Chapter 76
Errors in the Practice of the Jesus Prayer
76.2.1 May the mercy of God be with you!
76.3.1 I spoke about prayer as I did because people have made something unrecognizable out of the Jesus Prayer.[1] They think that as soon as someone begins to say this prayer, they’ve already done everything. For them, this prayer has become like some kind of incantation: say it, add to it those bodily postures that are mentioned elsewhere, and you’ll get everything.[2] And so they mumble away, while the heart remains empty, thoughts wander, even shameful impulses arise, and they don’t mind—as if all this is just how things are supposed to be.[3] Some experience a slight warmth, and they cry out: ‘There’s grace! There’s grace!’ And they don’t remember what the experienced say: watch out, a light warmth will come—don’t be amazed by it, it comes from nature, not from grace.
76.4.1 What do people seek through the Jesus Prayer? That a grace-filled fire would sink into the heart and unceasing prayer would begin—and that is how a grace-filled state is defined.[4] You should know that the Jesus Prayer, when a spark of God falls into the heart, fans it into flame; but the prayer itself does not give that spark—it only helps to receive it. How does it help? By gathering the thoughts into one and giving the soul the ability to stand before the Lord and walk in His presence. The main thing is standing and walking before God with a cry to Him from the heart. That’s how Maximus Kapsokalivis did it... So let all who seek the grace-filled fire do the same, and not worry about the words or bodily postures. God looks upon the heart.
76.5.1 I’m speaking against the fact that some people completely forget about crying out from the heart... All their care is about the words and bodily posture, and having recited a certain number of Jesus Prayers in this posture, with prostrations, they rest content with that, with a certain self-conceit and judging those who go to church for the common liturgical prayer. Some people live their whole lives this way, and remain empty of grace.
76.6.1 If someone were to ask me how I should conduct my prayer life? – I would tell him: learn to walk in the presence of God, or keep the remembrance of God and be reverent; to sustain this remembrance, choose several short little prayers or simply take the twenty-four little prayers of Chrysostom and repeat them often with corresponding thoughts and feelings. As you grow accustomed to it, your mind will be enlightened by the remembrance of God and your heart will be warmed. In this state, a spark of God will finally fall into your heart – a ray of grace. You can’t produce it by any means; it comes directly from God... Then you can remain with the Jesus Prayer alone and use it to fan the spark of prayer into a flame.
76.7.1 This is the straight path.
76.8.1 As for Fr. N, I have nothing to tell you.[5] Deal with him as God will give you understanding.
76.9.1 May the Lord bless you! Be saved![6]
76.10.1 Your well-wisher, Bishop Theophan.
76.11.1