Monastic versus family life - St. Paisios

 One day St. Paisios  was asked: can monastic life be considered higher than family life? To which the elder answered with a short parable: 

“Suppose two people go on a pilgrimage. One goes along a well-groomed road, the other goes along the path. However, both marchers have the same goal. God rejoices over the first and admires the second. It will be bad only if the person walking along the path starts to condemn in his heart the one who is on the highway, or vice versa. Both paths are blessed, and if those who choose them live according to God, then both paths can lead to heaven.

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