Mystical Meditation: Orthodox Christian Hesychasm. The Jesus Prayer. Byzantine Knight Lite Method.

Описание

This is an example of how I practice the Jesus Prayer in the morning, during the day, and in the evening. I begin aloud and after a time, it becomes a natural part of my breathing as I inhale and exhale. My focus is on God and connecting with God actively with all my mind and soul (nous), and body. There is no emptying of the nous to nothingness as found in other types of meditation.

In my morning ritual, I begin by filling an oil lamp with EVOO, lighting the wick if it stopped burning in the night hours while I slept, burning a few grains of Royal Hojari Frankincense from Oman and Sweet Myrrh (Commiphora Erythraea, find the highest grade, lots of bad quality ones out there).

To begin, I face towards the East as is the common Orthodox rubrik and towards the icons (images, windows into heaven) of Christ my God, my patron Saint, and other Saints, including the Theotokos.

Step 1. The Preparing.
Inhale deeply and slowly from diaphragm and exhale deeply and slowly until all the air is gone. Try to feel the breath vibrate the throat as the oxygen enters and carbon dioxide exits the lungs. Do this three times while making the sign of the Cross and deeply prostrating each time. This is the time to clear your mind, be still, be quiet, focus and prepare to pray to God.

Step 2. The Inhaling.
Breathe in while saying

- "Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God" -

in the moving breath of your throat at back of your mouth.

This is very different than talking with our vocal cords and focusing the sound in our mouth as we exhale through our lips. It might be difficult to do at first. It might require practice. Also, in the video, you might notice that I seem to emphasize and draw out "God". What I'm trying to do is to fill up my lungs with oxygen to the amount I need.

Step 3. The Exhaling.
Breathe out while saying

- "Have mercy on me a sinner" -

in the breath of your throat.

Again, you may notice that I may need to draw out the word "sinner". This is to exhale all the carbon dioxide in my lungs. The timing of the words with the breath have not yet synchronized.

Eventually, the Jesus Prayer becomes very natural and synchronized as I inhale and exhale. It can become inaudible as the prayer becomes a part of your natural breathing and spiritual contemplation.

I came to practice the Jesus Prayer this way in 2-steps of inhale/exhale because I used to lose my breath, hyperventilate and lose focus when I inhaled then said the entire prayer in one exhale.

So, this is my version, the Byzantine Knight Lite Method, of the Jesus Prayer. This is the "Lite" version because it's done anywhere anytime for any amount of time as time allows to the point it becomes "praying without ceasing". The full version, Byzantine Knight Warrior Method, is more intense, more physical, and much longer (over one hour). The Warrior Method seeks to merge the words of Saint Paul in 1 Timothy 4:8 -

"For while bodily training is of some value, godliness is of value in every way, as it holds promise for the present life and also for the life to come."

Perhaps, I may do a training video of the Byzantine Knight Warrior Method in the future if God wills. I have learned some physical skills when I trained my body physically as a former US Marine, collegiate wrestler, and martial artist ranked in the Black Belt Judo degrees.

Important! I do not claim to be doing the Jesus Prayer in the right way or the correct Orthodox way. I do not represent the Orthodox Church. I just practice my version of the Jesus Prayer as part of my daily practice to God. I am not a priest or a monk. I am not an authority on Hesychasm. I am just an Orthodox layman, a sinner, who converted on Lazarus Saturday 2018 by exorcism, triple immersion baptism, and chrismation. I have never been trained by anyone or any priest on how to do the Jesus Prayer. Forgive me if I am practicing the Jesus Prayer incorrectly. I'm on the journey and am always a student open to learning and correction.

All glory to God. May God be with you. May your Guardian Angels protect you. May the love and peace of Christ fill you. 🙏❤️☦️