Great article, looking forward to hearing more. One point, you mention the Hare Krishna's as part of the new age movement, but it's hard to see the relevance. I always think the theology of Hare Krishna is close to Orthodoxy in many ways.
I tacked it in because of it being popular at the time. I used new age as a blanket term. My spiritual fr, an eastern orthodox monk, was part of it before seeing the Virgin Mary and converting. He has never seemed too have much negative to say about it but found Eastern Orthodox spirituality and metaphysics far superior.
I learn so much from reading your work Nicholas. Thank you so much. I have recently returned to Christianity after years of spiritual exploration (never done psychedelics though) and am now considering becoming Catholic, which is something I felt drawn to in my early 20’s before I lost my way. Looking forward to reading your next piece ✨
I was taught the "Jesus Prayer" by James Cutsinger when Perennial Philosophy was a large part of my life. I did the Lord's prayer so many times in the morning, around noon "Hail Mary you are blessed among women" and lastly "Lord Jesus have mercy upon me." I have his letter on how to use my knuckles to count the "reps" Also at the end I had another line of prayer but have forgotten
as it was 25 or so years ago.(I'll look at the letter tonight)
Not to take away from Hesychasm, the Greek Orthodox Church is 60 miles from our house, so my method is of Centering Prayer, Psalm 46:10, "Be still and Know I Am God."(Episcopal Church in our town)
That's interesting. I have to work in some really great words my spiritual father gave me in a letter on the prayer, but I don't think centering prayer--at least what I've read of it--is is really deviating from the Hesychast or Eastern Orthodox Tradition. For instance, when a man who had lots of practice doing mantra yoga exercises and such came to Mount Athos he asked how he should pray and with him being a new comer to Christianity they said, "Just tak to Jesus like he is there because he is!" I like that saying, because the prayer rope and the various technical details can easily distract from the point. The point is to cultivate prayer and watchfulness and empty our noggin of all these thoughts to receive God. From what I just read of centering prayer is that it seems to fit with these points and praying scripture like that particular passage is a time honored Christian tradition. Especially praying it, as a means to return to receptive prayer when your thoughts wander. I think this is very much the point of the Jesus Prayer and both are ways to cultivate continual prayer. I often I have prayed prayers like that. I also talk to God. I think for me the point of Hesychasm is to move into a different anthropology and realizing I am not just my thoughts, that emptying my mind and heart of thoughts and passions, allows God entry, and that this entry is healing. If applied right the Jesus Prayer in my mind can be the most effective at this, but as I noted above, it's not because the prayer itself is some sort of magic formula.
I don't disagree with any of your reply. However I would like to briefly relay what Dr
James S. Cutsinger, now deceased, wrote to me in 1998:
4/4/98 " We are obliged first to enter upon a sacramental affiliation with a living tradition, which in the Christian case is to be discovered most clearly, and profoundly,
in the Eastern Orthodox Church."
5/18/98 "Do not neglect to bring your concerns before God in personal prayer. Speak
directly to Christ or the Holy Virgin, and ask for their guidance and assistance..."
8/5/98 "If I were to suggest to you a little rule of prayer...and yet I believe it might begin
to satisfy your thirst for a deeper relationship with God."
8/23/98 "Here is my rule of prayer for you. Conformably to what I say in the book, I
would ask that you begin setting aside three distinct times a day for prayer every day.
( morning 4 lines and noon 4 lines) Finally in the evening, invoke the Trinity, recite the
Lord's Prayer, and then repeat the Formula of Imploration or Jesus Prayer, as follows,
32 times:"Lord Jesus Christ, have mercy upon us." For the 33rd repetition, recite the
following: "Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, have mercy upon us. Amen."
But honestly I was so worried I wouldn't say all of it correctly I wasn't thinking of God!!
I met James at the Perennial conf. held Oct just after 9/11 at the u.of s.car.. where
he taught religion. He submitted articles to Sophia as well as an co editor and to Sacred
Web. In his second letter he recommended two books of Kallistos Ware. Bishop Ware
was one of the speakers I heard. His English, was so English, I couldn't understand a
word he said! The second day when Huston Smith arrived in the large chapel the
speaker paused and everyone stood and clapped as he walked to the front.
I have a post coming up dealing with somewhat with that problem. We can get so afraid of saying it all right--or other things with prayer we lose the point! This is something I have had to work on a long time. Truthfully, because of my disposition, I do try to pray each day before my icon corner, but part of the point of prayer, is that you pray if your in bed. You pray if your in the shower. You pray if you have to use the bathroom, etc... It is about find ways to continually return to God. I also do agree that sacramental affiliation with a living tradition is really needed. For me in Eastern Orthodoxy, so much comes to light and is healed in confession by the Eucharist. Anyway, I suppose though I'm not technically exactly a perennialist, I half am in the sense that I believe we need living roots. Thanks for sharing so much.
Beautiful! As a newish convert (baptized in 2020), and as a longtime lover of prayer (moms need to be), this is exactly the longer exposition of the Prayer of the Heart i wanted. I look forward to the next installment!
truly a beautiful piece, thank you so much
Thank you for reading!
Great article, looking forward to hearing more. One point, you mention the Hare Krishna's as part of the new age movement, but it's hard to see the relevance. I always think the theology of Hare Krishna is close to Orthodoxy in many ways.
I tacked it in because of it being popular at the time. I used new age as a blanket term. My spiritual fr, an eastern orthodox monk, was part of it before seeing the Virgin Mary and converting. He has never seemed too have much negative to say about it but found Eastern Orthodox spirituality and metaphysics far superior.
I learn so much from reading your work Nicholas. Thank you so much. I have recently returned to Christianity after years of spiritual exploration (never done psychedelics though) and am now considering becoming Catholic, which is something I felt drawn to in my early 20’s before I lost my way. Looking forward to reading your next piece ✨
I'm so glad to hear that! May God bless your journey. Still my fondest memories of childhood were going to mass with my Grandmother!
I was taught the "Jesus Prayer" by James Cutsinger when Perennial Philosophy was a large part of my life. I did the Lord's prayer so many times in the morning, around noon "Hail Mary you are blessed among women" and lastly "Lord Jesus have mercy upon me." I have his letter on how to use my knuckles to count the "reps" Also at the end I had another line of prayer but have forgotten
as it was 25 or so years ago.(I'll look at the letter tonight)
Not to take away from Hesychasm, the Greek Orthodox Church is 60 miles from our house, so my method is of Centering Prayer, Psalm 46:10, "Be still and Know I Am God."(Episcopal Church in our town)
Looking forward to part 2.
That's interesting. I have to work in some really great words my spiritual father gave me in a letter on the prayer, but I don't think centering prayer--at least what I've read of it--is is really deviating from the Hesychast or Eastern Orthodox Tradition. For instance, when a man who had lots of practice doing mantra yoga exercises and such came to Mount Athos he asked how he should pray and with him being a new comer to Christianity they said, "Just tak to Jesus like he is there because he is!" I like that saying, because the prayer rope and the various technical details can easily distract from the point. The point is to cultivate prayer and watchfulness and empty our noggin of all these thoughts to receive God. From what I just read of centering prayer is that it seems to fit with these points and praying scripture like that particular passage is a time honored Christian tradition. Especially praying it, as a means to return to receptive prayer when your thoughts wander. I think this is very much the point of the Jesus Prayer and both are ways to cultivate continual prayer. I often I have prayed prayers like that. I also talk to God. I think for me the point of Hesychasm is to move into a different anthropology and realizing I am not just my thoughts, that emptying my mind and heart of thoughts and passions, allows God entry, and that this entry is healing. If applied right the Jesus Prayer in my mind can be the most effective at this, but as I noted above, it's not because the prayer itself is some sort of magic formula.
I don't disagree with any of your reply. However I would like to briefly relay what Dr
James S. Cutsinger, now deceased, wrote to me in 1998:
4/4/98 " We are obliged first to enter upon a sacramental affiliation with a living tradition, which in the Christian case is to be discovered most clearly, and profoundly,
in the Eastern Orthodox Church."
5/18/98 "Do not neglect to bring your concerns before God in personal prayer. Speak
directly to Christ or the Holy Virgin, and ask for their guidance and assistance..."
8/5/98 "If I were to suggest to you a little rule of prayer...and yet I believe it might begin
to satisfy your thirst for a deeper relationship with God."
8/23/98 "Here is my rule of prayer for you. Conformably to what I say in the book, I
would ask that you begin setting aside three distinct times a day for prayer every day.
( morning 4 lines and noon 4 lines) Finally in the evening, invoke the Trinity, recite the
Lord's Prayer, and then repeat the Formula of Imploration or Jesus Prayer, as follows,
32 times:"Lord Jesus Christ, have mercy upon us." For the 33rd repetition, recite the
following: "Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, have mercy upon us. Amen."
But honestly I was so worried I wouldn't say all of it correctly I wasn't thinking of God!!
I met James at the Perennial conf. held Oct just after 9/11 at the u.of s.car.. where
he taught religion. He submitted articles to Sophia as well as an co editor and to Sacred
Web. In his second letter he recommended two books of Kallistos Ware. Bishop Ware
was one of the speakers I heard. His English, was so English, I couldn't understand a
word he said! The second day when Huston Smith arrived in the large chapel the
speaker paused and everyone stood and clapped as he walked to the front.
I have a post coming up dealing with somewhat with that problem. We can get so afraid of saying it all right--or other things with prayer we lose the point! This is something I have had to work on a long time. Truthfully, because of my disposition, I do try to pray each day before my icon corner, but part of the point of prayer, is that you pray if your in bed. You pray if your in the shower. You pray if you have to use the bathroom, etc... It is about find ways to continually return to God. I also do agree that sacramental affiliation with a living tradition is really needed. For me in Eastern Orthodoxy, so much comes to light and is healed in confession by the Eucharist. Anyway, I suppose though I'm not technically exactly a perennialist, I half am in the sense that I believe we need living roots. Thanks for sharing so much.
Beautiful! As a newish convert (baptized in 2020), and as a longtime lover of prayer (moms need to be), this is exactly the longer exposition of the Prayer of the Heart i wanted. I look forward to the next installment!
Thank you. I’m glad that I was able to help in some way. May God bless and keep you!
THIS is awesome. Many thanks!
Thanks for your encouragement!