Chapter 143

The Technique

From Symeon the New Theologian on the technical practice of noetic prayer... Bodily postures and methods are not the main thing — they are nothing more than aids. I will set these out separately here: sit in a solitary place, bow your head to your chest, restrict your breathing somewhat, and turn your bodily eyes also inward toward the place of the heart, and in this posture, gathering your mind into the heart, say: “Lord Jesus Christ, have mercy on me!”. (16, 180–181)