@scottjeffries I’m very interested in hearing more about your work on the Jesus Prayer in your doctoral studies. It has been transformational in my life of prayer over the past few years. Everything on “tears” there has helped me realize a different approach to emotional range or depth in spirituality. Having experienced a lot of the charismatic/Pentecostal side of that in my youth and college years, I’ve been surprised at how Eastern Orthodox spirituality has overlapping similarities and differences with that tradition.

In terms of “best translation,” I’m pretty sure the standard and only complete English translation available is this one: www.faber.co.uk/product-c… 

Although not strictly from The Philokalia, there is a nice compilation from Orthodox spiritual writings on prayer called “The Art of Prayer”: us.macmillan.com/books/978…