Standing With the Mind in the Heart Means Kindling in it the Fire Which the Lord Came to Cast Upon the Earth

In the beginning, God created light diffused everywhere; on the fourth day he concentrated it around the sun. So too in spiritual life—whether in reading, in meditation on God, in prayer, or in church, or in conversation—there is warmth in the heart; but what kind—light, wafted, not grafted. It must be concentrated in the heart, grafted into it, smoldered and burned. Then it is good. This is the fire which the Lord came to cast upon the earth. May the Lord bless you. Labor; but do not think you can do anything yourselves, but cry out with contrition: “Lord, help! Lord, kindle!” — One elder besought the Most Pure Mother of God for two years—and she gave him fire, and it became, he says, good. — And you too, pray and labor, that is, seek how to stand in the heart. And the Lord, seeing your labor and that you sincerely desire this good, will give you grace of heartfelt burning. This is what it means—to stand in the heart. Only then can one stand, when it has become kindled; until then there is labor. Do not be afraid. Flee various imaginings. There is nothing unusual in all this. This is the common path. Be strong. The Mother of God is your helper… Father Seraphim will teach you. Remember how once during the liturgy he was embraced by the fire of the heart. This is the blessed state! — It is possible for us too. — And it requires only constant labor. This is paradise! — Seek and you will find. Knock and it will be opened to you. (3, 44–45)