'Silence is very difficult for most of us to attain, and it is perhaps odd that one of the best ways of letting go of language seems to be through language' that is, through the prayer of repetition, the shorter and simpler the better. I am thinking in particular of the Jesus prayer, the best-loved prayer for constant use in the Russian tradition, "Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, have mercy on me a sinner"' (Anne Pennington, Theologjl,1982).
Bishop Kallistos expresses living Orthodox tradition and theology in this classic exposition of the Jesus Prayer. He allows the Hesychasts, the masters of stillness, to speak directly to us and shows that beginners in prayer, as well as those with more experience, can profitably apply their teaching to themselves. He also tackles related questions about breathing techniques, the possible relation between 'the way of the Name in Orthodoxy and similar disciplines in other religious traditions, and the legitimacy of practising the prayer before coming to personal belief in Christ. Consistently a best-seller, The Power of the Name can be put confidently in the hands of all who wish to learn to pray; it has proved its worth for people at every stage, and been translated into many languages. The author's revisions in this new and longer edition are the fruit of continued teaching and prayer.