Rating: 
Summary: Life Changing
Review: 10 years ago I picked up a copy of The Way of a Pilgrim quite by accident, not knowing what it was about, and it changed and deepened my spiritual direction. As a consequence, its influence has been life-changing. I continue to say the Jesus Prayer as a way of focusing myself on the Spirit of God within and blocking out all distractions. Simply written and easy to understand, this book doesn't require interpretation or great intellect in order to receive the full blessing poured out onto each page. It has a positive and lasting impact on its reader. It goes without saying that the Philokalia volumes should follow on the book list -- or at least some excerpt from the desert father's teachings. This book remains one of my all-time favorites!
Rating:
Summary: Insight into the Spiritual Beauty of Christ's Mercy
Review: As Morton Kelsey has stated in his book, The Other Side of Silence, "This little book puts the ideas of the Philokalia into the hands of the ordinary person, showing how they can be made part of our devotional practice while we go about life in the ordinary, secular world." The Jesus prayer is simple, but the intent is to discipline one's mind toward a constant awareness of God's presence as manifested through Christ's mercy. The prayer reinforces one's absolute dependence on God's grace and sensitizes one's soul to the Holy Spirit's leadings. One is reminded of that other classic of the spiritual life by Brother Lawrence, The Practice of the Presence of God. To pray without ceasing is possible, but one must internalize prayer to make it an automatic, perpetual attitude of submission, not just a few words on the lips. The anonymous pilgrim was successful because of his faith-filled determination to locate the scriptural key to unceasing prayer and open the spiritual lock through practice. He seeks until he finds, and what he finds is a treasure of joy unspeakable and full of glory and a peace which passes all understanding. My heart was with the pilgrim throughout his wanderings because his concern was mine and, if it's your concern as well, you too will find that treasure.
Rating:
Summary: A story that will go right to your heart
Review: As Morton Kelsey has stated in his book, The Other Side of Silence, "This little book puts the ideas of the Philokalia into the hands of the ordinary person, showing how they can be made part of our devotional practice while we go about life in the ordinary, secular world." The Jesus prayer is simple, but the intent is to discipline one's mind toward a constant awareness of God's presence as manifested through Christ's mercy. The prayer reinforces one's absolute dependence on God's grace and sensitizes one's soul to the Holy Spirit's leadings. One is reminded of that other classic of the spiritual life by Brother Lawrence, The Practice of the Presence of God. To pray without ceasing is possible, but one must internalize prayer to make it an automatic, perpetual attitude of submission, not just a few words on the lips. The anonymous pilgrim was successful because of his faith-filled determination to locate the scriptural key to unceasing prayer and open the spiritual lock through practice. He seeks until he finds, and what he finds is a treasure of joy unspeakable and full of glory and a peace which passes all understanding. My heart was with the pilgrim throughout his wanderings because his concern was mine and, if it's your concern as well, you too will find that treasure.
Rating:
Summary: Inspirational
Review: I came upon this book by accident and without any prior knowledge of its existence or familiarity with the "Jesus Prayer." I began reading the book and quickly became fascinated with the story of the pilgrim and his adventures.After learning more about the current significance of the "Jesus Prayer" from the internet, I again read the book solely for its teachings about prayer. From the tale of the pilgrim I have learned more about prayer than from almost any other single source.
Rating:
Summary: A Classic
Review: I first learned of this book when I read Salinger's "Franny & Zooey" back in high school (a long time ago!). In the "Franny" portion, you will recall that she repeats a prayer over and over, and consults a little book. At the time, I asked my lit teacher what the book was and was told it didn't exist .. it was just part of the story. Many, many years later, I heard about the Way of the Pilgrim, and putting 2 and 2 together, realized that this is what Salinger referred to. I then read Way of the Pilgrim, just to see the literary reference, and instead found a beautiful book that renewed my spiritual life. This is a simple story of a 19th century Russian wanderer, his attempts to follow St. Paul's admonition to pray without ceasing. This is a marvelous story. I recommend it without hesitation to any person who wants to grow spiritually.
Rating:
Summary: A story that will go right to your heart
Review: I first read this book eighteen years ago and the pilgrim's humble and simple story touched something in my heart. The book was so inspiring that it moved me to begin praying the Jesus Prayer, and the Prayer and the Pilgrim have been my companions in life ever since. The story takes place in Russia in the nineteenth century. Our pilgrim is a man who has lost his family and his home, is slightly disabled, and who is burning with a passion for God. He hears a sermon on the necessity of constant prayer, and in his eagerness to find out how this is possible, sets out on a journey across Russia to meet with any spiritual advisor who can instruct him. One of these holy fathers introduces him to the Philokalia and the Prayer of the Heart. In passing along the instruction, however, the pilgrim is really teaching us, the readers. This book is filled with sound teaching, but, unlike other books on spirituality/theology, it does not tell us what to do, but rather lets the pilgrim, through narrative and dialogue, tell what he himself did. The instruction unfolds along with the story, touching the reader's heart and soul in the process. If you read this and would like to pursue the Prayer of the Heart, you might also want to read another very simple book called "Living the Jesus Prayer," by Irma Zaleski. Those two books, plus the Gospel, will get you through your whole life and beyond, and it will be a journey of joy and peace, and a direct experience of Omnipresence.
Rating:
Summary: A God-centered Life
Review: This book describes the adventures of a nineteenth-century peasant who spends much of his God-centered life wandering around Russia. It is an inspirational story about the value of praying.
Rating:
Summary: Beautiful Spiritual Novel
Review: This is one of my favorite lenten reads. While it introduces us to spiritual concepts and theology, it does so within the context of a charming story. Very relaxing and inspiring.
Rating:
Summary: Spiritually uplifting
Review: This is one of the best books I've read. Very nice story about ... well, I don't want to give it away. It's a good story. Believe me. There aren't too many books that I like :) It shows that to attain happiness and spirituality is somtimes simpler than we think.
Rating:
Summary: The Only Book You'll ever Need About the Act of Prayer
Review: This little book is both incitefull and instructional. A Spiritual Classic offered from the Eastern Orthodox Christian Church. This nameless little Pilgrim tells us about his spiritual journey as he travels and talks with people at various spiritual levels and learns about the "Jesus Prayer" or teaches them about the importance of the Jesus Prayer (page 120) Along with what Prayer is Not (page 148) The Power of Prayer (page 157)
The importance of Prayer within the framework of a community (page 173) Also included are the appropriate Scriptural references. This book is a must read for any Christians Spiritual development.
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