Seeking a Purer Christian Life: Sayings and Stories of the Desert Fathers and Mothers (Upper Room Spiritual Classics. Series 3)

I got this book, inspired by reading The Red Tent. Although it has writings about people who lived long after that wonderful book, the Desert Fathers and Mothers seem to be descendants of those depicted in the Old Testament. It starts off with the solitary Andrew (circa 241 - 356 AD), whose wisdom was sought by many ("Who will not lie after the commission of a sin, through the wish to escape notice? As we would not commit carnal sin while we are looking at one another, so if we record our thoughts as though about to tell them to one another, we shall more easily keep ourselves free from vile thoughts through shame. So let what we write take the place of the eyes of our fellow hermits. Then blushing as much as if we had been caught, we may never think of what is unseemly.)There is the story of Maria and Abraham, niece and uncle. An orphaned Maria grew up in the desert praying and learning Scripture, but was seduced by a monk. She fled to the city where she became a prostitute -- Abraham searched for her for two years, found her and -- well, you can read the story in the book.Also stories of the Two Wise Women (yes!), a monk named Maria, more stories on monks (Abbas) and chapters with advices on prayer, judging others and the goal of discipline. These read much like little stories, and remind me very much of stories told in Sufi Tales.Very good book in a very small package!