The Method of Attentive Prayer of Saint Kallistos, Patriarch of Constantinople
In the body of an ascetic who is attentive in prayer there arise, as it were, certain movements beneath the skin; some regard these as delusion. Warmth also comes from the kidneys, as though girding them; this too they consider delusion. In fact these are not delusions, but natural signs produced by the labour of prayer. But when someone praises them as coming from grace and not from nature, then this is indeed delusion. In any case, the ascetic should not love these signs, but reject them.
Yet another warmth comes from the heart; and if from it the intellect descends into wandering thoughts, then this is indeed delusion. But when the whole body is warmed by the heart, and the intellect is pure and dispassionate and seems to cleave to the innermost depths of the heart, then this is truly an operation of grace.
He to whom this happens sometimes sweats from the great warmth issuing from the body, and then a holy activity comes forth from the heart, which takes, as it were, a veil from the heart and moves the intellect into the innermost depths; and the intellect seems to cleave to that same Divine activity and often cries out: “My Jesus, my Jesus.” As soon as the heart is opened, the intellect calls only: “My Jesus”; and because of the frequent opening of the heart it cannot say all the words of the prayer, “Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, have mercy on me,” but can say only “My Jesus.” And those who say that in such a state they can recite the whole prayer are deluded. When the intellect, as I have said, cleaves to the Divine activity, having entered the innermost depths of the heart, it cannot call out often; it can say only “My Jesus.”
Then from this holy prayer there comes also wonder from the heart, when there is great consolation from the holy activity. Then the heart leaps, and a tear flows from it with joy, flowing sweetly from the eyes; and this is joyful sorrow. Then the heart boils from this great sacred activity, and the whole body becomes inflamed. And the intellect cries out in wonder: “Lord, have mercy.” As oil boiling from the heat in a large vessel upon a fire spills over the edges, so it happens with the heart: when it beholds the Divine activity within itself, it pours warmth into the body and sets it aflame. To one who feels this it seems that all his inward parts are bursting forth from the body.
There are also other glorious things with those who have attained such a state: sometimes there is light, so that such a person beholds within himself an illumination which shines upon him more clearly than the sun and pours light forth from the heart. There are other mysteries within the heart which cannot be described. For the intellect beholds all creatures and marvels at the movement of the holy activity; and, contemplating the Divine mysteries, it sends forth from the depths of the heart words of wisdom about which I cannot even write. The whole person is then deified by that divine movement, finding himself beyond all that is earthly and sensual, and cannot contain his joy, as though he had drunk much wine.
After this he sometimes receives divine visions and beholds awesome mysteries which I cannot describe in detail. For the intellect beholds divine visions, and sees the joy of the righteous and the beauty of heaven. And when the intellect is caught up still higher, it beholds wondrous and glorious mysteries in the heavens; and the more a person is cleansed from attachments to the contrary, the more he beholds, according as the Holy Spirit grants him — to whom be glory for ever. Amen.