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The Three Essentials of Prayer

 

Jaegar believes that using one simple word that is meaningful can be a defense when one is in times of conflict, which is similar to Keating's opinion that using one word is the best option. It can subdue all of the surrounding distractions and allow a Christian to truly be at peace. Jaegar illustrates that short words are better for this purpose but individuals can choose whatever sound allows them to achieve peace; whether or not this is their own name or simply a primal sound. .
             Jaegar and Keating's position regarding prayer words are fairly similar, but Laird's take on the use of a prayer word to achieve communion with God differs. In Laird's reading Continually Breathe Jesus Christ: Stillness and Watchfulness in the Philokalia, the term "prayer word " was not actually used but it was replaced with the term "Jesus prayer ". Laird's piece is generally based off of the Philokalia. The Philokalia is a "collection of spiritual writings by Greek monastic authors " (Laird 2007 243). One of the main components of the Philoakalia is this Jesus Prayer. The collection says that the main obstacle in connecting with God as humans is that we have the tendency towards the "passions " which are thoughts that distract us from God and cause our mind to constantly flit as opposed to achieving unity with God. In order to battle against this distraction, the Jesus Prayer is introduced. The prayer consists of the words "Jesus Christ, Son of God, have mercy on me " (Laird 2007 247). I believe that this is very different from the other readings which allow one to pick their own word. The other readings illustrate that we are allowed to pick our own prayer words that allow us to connect to God. However in Laird's piece he argues that the "key feature is always the name ˜Jesus' " (Laird 2007 247). .
             Another difference in Laird's teaching is the origin of the Jesus prayer and the use of a prayer word in general.


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