Of course, there are similarities, but there are also enormous differences-both a table and a horse have four legs, but to conclude that they are consequently the same would be an error of the crudest sort. When yogis claim that the Jesus Prayer resembles their own mantras, they are in fact trying to fit the Jesus Prayer into their own Procrustean bed. For his part, man offers his good intention, his labors, and his desire to draw near to God. Neither the freedom of God in His sovereignty nor the freedom of man in his free choice are ever violated. Thus, the swiftness or slowness with which a person advances in prayer depends on both the human and divine wills. Prayer, as I learned, is a relationship between two persons, God and man, who move towards each other. The Jesus Prayer consists of the repetition of the phrase "Lord Jesus Christ, have mercy on me."' The Jesus Prayer is not recited as a Mantra, but as a prayer to the Person of Christ. This started at the beginning of our acquaintance and continued until his repose twelve years later. One of the greatest spiritual gifts that Elder Paisios gave me was his guidance along the mystical path of the Jesus Prayer.
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