The Prayer of the Heart in Hesychasm and Sufism

Greek Orthodox Theological Review: Overview

• Volume: 31

• Issue: Nos. 1-2, 1986

• Article: The Prayer of the Heart in Hesychasm and Sufism

• Author: Seyyed Hossein Nasr

Introduction

• Quote by Shams al-Dïn Lâhïjï: "The goblet revealing the universe is the heart of the perfect man; The mirror that reveals the Truth is in reality this heart. The heart is the depository of the treasures of the Divine Mysteries; Whatever you seek in the two worlds, ask the heart and you shall attain it."

• Importance of inner dimensions of Christianity and Islam in dialogues today.

• Notable absence of material on similarities between Hesychasm and Sufism despite scholarly interest.

The Nature of Hesychasm and Sufism

Hesychasm

• Defined as the science of prayer, specifically the prayer of the heart within the Orthodox Church.

• Historical roots trace back to Christ; oral teachings formally developed from the 11th to 14th centuries with significant contributions from:

  • Symeon the New Theologian

  • Nikephoros the Monk

  • Gregory the Sinaite

• Location: Mount Athos, a critical site for the Hesychast tradition.

Sufism

• An oral tradition stemming from the Prophet of Islam.

• Formulations emerged two to three centuries post-Islam's inception, featuring early masters like:

  • Bâyazïd al-Bastamï

  • Junayd

• By the fifth Islamic century, Sufi orders were clearly defined.

Similarities between Hesychasm and Sufism

• Similarities in the prayer of the heart arise not from historical borrowing, but from:

  • Nature of spirituality in both traditions

  • Constitution of the human microcosm

• The prayer revitalizes the heart through divine grace emanating from a revelation.

• Heart as the locus of divine presence, connected to higher realities.

Prayer Practices

Hesychastic Practice

• John Klimakos emphasizes the constant remembrance of Jesus:

  • Quote: "Let the remembrance of Jesus be present with you every breath."

• Saint Diadochos of Photike states:

  • Experience of Grace: Occurs at the brink of sleep or in fervent remembrance, uniting one with divine love.

  • Continuous Prayer: Analogous to purifying gold, consistent prayer prevents the heart’s spiritual hardness.

• Continuous prayer is mandated for those seeking holiness.

Sufi Practice (Dhikr)

• Dhikr Allah: Remembrance and invocation of God's name is central in spiritual realization in Islam.

• Qur'an references emphasize the necessity of remembrance:

  • Qur'an 3.40: "Remember (invoke) thy Lord over and over; exalt him at daybreak and in the dark of the night."

  • Qur'an 33.41: "O ye who believe, remember (invoke) God again and again."

  • Qur'an 73.8: "Remember (invoke) thy Lord's Name and devote thyself to him wholeheartedly."

• The heart finds rest in divine remembrance:

  • Qur'an 13.28: "The hearts of those who believe are set at rest in the remembrance (invocation) of God."

Comparisons of the Heart Doctrine

Nature of the Heart

• In Hesychasm:

  • Heart (ή καρδία): Center of human being; seat of intelligence and will.

  • Acts as a conduit for grace to all parts of the human microcosm.

• In Sufism:

  • Heart (al-qalb in Arabic, dil in Persian): Identified with knowledge, will, and love.

  • Seat of divine presence from which grace flows to the whole being.

• Intellect and Spiritual Understanding: Both traditions espouse that the intellect must be understood through the heart, allowing for spiritual sight beyond physical perception.

Spiritual Paths and Practices

Guidance and Renewal

• Both traditions start under the guidance of a master with repentance:

  • Hesychasm: Επιστροφή

  • Sufism: Tawbah

• Emphasis on the dual necessity of action and contemplation:

  • Contemplation (θεωρία, al-nazar) provides the vision.

  • Action (πραξις, al-'amal) realizes the vision.

Stages and Goals of Spirituality

• Intermediary Stages: Though the processes may differ, they reflect the same spiritual aspirations.

• End Goals:

  • Stillness in Hesychasm vs. Annihilation (al-fanà) in Sufism.

  • Deification (θεώσις) in Hesychasm vs. Union (wisâl, tawhïd) in Sufism.

• Notably, Hesychasm asserts that full deification awaits the afterlife, while Sufism posits union can be attained in this life.

Physical and Spiritual Integration

• Both traditions regard the body as a key part of spiritual life:

  • Body as the temple of the spirit

  • Emphasis on the significance of bodily methods and practices like meditation and breathing techniques.

• Actively placing oneself in the divine Name is regarded as essential to achieving sanctity.

Combat and Spiritual Warfare

• Active Participation: The spiritual path is characterized as one of active combat against internal passions:

  • Sufism refers to this as al-jihad al-akbar (the greater holy war).

  • Hesychasm promotes relentless struggle against evil tendencies; noted text: The Unseen Warfare.

Symbolism of Light

Hesychastic Tradition

• Asserts that God is light, and spiritual experiences denote light:

  • Symeon the New Theologian emphasized the relentless experience of divine light.

  • Saint Gregory of Palamas remarks on the transformation into divine light through participation in divine energies.

Islamic Perspective on Light

• Qur'an 24.35 describes God as the "Light of the Heavens and the earth."

• Various mystical schools, particularly the Illuminationist school by Shaykh Shihâb al-Dïn Suhrawardï, emphasize light in the spiritual context.

Convergence of Spiritual Traditions

Shared Practices

• Both traditions share the practice of the prayer of the heart, though practices differ in invocation.

  • Hesychasm invokes Jesus, while Sufism calls upon Allah.

  • Emphasis shifts between love and knowledge, respecting both elements.

  • Sufism is institutional and social; Hesychasm is largely monastic.

Conclusion on the Prayer of the Heart

• The prayer of the heart serves as a gateway to understanding the profound internal similarities between Christianity and Islam.

• Both traditions, despite their differences, provide pathways towards deeper spiritual realization and communication.

• Reference to Louis Massignon’s assertion that the prayer of the heart is paramount for understanding between both faiths.

• The significance of practicing the prayer of the heart lies in its ability to unify diverse expressions of divine truths across cultures.