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==Hesychastic practice==
Hesychasm may involve specific body postures, and may be accompanied by deliberate breathing exercises. It involves acquiring an "inner stillness," ignoring the senses. The hesychasts interpreted [[Jesus Christ|Christ]]'s injunction in the [[Gospel of Matthew]] to "go into your closet to pray" to mean that they should move beyond the senses and withdraw inwards to pray. Hesychasm often includes repeating the [[Jesus Prayer]]: ''"[[Lord]] Jesus Christ, Son of God, have mercy on me[, a sinner]."''.
St. [[Theophan the Recluse]] once related that body postures and breathing techniques were virtually forbidden in his youth, since, instead of gaining the [[Holy Spirit|Spirit of God]], people succeeded only "in ruining their lungs."{{Citation needed}}
