Brother Lawrence and the Russian Pilgrim: Praying Ceaselessly

Where else can you find Monty Python, C.S. Lewis, and the Kabbalah, all wrapped up in a single book? +Praying Ceaselessly+ is a gem. Anybody who has tried to meditate but quit after a few sessions ought to read it. You'll get some fantastic tips on mind-control and prayer, and along the way you'll meet two men worth knowing--Brother Lawrence and the Russian Pilgrim. I really recommend this one. It's funny in places, sorta tearful in others, and inspiring everywhere.

--unless your serious about prayer! Most of us don't have time to run off for a weeklong retreat. But this book tells you how to do one in your own home, at your own pace. I think I've finally learned how to pray from it. At least, I've started to pray. The author gives good practical exercises that are helpful for making the jesus prayer such a part of your life that you pray constantly. People who are fans of C.S. Lewis will like it, especially the first chapters.

This little book is a seven day retreat that guides the reader step by step into deep, meditative prayer. It calls on the orthodox Jesus prayer tradition, and on the practicing the presence of God tradition taught by the carmelite monk Brother Lawrence. My adult study group at church used the book, and it's one I'm going to read and reread. The chapter on becoming a living prayer is fantastic.

This book is a weeklong retreat in constant prayer. Using the Jesus prayer of the Russian pilgrim and Brother Lawrence's practice of the presence of God, the author teaches how to live prayer, not just say it. The chapter on monkey mind is especially helpful. Highly recommended for individuals and groups.

This short book is about learning how to pray. It focuses on two Christian mystics--Brother Lawrence and the Russian Pilgrim--but goes far beyond them. I've read two other books by Walters, Spirituality of the Handmaid and Godlust. This is just as good as they are. Walters is fast becoming one of my favorite writers on spiritulaty.