My child, now will I teach thee the way of peace and true liberty.
O Lord, I beseech thee, do as thou sayest, for this is delightful for me to hear.
Be desirous, my child, to work for the welfare of another rather than seek thine own will.
Choose always to have less rather than more.
Seek always the lowest place, and to be inferior to everyone.
Wish always, and pray, that the will of God may be wholly fulfilled in thee.
Behold, such a one entereth within the borders of peace and rest.
O Lord, this short discourse of thine containeth within itself much perfection. It is little to be spoken, but full of meaning, and abundant in fruit. . . . Thou who canst do all things, and ever lovest the profiting of my soul, increase in me thy grace, that I may be able to fulfill thy words, and to work out mine own salvation.
Thomas à Kempis (c. 1380-1471) was a member of the Brethren of the Common Life, a lay monastic community in Holland. He is traditionally considered the author of “Of the Imitation of Christ.” This passage is published in Easwaran’s spiritual anthologies, “God Makes the Rivers to Flow” and “Timeless Wisdom.” The audio recording is by Eknath Easwaran.