Jesus Prayer

[Justin Kissel]

Let's discuss

[Justin Kissel]

Now it happened as He went to Jerusalem that He passed through the midst of Samaria and Galilee. Then as He entered a certain village, there met Him ten men who were lepers, who stood afar off. And they lifted up their voices and said, "Jesus, Master, have mercy on us!" So when He saw them, He said to them, "Go, show yourselves to the priests." And so it was that as they went, they were cleansed. And one of them, when he saw that he was healed, returned, and with a loud voice glorified God, and fell down on his face at His feet, giving Him thanks. And he was a Samaritan. So Jesus answered and said, "Were there not ten cleansed? But where are the nine? Were there not any found who returned to give glory to God except this foreigner?" And He said to him, "Arise, go your way. Your faith has made you well." - Lk. 17:11-19

I think that this story illustrates perfectly the normal (ie. normal for fallen man) reaction to God's grace. The Jesus prayer is just like any other effort of faith or ascetic virtue that we participate in. If we are unprepared for the experience, it will almost certainly have a negative effect on us. Over and over again, in the Scriptures and in Church history, we see this same pattern continuing on and on. It continues because it is simply the reaction that fallen man normally has to God's grace. If we try to approach the Jesus prayer with our guard down, we may very well experience trouble (though it may not be apparent to us at first, if at all). This is not to say that we should refrain from the Jesus prayer--for using this line of thinking we would have to refrain from all virtues, from faith to love to praying before a meal. I simply bring this up as a reminder that the human tendency--before our souls are cleansed--is to take God for granted, to grow conceited or apathetic, to become self-righteous and judgmental. Met. Hierotheos says that the Fathers taught that without tears and repetance, hesychia and the Jesus Prayer were useless.

[Fotina]

Thank you Paradosis.

The very first time I prayed The Jesus Prayer, I was overwhelmed saying "Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God". But I was immediately cautioned with regard to my emotions.

As time progressed and the weeping began, I was again cautioned to withstand the weeping and then continue.

From my own experience, I've found The Jesus Prayer to be a lifelong committment... through God's Mercy.

I would be interested in hearing from others as to how they pray.

[Justin Kissel]

I would as well, Mary of Egypt. I'm suprised how silent this thread has been. Perhaps it is just caution as it is normally wise to not discuss personal spiritual practices in public. Surely we can discuss general principles and maybe some edifying experiences though? looks around

[Steve]

I said pretty much what I can say on the matter on the other thread. I'm more interested in what others have to say. So, as the Rocky cartoon goes, I'm shutting up shutting up.

Rocky: Shuddup!
Rockey's Lt.: Okay boss, I'm shutting up. I know when to be quiet. I'll shut up ...
Rocky: Shuddup shuttin' up!

[Justin Kissel]

I had hoped to do the same thing I don't really have much direct experience myself, mostly just reading, so I was hoping others (who have a good bit of experience) could talk about it. It seems like such an important issue in Orthodoxy, it's hard to believe we don't talk about it that much.

I started attempting it a few years ago, shortly before I became a catechumen with the Antiochians. I don't recall if I read Way of a Pilgrim first, or started doing the prayer first. Back then it was rather mechanical, but I was just trying to get adapted at that point to the longer prayer rules in Orthodoxy. Well, to be quite honest, I didn't pray at all before I was Orthodox. Even when I went to prayer meetings on Saturdays at my Protestant Church, I still rarely prayed. So anyway, I tried to say the Jesus Prayer as often as I could. I sort of regret how I looked at the prayer back then, my view was very shallow and one that essentially saw the Jesus prayer as a tool. I guess the latter part isn't wholly untrue, if understood correctly, but the way that I was using this "tool" was equivalent to flailing around a club indiscriminately. Perhaps that partly explains why I paid attention to the notes of caution concerning the prayer when I was reading materials after that early usage of it.

[Steve]

Chanting for me goes way back in time to my young 20's when I delved into deeper stages of yoga and some TM. I experienced stages of physical peace but never a spiritual fulfillment.

I remember chanting Psalms while I ran long distances for races while in my 20's and 30's. I never told anyone, for fear of being ridiculed and looking foolish. I learned then that chanting helped me remember or memorize passages much easier. I always loved the KJV version of the Bible because it seemed more poetic, more like a chant than the more modern versions. Anyway at that time I knew nothing of the Jesus prayer much less Orthodoxy in general. I just thought they were strangely garbed Roman Catholics.

When I was introduced in the early 90's to Orthodoxy through the Saint Vladimir's choral rendition of the Divine Liturgy put out in the 70's I thought how wonderful and yet how strange. "Ignore the Theotokos stuff," I told myself and why do they say "Lord have mercy" so much? I mean, every Protestant knows He's already done that, why ask for what He's already done? See, I was already turning fatalistic in my somewhat Calvinist venture. But the beauty over-rode all that, I was deeply in love with it all and knew little about it. I was like Prince Vladimir's servants coming back from Constantinople, heaven struck.

Here's some fun for you - I was introduced to the Jesus prayer by an Evangelical Orthodox Christian who was soon to be a priest. I knew nothing of vagante churches, jurisdictionalism or whatever - I just knew from what he told me that it is an aid to correcting the thoughts and centering on Christ. Well, there certainly can't be anything wrong with that, I thought! By the way my friend is now in the OCA and is working as the Media Director for GOC's "Come Receive the Light" program in Ft. Lauderdale. I think there is still one EOC temple left in Indiana, the rest joined the OCA.

Anyway, I have rambled much - I am not sure if the prayer is automatic now or is settled into the heart. I know there are times when I find myself chanting it without conciously starting it. I am happy that I have what I have right now.

Shuttin' up, now!!!