About the book: 2003 / In 1936, the Valaam monastery published the book "Smart Doing. About the Jesus Prayer" is a collection of teachings of the holy fathers and experienced practitioners of the Jesus Prayer, compiled by Abbot Chariton of Valaam (1933–1947). This publication was conceived as a manual, or reference book, for those who are looking for “guidance for improving their inner spiritual life.” Upon publication, the book attracted everyone's attention. Contemporaries called it the “Small Philokalia,” appreciating both the versatility of its content and the completeness of its coverage of the issue of the Jesus Prayer—the mystery of “smart doing.” The keen interest with which the publication was received prompted the monastery to publish in 1938 a second book on the same topic, supplementing and explaining the first - “What is the Jesus Prayer according to the tradition of the Orthodox Church.” In it, in the form of a conversation between an elder monk and a lay priest, answers are given to numerous questions that may arise during the Jesus Prayer for both monks and lay people. The book includes instructions on prayer from the holy fathers of the Church and Russian ascetics: Elder Schemamonk Vasily, St. Paisius Velichkovsky, St. Seraphim of Sarov, St. Theophan the Recluse, St. Ignatius Brianchaninov, Optina and Valaam elders, St. right John of Kronstadt. The need for this kind of literature is acutely felt by modern readers. Words of St. Ignatius Brianchaninova: “At the present time there is a significant need for correct prayer, but they don’t even know it! They do not know that it should be an instrument and expression of repentance, they seek pleasure and delight, they flatter themselves and kill their souls with the instrument given for salvation. A correct understanding of prayer in our time is essential! She is essential, the only leader in our time towards salvation. There are no mentors!” - describe our time as accurately as possible. Offered to the attention of all who are zealous for salvation, the “Collection on the Jesus Prayer” is intended to help find answers to the questions: what is prayer, what is its essence, what are its degrees, how to acquire the skill of prayer, what conditions are necessary to acquire the true prayer spirit, what are the fruits of prayer - this, according to the holy fathers, art of arts, art of arts.