Hello. I have been blessed, by God’s mercy, with the gift of mental prayer. I can feel my heart, and I can feel – or perhaps “hear” or « listen » – a very quiet inner invocation: “Lord” on the inhale and “Jesus” on the exhale. But I can enter an even deeper state, where I have the sense of praying but the prayer becomes so silent that I can no longer even form the idea of the words. In both states there are no actual words, my head feels empty, and there is a deep interior silence, but the difference is that one is truly silent and I don’t even « think » of the prayer being « Lord » when inhaling and « Jesus » when I exhale but it’s completely silent, I only focus on the top of the heart, breath and I feel and think it’s directed to God if I’m not deluded that it.
Could you please tell me which state corresponds to the true Jesus Prayer? Is it the first state, where one “feels” or “hears” the silent unspoken prayer, or the second state, which feels like prayer but is even more silent and wordless, than the other who is still not formed words yet they are thought very subtly ? Or is the second state simply a form of meditation?
Also, I can feel the heart and try to keep my attention there while praying. Usually this sensation is slightly to the left, near or above the left nipple. As a beginner I try to draw the attention higher, but it tends to wander. Is it normal to feel soreness near the left clavicle from the effort of bringing and keeping the attention higher? After much efforts its stays at the top and feels more intense.
I’m sorry if my description is clumsy, but I hope you understand what I mean.
Thanks in advance.
2 Ответа
The most crucial advice, which precedes all others, is that the practice of the Jesus Prayer, especially involving physical techniques like breath control and concentration in the heart, absolutely requires the guidance of an experienced spiritual father.
The two states of prayer you describe are known in the ascetic tradition. The first, where the prayer is mentally formed without spoken words, is mental prayer (noetic prayer). The second, a deeper state of wordless awareness of God's presence, is a higher spiritual state. However, the Jesus Prayer, in its essence, is the invocation of the Name of Jesus Christ for the sake of repentance. The words, whether spoken or held in the mind, are not a mere formula but the very substance of our appeal to God. A self-induced state of «emptiness,» even if directed toward God, can be a subtle form of delusion (прелесть ≡ spiritual delusion or deception) if it is sought as a goal in itself, rather than being a gift of grace received with humility.
An analogy might be helpful: attempting these advanced prayer techniques alone is like trying to climb a treacherous mountain without a guide. You might feel you are making progress, but you cannot see the hidden crevasses or the approaching storm.
Regarding the physical sensations, the soreness you feel is not normal and is a clear sign of an incorrect and potentially harmful approach. The Holy Fathers, like St. Ignatius (Brianchaninov), strictly warn beginners against trying to «force» the mind into a physical location in the chest through muscular tension or artificial methods. This effort leads precisely to such pains and can cause serious spiritual and even physical harm. The true «place of the heart» for prayer is revealed by God's grace, not found by anatomical effort.
Therefore, it is natural to feel a sense of peace by setting aside these psychosomatic techniques for now. Return to a simpler form of prayer: stand or sit reverently, and with your attention in your thoughts, say the Jesus Prayer slowly and with contrition, focusing on the meaning of the words. The goal is not a physical sensation or a special state of silence, but repentant communion with the living God.
This path is safest and most fruitful when walked within the full life of the Church, with regular confession and participation in the Holy Eucharist, and under the watchful eye of a spiritual father who can guide you past the dangers you are encountering.
Hello Denis.
The most crucial thing is to wait for the guidance of your spiritual father; his word is paramount for you. My advice is just a temporary reflection. The soreness you describe is a direct result of excessive effort. Cease this forceful attempt to concentrate; prayer should not bring physical pain. While you await his response, the most reliable and safest path is to return to the prayer with words, focusing on its meaning and on repentance, rather than analyzing wordless states. «Attention in the heart» is not about finding an anatomical point, but the inner turning of the whole person—mind and feelings—to God.
Hi Father,
Thank you very much for your answer. I want to clarify something, because I understand your advice and take it seriously. For your knowledge, I must be clear: I do not feel any pain physical in the heartor anywhere. The heart revealed itself spontaneously, and I simply feel it. The pain I mentioned earlier arises only because of the passages I have read on the website about keeping the prayer “as high as possible.” Apart from that, I feel no pain; the heart is simply revealed and it helps me remain silent and prayerful. So the sore only happens after I’ve read about the practice of bringer attention higher to be sure to be at the top.
I also have another question. When I am in a certain mental state, I can no longer pray with words or even with formless concepts. It feels as though I am “frozen” — there is only the sense of prayer, the focus on the heart, and silence. In that state, I cannot even make an effort for formless prayer; there is simply stillness, as if everything stops. For example, when I pray in silence by myself, it sometimes seems that only two minutes have passed, but when I look at the clock, half an hour has gone by, as if time itself had disappeared and I simply was.
I read your comment about returning to words, but now words feel alien, as if they no longer belong. I now feel constant peace and silence, and hardly even have ideas of prayer or formless prayer — only silence and an awareness of God. Yet it also feels as if I am “frozen” and praying for nothing. I am not asking forgiveness, nor anything else; I simply remain as if frozen, contemplating. When I form words now it feels uncomfortable, as though I should not speak but stay in silence.
Furthermore, since I entered this mental state, even reading feels “mental” and my head feels generally empty. Forming words in my mind now feels unnatural and I do not like it.
And one more thing: during verbal prayer, when I was deeply focused on the words and ignored temptations and idle thoughts, suddenly it felt as though the prayer itself was me. I am not sure whether it was still verbal at that moment or not, but it felt as if I had become the prayer itself — as if I existed with or without a body, and the prayer was within a shell, and I was somehow severed from space. What was that experience?
Do you have anything to say about all of this? Until my elder is illuminated to guide me to God without delusion, I would be grateful for any advice.
With respect
Hello Denis,
The most vital point remains: patiently await your spiritual father’s guidance. My words are only for reflection in the interim.
The state you describe as being 'frozen'—a deep, wordless silence where you are simply aware of God—is a recognized state of contemplation. This isn't an activity you perform, but a state you receive. The danger is not in the silence itself, but in how we relate to it. The proper disposition is one of humble gratitude, not of analysis or effort. When this peace is given, simply receive it. Don't feel you are 'praying for nothing'; this silent stillness before God is itself a profound prayer.
This also explains why words now feel 'alien.' Your soul has tasted a different mode of communion. Do not force words when this quiet is given peacefully. However, do not reject them either. When this state of contemplation fades and your mind becomes active again, gently return to the verbal Jesus Prayer. Think of the words as your safe harbor, the foundation to which you can always return without anxiety.
The experience of feeling you 'became the prayer' was a moment of grace, a gift from God. Accept it with thanks, but do not strive to replicate it. Such gifts are not goals to be achieved.
Your observation about the soreness is key: it only appears with forceful effort. This confirms that any physical strain is the wrong path. Trust the gentle, spontaneous awareness in the heart, and abandon any technique that causes tension.
Thank you very much, Father.
I take your words into account, and I see that the state God has blessed me with is out of His mercy and love; for truly I have done nothing good in my life to deserve it, nor could I ever. Since I received it, I accepted the gift without trying to analyze it, nor do I wish to, but I needed to be sure it is a good thing, because as I said I’m new to this things, we are all accustomed to pray with words so the transition to mental prayer and complete silence I could only wonder if that good and truly prayer because we are reached to pray with words and never heard of the contrary. And yes, without doubt, if this state fades, I will continue praying either verbally or mentally. My goal is not to seek gifts, but to please God and let Him work through me. If there’s links that are useful for such states and if there’s temptations to be aware of and you can share I would be thankful— although you helped me very much already.
Thank you for your time and help.
It is very good that you approach this gift with such humility and awareness that it is from God's mercy. This disposition is your best protection.
The primary temptation with such states is subtle pride—to begin to think of this experience as a personal achievement or to become attached to the spiritual sweetness itself, rather than to God who gives it. Another danger is to neglect the «external» aspects of Christian life, believing this inner state is all that matters. The Sacraments, reading the Gospels, and simple acts of love for your neighbor remain the foundation.
For reading, the works of St. Ignatius (Brianchaninov), especially his book On the Jesus Prayer, are invaluable. He writes with great sobriety and clarity specifically for people living in the world, constantly warning against spiritual delusion. Discuss any such reading with your spiritual father. His living guidance is your surest path.
Hi Father,
Thank you very much, I will combine your advices with the guidance of my Spiritual Father. Also, I submitted another question a few hours ago about recommendations links about this matter, if you see it no need to reply since you already answered, thank you again for the valuable feedback and the sacrifice of your time.
With respect.
Hi, thank you for your answer.
First, just to clarify: I do have a spiritual father and I am under his guidance. To make it short, I began practicing the Jesus Prayer around 14 months ago. After about two months, I noticed a pain in the left chest (around the left nipple). At first, for about a week, I didn’t understand what it was. It appeared because I was saying the prayer almost non-stop, even waking up with it already being said. At that time, I was without any guidance, because I didn’t even know that one should have a guide. The only thing I knew about the prayer was that at some point it becomes the prayer of the heart.
After some months, I became less focused, but the prayer continued verbally (now I realize what it was). It was not with the same fervor as in the beginning, and it gradually weakened in focus until recently, when I was “awakened” again. About two months ago I asked my father about it, and he told me everything is fine. Only recently did my heart reveal itself again.
To make it clear: the soreness in the left clavicle only started after I read how much emphasis is placed on not focusing on the wrong part of the body. Because of that, I began trying very hard to lift my attention as high as possible to be sure I was not in the wrong place. But when I focus too much, it becomes sore, though only after much effort.
About doing the prayer mentally: I told my elder, but I haven’t yet received an answer. Until he answers, I would like some advice. I’m afraid of focusing on the wrong part, so I try to raise the attention as high as possible. But since I’m still new to this knowledge, how can I know if it truly is mental prayer?
At the beginning, I used words, and it felt to me that if I don’t use words, it’s no longer prayer. But now that I’ve experienced what seems like mental prayer, I see that it really is different. The even deeper silence doesn’t even allow me to form ideas of the words; it is simply silence and awareness of God. But is this really what I should be doing? For me as a beginner, it was already a new revelation to learn that wordless prayer is good. But what about an even greater wordlessness—without even ideas, only feelings and focus of the heart? Am I doing something wrong?
To make it clear: when we say “attention to the mind,” is it like when someone has pain in a part of the body—when you focus on it, the pain is felt more? Or like when we focus on the beat of the heart, and it is heard more strongly? If that’s the case, then in prayer do we focus on the heart and pray wordlessly? And does this mean that the feeling of prayer is only in the heart as a location, or is it more from within us, not tied to one physical spot?
Thank you very much for your advice.