Chapter 121

Prayer From the Heart Must Accompany the Bows

You have come to love bows... And well. But do not forget that prayer from the heart must accompany the bows: glorify God from the heart, give thanks from the heart, ask from the heart, with your own words — which is better — or with memorized words, only let there be heart everywhere.

As for prostrations—whether to do bows from the waist or full prostrations—what should I say? But you do well as you are: 10 bows from the waist and one full prostration. You may do them freely, sometimes from the waist, sometimes to the ground.

Prostrations are prostrations, but the main thing is a corrected life. A corrected life goes on with fear and trembling, never departing from the remembrance of God and accompanying every step. From this comes watchfulness. But above all else—zeal for salvation, strong and unsparing.

(Letter 908. Vol. 5, p. 184)