Chapter 89

Turning Attention Away From the Heart is Turning Away From the Path to God

Images hold attention outward, however sacred they may be, but during prayer attention must be turned inward, to the heart: the concentration of attention in the heart is the starting point of proper prayer. And inasmuch as prayer is the path of ascent to God, turning attention away from the heart is turning away from this path. (16, 144)

There are deviations from the right path of this prayer. Therefore one must be taught it by one who knows it. Delusions come mostly from where one keeps attention—in the head or in the chest. Whoever is in the heart is safe. Even safer is whoever sorrowfully comes before God at every moment in contrition, with prayer for deliverance from spiritual delusions. (1, 245)

You stand before the Lord, without images, in the presence of the Lord... and you experience good feelings. What more is needed? There is everything. Or are you producing this in your head?!! —No, you must stand in the heart. But not to remember the heart, but only to see the Lord. —All can be expressed thus: ‘To stand in the heart with the mind before the Lord and to pray.’ (10, 175)