A homeless wanderer, bearing nothing but a knapsack and Bible, sets off to follow St. Paul's advice to "pray without ceasing" in this classic of world spirituality. Written by an anonymous nineteenth-century Russian peasant, it traces his attempts to achieve a greater intimacy with God by chanting the Jesus Prayer ("Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, have mercy on me").
Generations of readers--including seekers of all faiths--began their spiritual lives by following the pilgrim's attempts to discipline his mind toward a constant awareness of God's presence as manifested through Christ's mercy. This exploration of the power of prayer offers people everywhere, in every situation, a starting place on a journey to peace, freedom, and salvation. This edition features a brand-new Foreword by Norris J. Chumley, Ph.D., an Emmy Award winning authority on religion and history.