Discourses of Dorotheos of Gaza

by Dorotheus of Gaza

First, it happens when a man is praying or spiritually resting and being as one might say, in a good state he suffers his brother and is not troubled. Again it may happen that he has a special devotion for the one who attacks him and for this cause he will endure without harm anything that that person does to him. Then there is the one who hates the one who wants to give him pain and hates what he does, and does not treat him as a man or give any meaning to what is said or done by him. I will tell you about an incident of this type which will amaze you. There was a brother dwelling in the monastery before I came there and I never saw him bothered. Even though many times I observed many of the brothers cursing him and treating him poorly. That younger one endured all that was done to him by all as if no one were bothering him. So I used to be amazed at his remarkable forbearance and desired to understand how he had obtained such virtue. Once I led him aside and gave him a deep bow and begged him to relate to me what thoughts were regularly in his heart, either when he was reviled or when he was mistreated by someone, that he could show such patience. He answered without shame, "Oh, I only have to look at them as trifles, and endure it as a man endures the barking of a dog." Having heard this I lowered my eyes and said within myself, "Has this brother discovered the way?" And crossing myself, I went away praying that God would guard both him and me.