Hesychasm (meaning ''quietness'' in Greek language) is a mystical tradition of experiential prayer in Eastern Orthodox Christianity. It is described in great detail in the Philokalia, a compilation of what various Eastern Orthodox saints wrote about prayer. ==The Hesychastic prayer== In practice, the Hesychastic prayer bears some superficial resemblance to mystical prayer or meditation in Eastern religions (Buddhism, Hinduism, compare with Yoga), although this similarity is often overly emphasized in popular accounts. For example, it may involve specific body postures, and be accompanied by very deliberate breathing patterns. It involves acquiring an inner stillness, ignoring the physical senses. The hesychasts interpreted Christ's injunction in the Gospel of Matthew to "go into your closet to pray", to mean that they should ignore sensory input and withdraw inwards to pray. It often includes many repetitions of the Jesus Prayer, ''"Lord Jesus Christ, son of God, have mercy on me, a sinner."''. One is to never treat it as a string of syllables for which the "surface" meaning is secondary. Likewise, hollow repetition is considered to be worthless (or worse than worthless) in the hesychast tradition. Saint Theophan the Recluse once related that body postures and breathing techniques were virtually forbidden in his youth, since, instead of gaining the Spirit of God, people succeeded only "in ruining their lungs." ===Gregory Palamas: defender of Hesychasm=== Hesychasm was defended theologically by Gregory Palamas at about three separate Hesychast Synods in Constantinople in the 1340s; he was asked to by his fellow monks on Mt. Athos to defend it from the attacks of Barlaam of Calabria, who advocated a more intellectual approach to prayer. ==See also== * Christianity * Eastern Orthodoxy * Mysticism * Philokalia * The Way of a Pilgrim * Meditation * Prayer * Theosis * Chakra (Hesychastic centres of prayer--not an Orthodox Christian use of the term) == External links == *[http://www.oca.org/pages/orth_chri/Orthodox-Faith/Spirituality/The-Jesus-Prayer.html The Jesus Prayer], a very straightforward exposition. *[http://www.orthodoxinfo.com/praxis/ignaty_jesus.htm On Practicing the Jesus Prayer] *[http://www.monachos.net/patristics/palamas_theology.shtml Three foundational aspects of the Theology of St Gregory Palamas] *[http://www.tertullian.org/fathers/origen_philocalia_02_text.htm English Translation of the Philokalia] *[http://www.religiousbook.net/Books/Complete_books/Jesus_prayer.html The Jesus Prayer] Prayer-meditation with Jesus into “spiritual heart”. *[http://www.religiousbook.net/Books/Online_books/Hs/What_Is_Hesychasm.html What Is Hesychasm] The term hesychasm originates from the Greek word hesychia - inner quietness. ==References== * ''The Philokalia'' (four volumes) * ''The Way of the Pilgrim'' Byzantine Empire Eastern Orthodoxy
I've moved this here. As far as I know, this is not part of Orthodox doctrine but is either a syncretistic theosophical misinterpretation of Hesychasm or something dreamed up by some Western comparative religions undergrad. The terminology is very much NOT typical of the Eastern Orthodox Church. ---- ^sign your posts with~~~~ .
The information on the hesychastic centres moved to Chakra. A link placed on Hesychasm. After consideration I decided that it is better to keep mysticism and religion separated in the encyclopedia. User:Optim 13:04, 7 Jan 2004 (UTC)
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I've restored the references to the Philokalia and The Way of the Pilgrim. The Philokalia is a compilation of Orthodox fathers; one translation into Russian was made by St. Theophan the Recluse, who is cited in the article. The Way of the Pilgrim is also cited by the first external link regarding the Jesus Prayer, found on the OCA website (http://www.oca.org ). User:Wesley 17:23, 7 Jan 2004 (UTC)
== Issue with "Mantra" ==
Although the article seems to be fairly sound, I find the comparison with "Mantra" a bit unfair, perhaps because the author does not rightly understand mantra, or has received a diluted interpretation due to its buzz-word status in many parts of the West. A Mantra is meant to be a meaningful recitation, with thoughts fixed on whatever goal is to be accomplished, or whatever deity or symbol of God is being meditated upon/used in prayer.
See other meanings of words starting from letter:
Words begining with Hesychasm:
Hesychasm
Hesychasm
Hesychasm
Hesychasm (meaning ''quietness'' in Greek language) is a mystical tradition of experiential prayer in Eastern Orthodox Christianity. It is described in great detail in the Philokalia, a compilation of what various Eastern Orthodox saints wrote about prayer. ==The Hesychastic prayer== In practice, the Hesychastic prayer bears some superficial resemblance to mystical prayer or meditation in Eastern religions (Buddhism, Hinduism, compare with Yoga), although this similarity is often overly emphasized in popular accounts. For example, it may involve specific body postures, and be accompanied by very deliberate breathing patterns. It involves acquiring an inner stillness, ignoring the physical senses. The hesychasts interpreted Christ's injunction in the Gospel of Matthew to "go into your closet to pray", to mean that they should ignore sensory input and withdraw inwards to pray. It often includes many repetitions of the Jesus Prayer, ''"Lord Jesus Christ, son of God, have mercy on me, a sinner."''. One is to never treat it as a string of syllables for which the "surface" meaning is secondary. Likewise, hollow repetition is considered to be worthless (or worse than worthless) in the hesychast tradition. Saint Theophan the Recluse once related that body postures and breathing techniques were virtually forbidden in his youth, since, instead of gaining the Spirit of God, people succeeded only "in ruining their lungs." ===Gregory Palamas: defender of Hesychasm=== Hesychasm was defended theologically by Gregory Palamas at about three separate Hesychast Synods in Constantinople in the 1340s; he was asked to by his fellow monks on Mt. Athos to defend it from the attacks of Barlaam of Calabria, who advocated a more intellectual approach to prayer. ==See also== * Christianity * Eastern Orthodoxy * Mysticism * Philokalia * The Way of a Pilgrim * Meditation * Prayer * Theosis * Chakra (Hesychastic centres of prayer--not an Orthodox Christian use of the term) == External links == *[http://www.oca.org/pages/orth_chri/Orthodox-Faith/Spirituality/The-Jesus-Prayer.html The Jesus Prayer], a very straightforward exposition. *[http://www.orthodoxinfo.com/praxis/ignaty_jesus.htm On Practicing the Jesus Prayer] *[http://www.monachos.net/patristics/palamas_theology.shtml Three foundational aspects of the Theology of St Gregory Palamas] *[http://www.tertullian.org/fathers/origen_philocalia_02_text.htm English Translation of the Philokalia] *[http://www.religiousbook.net/Books/Complete_books/Jesus_prayer.html The Jesus Prayer] Prayer-meditation with Jesus into “spiritual heart”. *[http://www.religiousbook.net/Books/Online_books/Hs/What_Is_Hesychasm.html What Is Hesychasm] The term hesychasm originates from the Greek word hesychia - inner quietness. ==References== * ''The Philokalia'' (four volumes) * ''The Way of the Pilgrim'' Byzantine Empire Eastern Orthodoxy
Hesychasm
I've moved this here. As far as I know, this is not part of Orthodox doctrine but is either a syncretistic theosophical misinterpretation of Hesychasm or something dreamed up by some Western comparative religions undergrad. The terminology is very much NOT typical of the Eastern Orthodox Church. ---- ^sign your posts with
See other meanings of words starting from letter:
H
HA | HB | HC | HD | HE | HF | HG | HI | HJ | HK | HL | HM | HN | HO | HP | HR | HS | HT | HU | HW | HX | HY | HZ |Words begining with Hesychasm:
Hesychasm
Hesychasm
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