The Nature of Life and Teaching

We are, and we do not know it, for our life upon the earth is a shadow. for we must understand clearly the words 'for we are dust' For it is important to understand what is said about man, such as the many things said about David in the Scriptures, that he 'was a red-haired one with beauty of eyes' (Psalm 36:3). But this we hear not concerning the soul, but concerning the body. But when he himself says 'the indefinite things', 'and the hidden things of my heart you have made known to me', concerning the soul we understand this. And therefore the 'dust' we hear to be not according to the soul, but according to the human nature. Thus also it is joined: 'for our life upon the earth is a shadow.' Therefore he speaks concerning the life upon the earth, that it turns out to be a shadow.

And once since the memory of this word has occurred, it is necessary for us to discuss it. Therefore it is said, the shadow, in relation to a prototype, just as it has been said: 'for having a shadow, the law of the things about to come' (Hebrews 10:1). And a shadow is also the accompaniment, and the approach is often called a shadow, just as it has been said similarly: 'the Holy Spirit will come upon you and the power of the Most High will overshadow you' (Luke 1:35). And 'shadow-sketching' is also said to be an indistinct image of impression before the manifest writing; it is therefore possible to take the human life to be a shadow according to what is suitable and productive for discourse. And it is also possible to be contrasted against a prototype; for just as the present age exists as a shadow toward the life that is to come, existing as vanity. And this life can also be called a shadow-sketch, since here indeed knowledge is 'in part' (1 Cor 13:12), and perfection will be in the coming age. And it can also be viewed as shadows, since we say that even the shadow of the bodies is an accompaniment; and behold, is this not made manifest in: 'Vanity of vanities, all things are vanity' (Eccl 1:2)? For not simply are the creatures of God vanity, but...

Just as vanity exists in things that are temporary and quickly changing compared to the eternal heavenly things. Life signifies many things, namely this living or the way of life; it also signifies possession, as it is said: 'whoever has the life of the world and sees his brother in need' (1 John 3:17). And money is said to be life, as it is said: 'if a man gives his life in love, they will render him nothing.' Do not these teach you and also announce and bring words out from the heart?

Wishing to believe these things from the older traditions as being more successful in matters, whereas those in his time did not succeed. Once, since the discourse is about teachers, let us say that it is a great praise to the teacher, if—whether he learned from those before him, or read it himself, or learned from another—he sometimes himself establishes things not contrary, but in agreement. For just as no one would accept a land that gave back the sown seeds, so no one would accept, in his own land, only providing children and monks with what he heard, providing wonders, but rather, by producing other wonderful things through this, being able to bring forth what he learned through the power of tongue; for there are those unable to this, able to benefit only themselves and not others.

If you say that teaching and announcing can be different, consider how the one teaching brings proofs, while the one announcing contains a narrative of the clear things, from which the unclear things are known. That thoughts send out words from the heart, the Savior says from the opposite: 'for from the heart come out evil thoughts' (Matthew 15:19). And if you were to say that to bring words out means to transition into the works themselves, you would not be erring, as others hear from a parallel passage about bringing out and announcing. Does papyrus not flourish without water, or will a lotus be raised without drink? While still on the root, it will certainly not be harvested. Having said, that