The Monk’s Goal and End

He said: All the arts and sciences have some goal or mark, and an end or aim of their own. The diligent student of each art keeps his eye on it, and so endures all sorts of toils, dangers and losses cheerfully and calmly. The farmer, for example, shrinks neither from the scorching heat of the sun at one time nor from the frost and cold at another. He breaks up the earth tirelessly, and again and again puts the clods of his field under his plowshare, while he keeps his goal before him: by diligent labor to break it up as small as fine sand, to clear it of all briers, and to free it from all weeds. For he believes that in no other way can he gain his final end, which is to secure a good harvest and a large crop, on which he can either live free from care or add to his possessions. Again, when his barn is well stocked he is quite ready to empty it, and with unceasing labor to commit the seed to the crumbling furrow, thinking nothing of the present lessening of his stores in view of the future harvest.

Those engaged in trade, too, have no dread of the uncertainties and chances of the sea, and fear no risks, while an eager hope drives them on toward their aim of gain. And those who are fired with the ambition of military life look forward to their aim of honors and power, and take no notice of danger and destruction in their wanderings. They are not crushed by present losses and wars, while they are eager to obtain the end of some honor held out to them. Our profession too has its own goal and end, for which we undergo all sorts of toils not merely without weariness but actually with delight. Because of it, the lack of food in fasting is no hardship to us, and the weariness of our vigils becomes a delight. Reading and constant meditation on the Scriptures do not grow tiresome to us. And further, unceasing toil and self-denial and the lack of all things, and the horrors of this vast desert as well, hold no terrors for us. And no doubt it was for this that you yourselves despised the love of your relatives, scorned your homeland and the delights of this world, and passed through so many countries to come to us, plain and simple people as we are, living in this wretched state in the desert. And he said: So answer me, and tell me what the goal and end are that move you to endure all these things so cheerfully.