Observations on Prayer of the Heart

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earl

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I thought I'd share a personal experiential observation for whatever dialogue it might engender. Since getting a bit more in touch with some old personal connections to Christianity, I've found myself engaging in more contemplative Christian exercises, essentially a version of the Hesychastic contemplative prayer. I found it interesting that when I engage in such, where my energetic sense is naturally drawn is to my middle chest area-the area the Eastern religions might refer to as the heart chakra. It's interesting to me that my awareness seems to center there naturally which corresponds to hesychastic guidelines to actually intentionally focus there. Has anybody else happened to notice this in their own cases? Perhaps their directives regarding the place of attention are to foster a receptive awareness in the area where such reception actually would occur naturally. For whatever it's worth, I also find that the sense of subtle energy movement often seems to spread out in "cross-like" fashion horizontally across chest and shoulders and vertically up and down the spine. What are your experiences and/or reactions to such things? I often feel more spacious for lack of a better term in both mind and heart when engaging in such a contemplative moment in time. It seems to me that the association of Christ with the "heart" is true on many levels of that term. (Feel free to leave this here or move it to another fourm if you like.) Earl
 
Kind of on the same lines.... You notice the other feeling when you ask for forgiveness? kind of liek a mix of hair standing on ends and someone stepping over your grave... goes from the head down to the top of the chest and then out through the arms?... :D
 
Hey Alex. Sin and foregiveness. All I can tell you is when I'm "communing" in this manner, all is right with the world and with me even if it's not "all right.":) Earl
 
earl said:
I thought I'd share a personal experiential observation for whatever dialogue it might engender. Since getting a bit more in touch with some old personal connections to Christianity, I've found myself engaging in more contemplative Christian exercises, essentially a version of the Hesychastic contemplative prayer. I found it interesting that when I engage in such, where my energetic sense is naturally drawn is to my middle chest area-the area the Eastern religions might refer to as the heart chakra. It's interesting to me that my awareness seems to center there naturally which corresponds to hesychastic guidelines to actually intentionally focus there. Has anybody else happened to notice this in their own cases? Perhaps their directives regarding the place of attention are to foster a receptive awareness in the area where such reception actually would occur naturally. For whatever it's worth, I also find that the sense of subtle energy movement often seems to spread out in "cross-like" fashion horizontally across chest and shoulders and vertically up and down the spine. What are your experiences and/or reactions to such things? I often feel more spacious for lack of a better term in both mind and heart when engaging in such a contemplative moment in time. It seems to me that the association of Christ with the "heart" is true on many levels of that term. (Feel free to leave this here or move it to another fourm if you like.) Earl
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Ironic isn't it, that the Bible tells us that the Laws of God are written on "every man's heart"...;)
 
Strictly speaking, if actually attempting Hesychastic prayer within the living Tradition that produced it, the emotional and physical sensations that might accompany Hesychastic prayer are best considered to be mere distractions.
 
You're correct to imply that in any deep spiritual tradition it is not about the good vibes per se. :) Earl
 
it doesn't look like a Christian practice to me :eek:

so personal I wouldn't touch it !
 
Hey Glory-Hesychasm is an old Christian practice indeed. Perhaps because it is a contemplative-meditative form many Christians are initially uncomfortable with it given that most Christian churches of modernity have not encouraged such practices. Allow me to provide another link to a theologian's interesting discussion of this practice, (reading it I could actually see some verification for my experiential observations I shared earlier, including the sense of spaciousness of mind-heart I notice which involves a silencing of thought naturally):

http://www.religioperennis.org/documents/cutsinger/yoga.pdf
Earl
 
Alex P said:
Kind of on the same lines.... You notice the other feeling when you ask for forgiveness? kind of liek a mix of hair standing on ends and someone stepping over your grave... goes from the head down to the top of the chest and then out through the arms?... :D
Click to expand...

I think this is key. Everyday, we are offended. Everyday, we offend others. If we are ever to get into a right spirit of prayer, we must relase those who have caused us wrong, that bitterness of spirit may not hinder our drawing close to God. Conversely, we must heed that still small voice that tell us when we wronged others, and to rectify the matter as soon as we can.

Cleared of conscience, we can enter into His Presence with confidence and, like Martha's sister, Mary, sit at His feet and bask in the light of His grace and peace. We can pour out all our concerns and know He is listening. As we empty ourselves, He fills us with a love unlike anything we can accurately describe. We are strengthened, cleansed, regenerated, and find ourselve wanting to be of some kind of service to Him. Strangely, we have a desire to help others that transcends any human motivation.
 
GlorytoGod said:
it doesn't look like a Christian practice to me
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It is Christian, successfully defended by St. Gregory Palamas against the accusations of Barlaam of Calabria. I should say that it is Christian if done properly, under guidance from a mature and responsible elder in the Faith.

It is not something that one should do without "conventional" prayer, Scriptural reading, and the fullness of life within the Church, because if done improperly it can easily lead to prelest (spiritual self-deception).
 
Dogbrain said:
It is Christian, successfully defended by St. Gregory Palamas against the accusations of Barlaam of Calabria. I should say that it is Christian if done properly, under guidance from a mature and responsible elder in the Faith.

It is not something that one should do without "conventional" prayer, Scriptural reading, and the fullness of life within the Church, because if done improperly it can easily lead to prelest (spiritual self-deception).
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well I could be wrong of course and I often am maybe it can be a christian practice,

but from what I read here http://www.hridayamyoga.org/papers/EssenceofPrayer.pdf posted on a yoga site ! , I wouldn't touch it, and I would urge Christians not to partake of any form of prayer that gets into kundalini, which is a yogic hindu practice.
 
earl said:
Hey Glory-Hesychasm is an old Christian practice indeed. Perhaps because it is a contemplative-meditative form many Christians are initially uncomfortable with it given that most Christian churches of modernity have not encouraged such practices. Allow me to provide another link to a theologian's interesting discussion of this practice, (reading it I could actually see some verification for my experiential observations I shared earlier, including the sense of spaciousness of mind-heart I notice which involves a silencing of thought naturally):

http://www.religioperennis.org/documents/cutsinger/yoga.pdf
Earl
Click to expand...

if I wanted learn about Christian meditative contemplative practices I would I would look to Christian sources or instruction not to an article on yoga !

yoga and Christianity art not compatible IMO.
 
Dogbrain said:
It is not something that one should do without "conventional" prayer, Scriptural reading, and the fullness of life within the Church, because if done improperly it can easily lead to prelest (spiritual self-deception).
Click to expand...

Hey Dogbrain

I just read your post again, I think your right about the above :)
 
GlorytoGod said:
if I wanted learn about Christian meditative contemplative practices I would I would look to Christian sources or instruction not to an article on yoga !

yoga and Christianity art not compatible IMO.
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Actually the article by Cutsinger discusses standard hesychastic practice which of course stems from the Orthdox Christian church. Doubt they'd appreciate being considered "non-Christian.:D" Cutsinger is a theological specialist in the Eastern Orthodox church. From my perspective, a Christian misses out so much on so many levels spiritual and otherwise to refuse to even dip a toe in a meditative or contemplative approach due to dogmatic interpretations and proscriptions (based on no direct involvement in what is being condemned to even be able to assess it) of particular denominations. That seems to fall into what I see as the "fear-based" wing of Christianity. Earl
 
earl said:
Actually the article by Cutsinger discusses standard hesychastic practice which of course stems from the Orthdox Christian church. Doubt they'd appreciate being considered "non-Christian.:D" Cutsinger is a theological specialist in the Eastern Orthodox church. From my perspective, a Christian misses out so much on so many levels spiritual and otherwise to refuse to even dip a toe in a meditative or contemplative approach due to dogmatic interpretations and proscriptions (based on no direct involvement in what is being condemned to even be able to assess it) of particular denominations. That seems to fall into what I see as the "fear-based" wing of Christianity. Earl
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ok earl,

i have no problem with meditative or contemplative practice, just as long as they are Christian !

kundalini is part of Yoga is a hindu practice and is not compatible with Christianity IMO and therefore I want no part of it, in the past I have practiced yogic meditation and budhist contemplative practices but I was not a Christian then, I am now.
 
GlorytoGod said:
well I could be wrong of course and I often am maybe it can be a christian practice,

but from what I read here http://www.hridayamyoga.org/papers/EssenceofPrayer.pdf posted on a yoga site ! , I wouldn't touch it, and I would urge Christians not to partake of any form of prayer that gets into kundalini, which is a yogic hindu practice.
Click to expand...

I share your concern. Just like Christianity devolves into Christendom, so do the Eastern teachings become secularized. More often than not, I've discovered that the energy of kundalina is actully imagination taking the rightful place of the energy of the Spirit leading to conscioousness

Kundalina seems to be an "improvement" in the Hindu teachings leading to imagination similar to the "improvements" that have furthered the secularization of Christianity as well as its flights of fantasy.
 
Contemplative prayer though potentially useful can be perverted. So to give indications of methods of prayer, I invite you to read three methods described by St. Simeon. At the bottom of each page you can click to the next. Of course it is disturbing and only possible for a few but it is good to be at least aware of what he is advising.

"The Three Methods of Prayer" -- St. Simeon the New Theologian
 
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