THE DANGER OF DELUSION DURING PRAYER
By St. Ignatios Brianchaninov, Bishop of the Caucasus
and Stavropol (+1867), from “On the Prayer of Jesus, ” ch. 16.
I offer fathers and brothers my poor advice, begging
them not to reject it. Do not force yourself prematurely to the discovery
within yourself of the action of the prayer of the heart. Prudent caution is
most necessary, especially in our time when it is almost impossible to find a
satisfactory spiritual guide in these matters, when the ascetic must himself
force his way gropingly by the direction of the writings of the holy Fathers to
the treasury of spiritual knowledge, and also must gropingly select for himself
what is suited to his needs.
While living according to the commandments of the
Gospel, attentively practice the prayer of Jesus according to the method of St.
John of the Ladder, combining prayer with weeping, having as the beginning and
end of prayer repentance. In its own time, as it is only known to God, the
action of the prayer of the heart will be revealed of itself.