A friar of Mount Athos, named Simeon, answers in a simple and direct manner to some existential questions.

Let's see the interview.

Question: Who is the best teacher?
Answer: The suffering.

Q: Who is the worst teacher?
A: The pleasure

Q: What is the most precious and rare skill?
A: The ability to give.

Q: What is the best skill?
A: The ability to forgive.

Q: What is the most difficult skill?
A: The ability to keep quiet.

Q: What is the most important skill?
A: The ability to ask.

Q: What is the most necessary skill?
A: The ability to listen.

Q: What is the most dangerous fight?
A: The fanatic one.

Q: What is the worst habit?
A: The desire to quarrel.

Q: What is the most harmful habit?
A: Talk too much.

Q: Which is the strongest person?
A: The one that is able of understanding the Truth.

Q: What is the weakest person?
A: Anyone who feels stronger than the others.

Q: What is the smartest person?
A: The one that is able to identify and follow the intelligence of the heart.

Q: What is the most dangerous condition?
A: Attachment to the physical body.

Q: Who is the poorest person?
A: The one who loves money the most.

Q: Who is the person who is closest to God?
A: The merciful person.

Q: Who is the weakest person?
A: The one that subjugates others.

Q: Who is the strongest person?
A: The one who wins against himself.

Q: How can we struggle with everyday problems?
A: With joy.

Q: How can we fight against suffering?
A: With patience.

Q: What is the hallmark of a healthy soul?
A: Faith.

Q: What is the hallmark of a sick soul?
A: Despair.

Q: What is the hallmark of wrong actions?
A: Irritation.

Q: What is the hallmark of good deeds?
A: Peace of mind - inner tranquility.