Daily Contemplations

God is the East, and God is the West; therefore, look to the East, or look to the West, and there you shall see the Face of God

Koran

"That is an amazing quote by John of the Cross... thanks Jeff, I should really look into some of his writing... "

I've got his complete works on my shelf. Some beautiful stuff. The philokalia is another amazing set of works that just blows me away.

"Let us go forward with the heart completely attentive and the soul fully conscious. For if attentiveness and prayer are daily joined together, they become like Elijah's fire-bearing chariot raising us to heaven"

40 Texts on watchfulness - Philokalia, Volume 3
St. Philotheos of Sinai (Around 1000 AD).

"I've got his complete works on my shelf. Some beautiful stuff. The philokalia is another amazing set of works that just blows me away.

"Let us go forward with the heart completely attentive and the soul fully conscious. For if attentiveness and prayer are daily joined together, they become like Elijah's fire-bearing chariot raising us to heaven"

40 Texts on watchfulness - Philokalia, Volume 3
St. Philotheos of Sinai (Around 1000 AD)."

Thanks for the pointing to the philokalia, I will definately chase it up. I am really enjoying the writings of the early mystics. Currently reading the writings of Brother Lawerence (c1614-91) who was a lay brother in a Camelite monastery.

"Thanks for the pointing to the philokalia, I will definately chase it up. I am really enjoying the writings of the early mystics. Currently reading the writings of Brother Lawerence (c1614-91) who was a lay brother in a Camelite monastery.
"

One of the nice things about the english translation which is in, I think, 5 volumes is that it has a list of greek terms with definitions in the back. It's wild to see how close their methods were. Essentially they would recite the Jesus prayer with their attention focused in their heart center. They would also make sure to be mindful over their thoughts and they had to pay attention to the prayer (not say it mindlessly). So they would combine their prayer (developing concentration) with watchfulness of the mind (they call it guarding the heart)

"Essentially they would recite the Jesus prayer with their attention focused in their heart center. They would also make sure to be mindful over their thoughts and they had to pay attention to the prayer (not say it mindlessly). So they would combine their prayer (developing concentration) with watchfulness of the mind (they call it guarding the heart)"

Yes I see this as creating a space (witnessing) and similar to Ramanas instruction with the heart. Guidjeff also has a similar technique. For my own practice as soon as I am aware of self talk or discursive thinking I create that space at the heart and I find I willl notice the trigger for these thoughts. Of all the chakras the heart appears to be the easiest to detect these causes (attachment) and it is an interesting investigation. The question is what came first the thought or the body response (conditions). The thing that interest me is to attempt to understand all this talk about emotions as it seams to be a paradox as when you have surrendered there is no this or that. One thing I believe that these are patterns that are worthy of investigation and understanding and the wonderful space that is created when the tension is released.