If your spirit still looks around at the time of prayer, then it does not yet pray as a monk. You are no better than a man of affairs engaged in a kind of landscape gardening.

Prayer is the laying aside of thoughts.

Remember how the Lord rebukes Martha when He says: 'You are anxious and troubled about many things: one thing alone is needful' (Lk. 10:41-42) ? to hear the divine word; after that, one should be content with anything that comes to hand.

If you patiently accept what comes, you will always pray with joy.

A man who worships in Spirit and Truth no longer honors the Creator because of His works, but praises Him because of Himself.

If your spirit still looks around at the time of prayer, then it does not yet pray as a monk. You are no better than a man of affairs engaged in a kind of landscape gardening.

The further the soul advances, the greater are the adversaries against which it must contend.