On "Collecting yourself" Part 1.

[@revelation2-9]

I have always had a very vivid and wild imagination growing up. Even after my Chrismation, I still struggle many times to keep my mind empty in order to pray. Even now, I had to play an exorcism prayer of Saint John Chrysostom to calm down. Please pray for me brothers and sisters.

[@dana5757]

Господи, молю Тебя, Помилуй нас всех! Аминь.

[@alwaysasn]

As a man who lacks faith, I have much respect for this man. He speaks wisely and eagerly without seeming preachy!

[@herkload]

Do you still lack faith?

[@nicksum29]

I return to this often. I have become an Anglican who prays like an Orthodox Christian. And what a difference it has made.

[@bgail7669]

there is no Orthodox Church near me so I am attending an Anglican Church and practice as much of Orthodox Christianity as possible, Fr. Puhalo's videos with an Anglican professor has been very helpful

[@JustinianG]

Become a believing orthodox christian as well

[@catalincata9043]

@3IqeI wish i was watching these videos at 14. God bless you child. Keep up the good fight.

[@shayne2168]

I pray you all have come to the one true Church. God bless you all.

[@allsaintsmonastery]

If you wish to accomplish your goal, then you cannot allow any other thoughts, no matter how spiritual or salutory, to occupy your mind. It is necessary to come to the point of clearling your mind and collecting yourself before you can really aim the prayer at healing specific passions, although the prayer will always help with combatting the passions.

[@williamwurthmann1573]

Christ is risen; indeed He is risen! Pray for me as I pray for you. Alaska

[@inboxaddict44]

Dear Father, I've been saying the Jesus Prayer for a few months now and it has really helped to change my life. I have gotten more serious about it and have bought a prayer rope to use. Your videos have helped me to understand the various parts of myself and the way to bring myself into unity with myself and unity with God. I am very happy to have found this way. I have been a Christian for decades, but I haven't had a method of being closer to God as good as this one. Thank you so much.

[@wesleybrown1269]

I have been dealing with stress and anxiety to the point of extreme brain fog and cognitive issues, that have been non stop so far for now 7 months. I meditate, but I never can full trust that process. This I can trust and practice trusting God and clearing the mind and be safe spiritually. I am glad the Lord has brought this to my attention!

[@WizardOfGaming1092]

Update?

[@wesleybrown1269]

@WizardOfGaming1092 I have had slow progress overall. I have also had moments of clarity. But I keep getting caught up in to dos and I get stressed again and the symptoms strengthen. I am not dealing with insomnia now though. Brain fog is there anxiety and stress is still there. I over fill my life instead of simplifying it and that doesn’t allow time for me to be quiet with the Lord and meditate on His words. But I have more hope than I did. Please pray for me and thanks for reaching out.

[@llamadeus.official]

Who else is watching this gem in 2020?

[@bvdh9071]

2024

[@b0ondockz838]

2025

[@joncoady3253]

Excellent. Thank you.

[@susannemcarlisle]

Your videos are so appreciated by those of us who live far from a center of orthodox learning. Blessings.

[@tinswalo2807]

I have begun my journey to truly follow od by reading the bible, dressing modestly and veiling. The veiling and modesty has though prompted people to think I have converted tp islam. It is not easy but everytime they ask it reminds of God

[@Orthodoxy4Life]

Do you wear a cross necklace? You can also get veils that have crosses on them I think 😃God bless ☦

[@tinswalo2807]

@@Orthodoxy4Life no i dont wear a cross necklace. I have never actually attached any imagery to my faith its how i grew up so i also dont wear a cross. But i have started wearing cross earrings when i dress in a way that is modest enough to get people saying im scared to admit im islam. It is difficult because some think my mother is forcing me and i dont want to live life and experience it

[@1PlainOne]

I love this teaching…I feel hopeless in that area of my life. I tell this very issue to the Lord. I feel scattered, bored and stagnant. I find myself looking at documentaries a lot of the time, most about airplanes, Antarctic explorers, and ship disasters. I feel I need a miracle to change me. Because I run toward the Lord, then I freeze from feeling out of place. I do deal with a lot of physical pain and lethargy. But before I get too low the Lord steps in and lifts my spirit and I feel alive again,but I must not be stoking the flames enough. Thank you for listening.❤

[@WizardOfGaming1092]

Update? Pls tell me if it got better!

[@olgasavina8277]

Thanks a lot. When I was practicing qigong, we used to do the same - collecting ourselves. Now I prefer to pray.

[@allsaintsmonastery]

Thank you for your kind comment.

[@ioannismiami]

I like your reference. Thoughts of resentment become distractions to focusing the mind on the heart. Imagine the gift that one brings to the altar is the practice of the presence of God. In addition, the altar is Christ in this analogy. In drawing our thoughts inward to Christ, we discover that resentful thoughts become impediments to us reaching the altar. These thoughts impede us because they tempt us to pay attention to them. That is why the verb "remember" in v. 23 is important.

[@GamerzDailyFix]

Masha Allah. Very nice video sir.

[@alcoholicjoe6199]

Lord Jesus Christ Son of God jave mercy on me a sinner .

[@darkroom5534]

Thank you!

[@filipdzolic901]

Дивно

[@allsaintsmonastery]

True, and while he was, of course, speaking especially to those monastics who wish to live alone, guiding themselves, it applies to the Christian who wishes to interpret Scripture for him/herself. Of course, this also disproves the Aerial Toll House myth, because the devil is certainly not "unknown" in this myth.

[@inboxaddict44]

Can you please make a video on teaching about what the nous is? I need clarification on this concept. Thank you.

[@Chad01234]

Makes a lot of sense thank you - and naturally reminds many of us I would assume of the Buddhist mantra beads i.e., Sakyamuni, the founder of Buddhism, paid a visit to king VaidunyaSakya directed him to thread 108 seeds of the Bodhi tree on a string, and while passing them between his fingers to repeat Hail to the Buddha, the law, and the congregation' (2,000) times a day (Dubin).

[@captal6187]

Adam Russell I pray Jesu prayer day & night. I use 108 Rudraksha beads.

[@allsaintsmonastery]

Interestingly, a number of historians of religion assert that the use of beads and knots for prayer came from the Christian west to the Buddhist east. Of course the exchange was bi-directional. Buddha began the idea of struggle against "atachments." Both shells and beads on strings were originally items of barter (primtv money) and later were simply counting devices, so likely all myths about how they begin to b usd for pryr are just tht: myths.

[@psevdhome]

Are you quite well, your eminence? You seem ill? Anyway this was a good video, I really enjoyed it. I haven't used my prayer rope for quite some time but I am thinking of starting to use it in prayer again. Recently I've only used it for keeping track when I ring the bells of our church, quite embarrassing actually. Anyway, these videos are always enjoyable, thank you again!

[@yellow6100]

I dont know if you answer questions here but Im wondering why isnt Fear among the 7 deadly sins or among Evagrius Ponticus 8 evil thoughts? Is it under some of the 7(8) ? I dont understand under which if so. If you answer with your thoughts or solution Id appreciate it.

[@jaygresh]

Sir, what you are teaching is similar to the African-American theologian, Howard Thurman. He taught that we all need to find the "centering moment" where our hearts and minds are completely focused on God.

[@ubermensch5781]

Real

[@allsaintsmonastery]

Not familiar with him, but I will look him up and try to read something by him.

[@allsaintsmonastery]

OK, but we are in Canada, not America, and there are some good things in Canada.

[@bgail7669]

I live in Canada and there are many good things in and about Canada

[@knaamachternaam2320]

А где это??

[@theaardee]

Confess ONLY TO GOD.

[@allsaintsmonastery]

Not according to Scripture, where the Apostle clearly tells us to confess to one another, to the elders, and be anointed by them. Likely you do not understand the nature of "confession." In the context you are speaking, one should never consult a medical doctor but "consult only God" when you have medical problems. Confession (at least in the Orthodox context) provides a secure opportunity to discuss you struggles and seek advice. You also are not very familiar with the bible. To whom did David confess? Which Apostle directs us to confess to each other? Read the Scripture, and you will get a totally different (and more Biblical) understanding.

[@tylerfast106]

Maybe we could say if you are confessing to these people and leaving out God you are mistaken. However in the context spoken of in the Bible we are confiding in each other and holding each other accountable through confession. It is by no means a substitute for God.

[@allsaintsmonastery]

It is a mystical text, not a theological one.

[@heather_henson]

11/25/2024 12:21

[@Chad01234]

Thank you Vladika. I wonder (and sadly at that) how much religious history is incorrect/inaccurate. I suppose what's important here is not the history of meditational prayer (which I believe existed in Vedas and Puranas, before the advent of the Christian movement in the first-third centuries A.D.) but rather the importance of the prayer rope allowing us to as you say to "bring our mind into the heart - stoping the mind from wandering - etc." Thank you for this - well done.

[@joshuavillela2336]

my question is if I can acknowledge the Presence of the Lord Jesus in my heart wouldn't the Holy spirit already be present?

[@allsaintsmonastery]

Can one? Why is it that so many people say they have the Holy Spirit indwelling and that they are guided by the Holy Spirit, and yet the doctrines they have are so often in opposition to one another. One has to work on oneself and struggle for the acquisition of the Holy Spirit. Even to say that Jesus Christ is present in the heart sometimes turns out to be only one's emotions, sometimes even a kind of spiritual conceit. One should be very careful not to be deceived about such matters. I am not saying that you do not have the presence of Christ, but only that one needs to be cautious about it.

[@joshuavillela2336]

Lazar Puhalo I agree Fr. may this work and these troubles produce the necessary fruit of virtue, the grace of the Holy Spirit.

[@tinswalo2807]

I have begun my journey to truly follow od by reading the bible, dressing modestly and veiling. The veiling and modesty has though prompted people to think I have converted tp islam. It is not easy but everytime they ask it reminds of God