The Five Essentials of Spiritual Life
A guide for spiritual life recommended by Elder Teofil Părăian (d. 2009) from “Sâmbăta de Sus” Monastery in Romania:
Go to church on all Sundays and Feast days.
Begin and end your day with God: say your morning and evening prayers, and also the prayers before and after meals.
Read two chapters from the New Testament every day.
Guard your mind through the prayer that is to be said at all times: “Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, have mercy on me, a sinner.”
Fast on Wednesdays and Fridays and any other days ordained by the Church, as well as in the four lenten periods of the year.
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Guidance for a healthy life from Elder (now Saint) Arsenie Boca (d. 1989):
Oxygen - breathe as much clean air as possible.
Glycogen - have a rational and balanced diet; not too much, not too little.
Sleep - at least 6 hours of continuous sleep time every day.
Preserve your hormones - do not dissipate your conjugal energy; you can deteriorate your body by abusing and dissipating sexual energy.
Have a Christian outlook for your life - do not follow other life ideologies such as yoga, Zen Buddhism, etc.