innovations were aimed at reducing the influence of the church and subordinating it to the state, rather than on spiritual transformation.
The preparation and implementation of these reforms were carried out by the bishop, and later the archbishop, Fyodor.

       
Chapter Eleven:
The Departure of Blagoslav
       
        In the spring, the son of Rada and Alexey was born. He was named Eremey.
        Blagoslav was very happy about the birth of the boy! He understood how this would help Rada! He also saw what a wise and already adult soul was sent by God into this body!
        … Another year had passed.
        The community settled down at a new place.
        One day, Blagoslav invited Rada to have a talk.
        “It’s time for me to depart! Be silent! Do not interrupt! You see — my time has come!
        “Do not grieve, granddaughter! For everything has its time…
        “You have seen more than once that the sunset can be as beautiful as the sunrise… Dusk, too, can be just as beautiful as the dawn!
        “The ‘sunset’ of earthly human life can be beautiful too!…
        “You have been a joy to me all these years, you have been a hope and a consolation in the most difficult moments of my earthly life. You gave me also the happiness to know about the bright future: the Sun of my great-grandson, your son Eremey, will rise above the Earth!
        “Well, my granddaughter, you really do not need to cry!”
        “I’m not crying, grandpa!” — Rada brushed aside the tear and, smiling, embraced Blagoslav.
        “Well, that’s better! You know that the Sun of Svarog is inextinguishable! And it is my turn to replenish His Light with all the Light and Love that I cultivated in me.
        “Go, assemble the community! There will be a farewell!”
        Everyone gathered: young and old.
        Blagoslav bowed to the community members with a bow to the earth. For a long time, he hugged everyone by the silence of the great soul.
        Then he spoke:
        “It’s time for me to say goodbye. Today, I must leave you. I must leave this body and the burden of earthly cares, and also the responsibility for the whole community.
        “Forgive me if I have offended anyone, if I was unjust!
        “To replace me, I propose to elect Rada. Not because she’s my granddaughter… But only because the Divine Will is always open to her without concealment! The Wisdom of God — of Rod, Svarog the Most High — is always ready to be perceived by her, and there is no interference from her own desires or personal thoughts!
        “Do you want that?
        “Or is there someone else whom you want more — to lead the community now?”
        “Rada! We want it to be Rada!”
        “This is great… But she cannot cope with this responsibility without your support! Her son is still small, her child still needs a lot of care!
        “Will you accept her as she is? Will you help her? Next to her — strong and devoted people should stand up, only then can the community be a place of God’s Love on the Earth!”
        “We will help!”
        … Blagoslav bowed to everyone again, entered his hut and closed the door…

* * *
        Rada tried to go into meditation as deeply as possible, so as not to interfere with her grandfather. And — by her own presence — not to hold him here, but to meet him There!
        … She saw in the Light her father Radomir, and her great-grandfather, with Whom she also often spoke, Alexey, and many other acquaintances and unfamiliar Divine Teachers. Here — in the Divine world — They together joyfully greeted Blagoslav!
        … She, while staying There, on the other side, did not hurry to talk about all of this to the community members.
        Then she went out in front of people and said a few words about what she saw.
        

Chapter Twelve:
The Divine Heritage

        Earthly life continued…
        The new spring was at its zenith… Nature awakened, filling everything around with beauty and strength.
        But for Rada, this time was not easy: “How to carry on living, how to cope with the responsibility that I now have taken?”.
        Little Eremey sat on the floor and caught with his hands the rays of sunlight from the window…
        Suddenly, an ever-increasing Divine Light filled the space…
        Rada saw in this Light the Great Magi of Russia and many Teachers Who had come through the other spiritual traditions.
        There were a lot of Them. They were calm and beautiful — these Divine Men and Women. Some among Them were very young and others were gray-haired.
        They all were here for her — for Rada!
        They came to help her, and support her:
        “Do not be afraid of difficulties! Do not be afraid of the responsibility! What you are taking now is your work for God! It’s Our Common Deed, Our Common Heritage! This is the result of Our labors from Our many incarnate lives! We will help and continue to teach you, so that you will be able to help others even better!”
        … Rada was — in this Radiance of Love and Light — completely free and happy!
        Alexey approached, and embraced her with the Divine Tenderness and Affection.
        Then the Others also came up. Their Appearances began to grow, filling the space with the Great Power!
        Their Divine Bodies of Light were huge, like the Mountains. The Foundations of these Mountains were in the vast Depths, unattainable for ordinary human vision, and the peaks had Radiant Appearances with Faces and Hands.
        Rada was now standing among Them, also in a similar body made of Light. She was a little smaller, but still — one of Them!
        Alongside her, were Alexey, Radomir, Blagoslav, and many other Divine Souls, Whom Rada had already known. But there were Many Whom she had never seen before. They became bigger and bigger… It was like Waves of Light, rising from the One Primordial Ocean in the vast expanses around! They were the Peace, Majesty, Tenderness, Love, and Power!
        “Each of Us has Our own Work. Everyone fulfills One’s own Task, which is a part of the Divine Plan! Do you now accept your share of the Divine Labors?”
        “Yes.”
        “Will you not be shaken by the burdens of life in the world of matter, or from personal earthly desires, or from dangers that can threaten your body or of those whom you love?”
        “I will try not to…”
        “You will always live under Our Watch, in the Rays of Our Care!
        “So, take the Power of the Divine Love — and carry It into the world of incarnate people!”

* * *
        Rada’s body seemed lifeless, she herself was still There, in the Radiance of the Divine Light.
        … Little Eremey crawled on all fours and began to try to get to her breast, which was full of milk. It was time to feed the boy.
        Rada had to work hard to enter her earthly body again.
        She lifted her son in her arms and put him to her breast.
        Then she sang softly. And in this song, there was not even a shadow of sadness. The Joy, Light, beauty of the Earth, and Beauty of Divine Souls — all this sounded in unison. Little Eremey seemed to hover in this field of Light and Love.
        She sang to her son until he fell asleep in her hands.
        And — the Silence began to fall, in Which there were only God, His Peace, His Love, His Omnipotence, His Understanding, and His Wisdom… And all this was now in Her, Divine Rada!

Recommended Literature

        1.    Antonov V.V. (ed.) — God Speaks. Textbook of Religion. “Polus”, Saint Petersburg, 2002 (in Russian).
        2.    Antonov V.V. (ed.) — Spiritual Heart: Path to the Creator (Poems-Meditations and Revelations). “New Atlanteans”, Bancroft, 2007 (in Russian).
        3.    Antonov V.V. — The Bhagavad Gita with Commentaries. “New Atlanteans”, Bancroft, 2008.
        4.    Antonov V.V. (ed.) — Tao Te Ching. “New Atlanteans”, Bancroft, 2008.
        5.    Antonov V.V. — Spiritual Heart — Religion of Unity. “New Atlanteans”, Bancroft, 2008.
        6.    Antonov V.V. — How God Can Be Cognized. Autobiography of a Scientist Who Studied God. “New Atlanteans”, Bancroft, 2008.
        7.    Antonov V.V. (ed.) — How God Can Be Cognized. Book 2. Autobiographies of God’s Disciples. “New Atlanteans”, Bancroft, 2008.
        8.    Antonov V.V. — Sexology. “New Atlanteans”, Bancroft, 2008.
        9.    Antonov V.V. (ed.) — Forest Lectures on the Highest Yoga. “New Atlanteans”, Bancroft, 2008.
        10.    Antonov V.V. (ed.) — Spiritual Work with Children. “New Atlanteans”, Bancroft, 2008.
        11.    Antonov V.V. (ed.) — Classics of Spiritual Philosophy and the Present. “New Atlanteans”, Bancroft, 2008.
        12.    Antonov V.V. — Ecopsychology. “New Atlanteans”, Bancroft, 2008.
        13.    Antonov V.V. — The Original Teachings of Jesus Christ. “New Atlanteans”, Bancroft, 2013.
        14.    Antonov V.V. — Life for God. “New Atlanteans”, Bancroft, 2014.
        15.    Antonov V.V — Anatomy of God. “New Atlanteans”, Bancroft, 2014.
        16.    Antonov V.V — “Bubbles of Perception”. “New Atlanteans”, Bancroft, 2015.
        17.    Antonov V.V — God-Centrism. “New Atlanteans”, Bancroft, 2015.
        18.    Antonov V.V — Teachings of God. “New Atlanteans”, Bancroft, 2016.
        19.    Antonov V.V., Zubkova A.B. — Taoism. “New Atlanteans”, Bancroft, 2013.
        20.    Tatyana M. — On the Other Side of the Material World. “New Atlanteans”, Bancroft, 2012.
        21.    Teplyy A.B. (comp.) — Book of the Warrior of Spirit. “New Atlanteans”, Bancroft, 2008.
        22.    Zubkova A.B. — Story about Princess Nesmeyana and Ivan. “New Atlanteans”, Bancroft, 2007
        23.    Zubkova A.B. — Divine Parables. “New Atlanteans”, Bancroft, 2008.
        24.    Zubkova A.B. — Dialogues with Pythagoras. “New Atlanteans”, Bancroft, 2008.
        25.    Zubkova A.B. — Dobrynya. Bylinas. “New Atlanteans”, Bancroft, 2008.
        26.    Zubkova A.B. (comp.) — Book of the Born in the Light. Revelations of the Divine Atlanteans. “New Atlanteans”, Bancroft, 2008.
        27.    Zubkova A.B. — Parables of Lao Tse. “New Atlanteans”, Bancroft, 2011.
        28.    Zubkova A.B. — Parables about the Elder Zosima. “New Atlanteans”, Bancroft, 2013.
        29.    Zubkova A.B. — Story about Knyaz Dmitry and Volhva. “New Atlanteans”, Bancroft, 2013.
        30.    Zubkova A.B. — Divine Stories of Slavic Lands. “New Atlanteans”, Bancroft, 2013.
        31.    Zubkova A.B. — Sufi Parables. “New Atlanteans”, Bancroft, 2014.
        32.    Zubkova A.B. — Lessons of Pythagoras. “New Atlanteans”, Bancroft, 2016.
        33.    Zubkova A.B. — Fairy Tales of Kindness. “New Atlanteans”, Bancroft, 2016.
       
Video Films
       
        Antonov V.V. — Spiritual Heart. 70 min.
        Antonov V.V. — Sattva. 60 min.
        Antonov V.V. — Sattva of Mists. 75 min.
        Antonov V.V. — Sattva of Spring. 90 min.
        Antonov V.V. — Art to Be Happy. 42 min. (HD-video).
        Antonov V.V. — Practical Ecopsychology. 60 min. (HD-video).
        Antonov V.V. — Keys to Mysteries of Existence. Obtaining the Immortality. 38 min. (HD-video).
        Antonov V.V. — Bhakti Yoga. 47 min. (HD-video).
        Antonov V.V. — Kriya Yoga. 40 min. (HD-video).
        Antonov V.V. — Yoga of Krishna. 80 min. (HD-video).
        Antonov V.V. — Yoga of Buddhism. 135 min., two parts (HD-video).
        Antonov V.V. — Yoga of Taoists. 90 min., two parts (HD-video).
        Antonov V.V. — Psychical Self-Regulation. 112 min., two parts (HD-video).
        Antonov V.V. — Yoga of Sathya Sai Baba. 100 min. (HD-video).
        Antonov V.V. — Yoga of Sufies. 128 min., в 2-х частях (HD-video).
        Antonov V.V. — Yoga of Ancient Russians. 105 min., two parts (HD-video).
        Antonov V.V. — Yoga of Atlanteans. 82 min. (HD-video).
        Antonov V.V. — Yoga of Pythagoras. 75 min. (HD-video).
        Antonov V.V. — Laya Yoga. 48 min. (HD-video).
        Antonov V.V. — Kundalini Yoga. 45 min. (HD-video).
        Antonov V.V. — Yoga of Don Juan Matus and Other Native American Spiritual Chieftains. 147 min., two parts (HD-video).
        Antonov V.V. — Yoga of Jesus Christ. 128 min., two parts (HD-video).
        Antonov V.V. — Agni Yoga. 76 min. (HD-video).
        Antonov V.V. — Advaita Yoga. 47 min. (HD-video).
        Antonov V.V. — Ashtanga Yoga. 60 min. (HD-video).
        Smirnova Е.Yu. — Immersion into Harmony of Nature. Path to Paradise. (Slide-show). 90 min. (on CD или DVD).
       
Wildlife videos on www.ru.spiritual-art.info
       
        Zubkova А.B. — Harmony of a Morning.
        Zubkova А.B. — Family of Water Hens.
        Zubkova А.B. — Little Sparrows.
        Zubkova А.B. — Blackcock’s Display.
        Zubkova А.B. — Sattva of Ducks.
        Zubkova А.B. — Scaups.
        Zubkova А.B. — Lapwing’s Babies.
        Zubkova А.B. — Great-crested grebes.
        Zubkova А.B. — Gophers.
        Zubkova А.B. — God Has Created the Beauty Just for You!
        Zubkova А.B. — Joy of Winter Forest!
        Zubkova А.B. — Come to love!
       
        Other materials:
        www.new-ecopsychology.org
        www.path-to-tao.info
        www.swami-center.org
        www.spiritual-art.info
        www.encyclopedia-of-religion.org

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