Vlad
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« on: September 18, 2008, 01:46:17 AM » |
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Well like the thread says what is the best way to pray the Jesus prayer? At home in front of your Icons or at anytime. Do you use any breathing techniques with it. I was told by a Priest to breath in at "Lord Jesus Christ son of God" exhale, inhale "have mercy on me" exhale "a sinner" is this a fairly typical way of going about it.
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FrChris
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Holy Father Patrick, thank you for your help!
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« Reply #1 on: September 18, 2008, 09:27:54 AM » |
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Well like the thread says what is the best way to pray the Jesus prayer? Under the loving and fruitful guidance of your Spiritual Father. This is not a 'do it yourself' project!  |
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"As the sparrow flees from a hawk, so the man seeking humility flees from an argument". St John Climacus
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Alpo
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« Reply #2 on: September 18, 2008, 04:55:06 PM » |
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Well like the thread says what is the best way to pray the Jesus prayer? Under the loving and fruitful guidance of your Spiritual Father. This is not a 'do it yourself' project! Since I'm not an Orthodox ie. I don't have a Spiritual Father, shoud I avoid praying it? |
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« Last Edit: September 18, 2008, 04:56:19 PM by Alpo »
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Just a little reminder: this forum is not called OrthodoxChristianityUSA.net   |
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scamandrius
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« Reply #3 on: September 18, 2008, 06:14:47 PM » |
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To pray it with humility and reverently and be free from distractions. Of course, being under the guide of a spiritual father is important. If you are converting to Orthodoxy then ask the opinion of the priest who will be shepherding you through your catechumenate. At the same time, be prepared for him to suggest that such is not right for the spiritual stage that you are currently at.
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I seek the truth by which no man was ever harmed--Marcus Aurelius Those who do not read history are doomed to get their facts from Hollywood--Anonymous What earthly joy remains untouched by grief?--St. John Damascene http://myorthodoxjourney.blogspot.com/ |
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SolEX01
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« Reply #4 on: September 18, 2008, 06:17:12 PM » |
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I recite the Jesus prayer inaudibly (or under my breath) when I face temptation or stress. The topic has been discussed in depth on this forum.
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FrChris
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Holy Father Patrick, thank you for your help!
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« Reply #5 on: September 18, 2008, 06:26:37 PM » |
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Well like the thread says what is the best way to pray the Jesus prayer? Under the loving and fruitful guidance of your Spiritual Father. This is not a 'do it yourself' project! Since I'm not an Orthodox ie. I don't have a Spiritual Father, shoud I avoid praying it? Alpo, Welcome to the forum (in case I have not already welcomed you!) What I would do is: speak to an Orthodox priest about this issue, preferably the one that will be catechizing you and bringing you up in the Faith. The Faith is all about relationships.....your relationship with God and your relationship with everyone else. Therefore, as you adopt elements of the Faith you find helpful such as the Jesus Prayer, it is a warping of the Faith to then avoid relationships and try to foster growth as a Christian by going it alone. Now, you have enough exposure of the Orthodox Faith to learn about things like the Jesus Prayer, and you can sense the Truth that is here. I urge you to follow this Truth all the way home, and ask the advice of an Orthodox priest on this topic. |
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"As the sparrow flees from a hawk, so the man seeking humility flees from an argument". St John Climacus
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ytterbiumanalyst
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« Reply #6 on: September 18, 2008, 08:11:05 PM » |
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With your actions.
"Preach the Gospel often, and when necessary, use words."--attributed to St. Francis of Assisi
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"It is remarkable that what we call the world...in what professes to be true...will allow in one man no blemishes, and in another no virtue."--Charles Dickens
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Vlad
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« Reply #7 on: September 19, 2008, 06:45:30 PM » |
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So is it best to not pray the Jesus Prayer if you don't have a Priest around to act as your spiritual Father?
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Timos
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« Reply #8 on: September 20, 2008, 02:17:42 PM » |
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I was told by many Orthodox people here and there that it is generally best to pray the Jesus prayer under the direction of a spiritual father, but I don't think its necessary. I think it's important not only to repeat it over and over again but to obviously truly mean it. I find that it also proves to be a great tool to pray for others and their issues as well as for the self. I would generally pray the morning/evening prayers found in a prayerbook such as Jordanville's or the greek archdiocese bi-lingual edition, and then I'd do half (50) or the full (100) knots of the prayer rope for the self and for others. My spiritual father (Geronda Christodoulos) told me that it is good in humbling the soul.
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Asteriktos
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« Reply #10 on: September 20, 2008, 07:39:34 PM » |
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It's not forbidden, just a suggestion.
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wynd
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Transfiguration
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« Reply #11 on: September 21, 2008, 05:29:08 PM » |
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It's not forbidden, just a suggestion.
Think of it this way: if you are serious about getting in really good shape, a good thing to have is a personal trainer. |
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Asteriktos
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« Reply #12 on: September 21, 2008, 07:18:21 PM » |
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An issue is that some people have trouble locating a "spiritual father". Sometimes there are no priests close, sometimes a priest is wary of allowing someone to consider them a "spiritual father," etc. I don't think in such cases that it'd be better to just not pray the prayer.
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Vlad
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« Reply #13 on: September 22, 2008, 01:28:09 AM » |
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An issue is that some people have trouble locating a "spiritual father". Sometimes there are no priests close, sometimes a priest is wary of allowing someone to consider them a "spiritual father," etc. I don't think in such cases that it'd be better to just not pray the prayer.
Asteriktos, when I was in Missoula when we had a Priest he advised me to just say the pray while breathing in for "Lord Jesus Christ" exhale" Son of God" inhale "have Mercy on me" exhale "a sinner". Since I am now without a Priest would you suggest I follow my former Priests advice or wait until I get around to a place that has another Priest. |
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orthodoxlurker
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« Reply #14 on: September 22, 2008, 01:38:31 AM » |
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I'm the last one to advise anyone, particularly on the issue of Jesus Prayer, but it seems there is the reason why it can be advised to be prayed only:
1) by an Orthodox Christian, and not during conversion;
2) under the guidance and not on his own;
That particularly relates to breathing or any other activity in addition to merely saying it / thinking it.
Don't involve any special kind of breathing without the guidance.
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