Chapter 118

Why This Prayer is Necessary for Every Christian

...To anyone who has repented or begun to seek the Lord, one can and should at the very first time give full instruction in the practice of the Jesus Prayer, and thereby introduce them into all others, because by this path one can become established more quickly, can see spiritually more swiftly, and reach inner peace. Not knowing this, some, or rather most, stop at bodily and soulish practices and spend their labor and time almost in vain. (1, 244)

It seems a simple thing; but not knowing of it, one can labor hard — and bear little fruit. And this is by the nature of bodily activity. It is easier, so it attracts; interior practice is hard, so it repels... And it turns out that at first one will abandon the interior work, as if until maturity: the time will come, he thinks — but later, looking back, he finds that the time has passed and, instead of preparation, he has become wholly incapable of it. (1, 223)

And from what is the conscience troubled and discontented?.. You yourselves answer: from the fact that I do not remember God. — This is true: without the remembrance of God, without fear of God, without feeling toward God, the soul cannot be made content... If it is so, then now all care must be devoted to this. Prayer, which we have been discussing, is the straight path to this... The idea that it is not yet time for you to occupy yourself with prayer (the Jesus Prayer – Ed.) is false. All must pray with heart and mind. Any other prayer is not prayer. So labor, do not be lazy. (10, 173)

If you do not labor and do not sweat so that this fearful name is imprinted on your heart and mind, your silence is in vain, your singing is in vain, your fasting is in vain, your vigil is in vain. In a word, all the labor of a monk is nothing without such a practice, without remembrance of God. (20, 26)

...It is bad that some excuse themselves from it (from spiritual practice and the Jesus Prayer – Ed.). They themselves are the cause that their labor bears no fruit, — they sweat, but see no fruit, and then quickly cool off and all is over. (1, 246)

And let everyone, not only a monk but also a lay person, practice this prayer. It is not some high deed, but a simple one. And the Jesus Prayer in itself (alone) is not miraculous, but, like any other short prayer, is verbal and therefore external. But it can transition into noetic and heart prayer... (7, 193)