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Dec 29th, 2019
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Joined: Nov 2001
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It has been recommended to me that when praying before an icon, one should stand comfortably, feet slightly apart, arms extended in supplication, and looking directly at the subject in the icon. Icons are windows into the infinite, and it does one little good to stand before an open window with one's eyes shut.
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Joined: Apr 2011
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I like the analogy, Stuart. Very nicely put. Btw readers, 'scuse this odd coda, but something has been bugging me that I wrote earlier; I was attempting to make the point that even in a simple and direct prayer like the Jesus Prayer one's focus can be ravaged by carnal images. This has in fact happened to me and even in what I thought to be a setting, silence, and sincerity that I've previously found conducive to saying this prayer. Instead I forced the point in my reply and implied having received a suspect solution or otherwise suspect "answer" to my saying of this prayer. I can't honestly say that that has happened and so I am apologizing for an aside that was in itself suspect and deceptive. Some kind of passion in making a point got the best of me. Please forgive me.
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Joined: Nov 2002
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TM:
The Desert Fathers make the point that the one activity that will require the greatest struggle in our life of faith. This struggle, they say will not end as long as we live. They also say that of all the activities we may undertake as Christians the Enemy makes the most effort to break up prayer.
Bob
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As a opening note, I understand the warning of the Church Fathers regarding imagination (more like warnings on delusion) during prayers. Some people fall under the influence of what they think of as supernatural happenings through perfectly normal physical things (like cloud formations, or a bird singing at a particular event, etc)
But one is not spiritually deluded if events or people in their lives come to mind during prayer. If we shut out the whisper of the Holy Spirit during our prayer, what kind of prayers is that? What one should ask himself and God is "Is this beneficial and charitable, or is it detrimental and selfish?"
The Akathist of the Theotokos is a traditional example of perception (you can call it imagination if you like). The imagined words of Gabriel, Simeon, the shepherds, the Theotokos, Joseph and the Magi are all included in this prayers service which is authorized and promoted by the Church.
So the opening post cries out for balance.
Discernment and good spiritual counsel are the proper answers; there is no black and white rule.
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