Chapter 19

The Secret of Spiritual Life—to Concentrate the Mind in the Heart

How to understand the phrase “concentrate the mind in the heart”? The mind is where attention is. To concentrate it in the heart means to establish attention in the heart and inwardly behold the invisible God present before you, turning to Him with praise, thanksgiving, and petition, while guarding so that nothing foreign enters the heart. Here lies all the secret of spiritual life. (9, 61–62)

Do not forget the chief thing—to unite attention and mind with the heart and to remain unbroken there before the face of the Lord. All prayer labors must be directed toward this. Pray to the Lord that He grant you this good. This is treasure hidden in a field; this is a pearl of great price. (4, 359)