Customer Reviews

A Retreat With Brother Lawrence and the Russian Pilgrim: Praying Ceaselessly (Retreat With-- Series)

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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.

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 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.

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.

--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.

I don't much like your typical retreat or howtodoit spirituality book, but this one is different. The best way to describe it is a Zen approach to Xtian prayer, where the reader/retreatist discovers that he's the riddle that needs to be solved. Very good. (although I can't figure out what the description listed by amazon.com has to do with the book. seems like it should be for another book)

This little book is a reflective how-to manual on continuous prayer/meditation. It takes the reader step by step to the point where he or she is ready to practice what today we would call the centering prayer. It was the text for a workshop on prayer I recently attended, and all of the participants agreed it was a great help. It's also a great guide to books and movies that deal with prayer and meditation.

I wish Walters has written this book 25 years ago, when I was struggling (fruitlessly) with prayer. My failure to make any sort of meaningful connection soured me on the whole thing for the next twenty years. Walters hits the nail on the head in this step-by-step retreat on prayer/meditation. The problem I made years ago, and the problem too many other people make, is that we try too hard when it comes to praying. Letting go is a lot more difficult than grabbing onto. Anybody who wants a richer prayer life will cherish this little book.

I wish Walters has written this book 25 years ago, when I was struggling (fruitlessly) with prayer. My failure to make any sort of meaningful connection soured me on the whole thing for the next twenty years. Walters hits the nail on the head in this step-by-step retreat on prayer/meditation. The problem I made years ago, and the problem too many other people make, is that we try too hard when it comes to praying. Letting go is a lot more difficult than grabbing onto. Anybody who wants a richer prayer life will cherish this little book.