The Simplicity and Depth of Prayer
Ananta affirms that various forms of prayer are valid, emphasizing that the intention to connect with God is key, and devotion can be both gentle and intense, encouraging seekers to find what suits their temperament while also dedicating focused time.
Okay. So, I wanted to share with you that one formal prayer that I use is what the Christian Orthodox in Romania, in my country, use: the Jesus prayer. Like, 'Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, have mercy on me, a sinner.' In Romanian it sounds like [Romanian phrase] and I repeat that many times and it helps me to be in my heart. And I wanted to share this with you because I don't really use the ads—the full ads—so much. I use this Jesus prayer much more. Yeah. So I hope you're not upset about this.
You can't act so well. Remember that the ads is deeply inspired by the Jesus prayer. It's deeply inspired. So please, if you love the Jesus prayer, please do it. There is no—I could never complain against that. Okay.
And I also wanted to ask you, when it's focused prayer or time spent with God, does it have to be like intense? You know, sometimes I do that like in an intense prayer, like intense letting go of my ego, intense letting go of my thoughts, and it has its beauty. But sometimes I feel like just laying down with my eyes closed and just being in my heart, marinating in my heart and being with God's presence. Can it be also like that?
Yes, that is why I'm a bit milder than most of the Orthodox teachers, because they are very intense for me also. So I'm very, very impressed by their commitment and their depth, but I don't find that level of intensity either. So I feel like, in my way—and their way is very beautiful—but in my path, I find that just that gentle, loving, patient, humble staying with God's light takes care of it. For my temperament at least, this seems to suit better. So you have to see for your temperament what you enjoy. And it can be something sometime like that and sometime like this. Whenever you feel, as long as the intention is God, the rest of it is taken care of.
Yes. Yes.
I have experimented with this path deeply. There was a beautiful book—was it 'The Art of Prayer'? 'The Art of Prayer,' maybe, which is the Orthodox manual on prayer, and they have this very strong way of praying, you know, which is to just go to the heart forcefully and, yeah, with compunction and very deep repentance. It's a very—I love some of it, but when I just look at how it flows more naturally here, I just find that the gentle, loving movement seems to be more to my temperament, at least for the moment, because all these things keep changing also.
Yes. Because, you know, when for example I do that in the morning, you know, when I wake up, I stay with my heart for quite a long time, I guess. So it really is very helpful like that to start the day like that. And also before sleeping in the evening, I stay like that. And sometimes the voice says that maybe I'm being lazy, that I'm doing this laying down, you know. But in my heart, I don't feel that I'm avoiding something or that I'm being lazy. I don't know. It's just like maybe my temperament sometimes to be like that.
As long as it's only when you're lying down, then it sounds all right to me. Like if it's lying down first thing in the morning, you remember God and be in His presence—perfectly fine. Then during the day also you take out some time and be with God and pray and remember His name. Do the Jesus prayer as you're doing; then that's fine. And then when it's almost time to sleep, you want to lie down and pray—that's completely fine too.
Yeah. It depends on the day because sometimes I do the sadhana like more intense, more focused, more like with my eyes closed and all my body like in that committed—I mean like intense, you know, like I let go of my thoughts. I let go of my—and I keep surrendering to God. Like whatever thoughts come, whatever desires come, whatever attachments, I keep surrendering and it can be intense sometimes and it's okay for sometimes to be like that.
So at least one hour of focused prayer during the day when you're not sleepy or lying down. Right. Okay. Not that you're being lazy when you're doing it; it is very good. Whatever your—they say in India, whatever your avastha is, if you take Ram's name, the avastha is not so important. So whatever your situation is of your body, if you take Ram's name, then it is completely fine. And whether you remember Him as Ram or Jesus, it doesn't matter. So these things are good, to lie down and pray is also, but also give Him some of your prime time.
Key Teachings
- Any form of prayer, like the Jesus prayer, is valid and encouraged if it helps one connect to the heart and God.
- Prayer doesn't always have to be intense; gentle, loving, patient abiding in God's presence is equally effective.
- The intention behind the prayer is paramount; as long as it's directed towards God, the form is flexible.
- While gentle prayer is good, it's also beneficial to dedicate some 'prime time' to focused prayer when not sleepy or lying down.
From: Learn To Live in That Atmosphere of the Heart. And Don’t Worry About the ‘Me’ - 21st November 2025