The Center encompasses all things, even as it indwells all things, the way the sea fills the membrane of the sponge that makes its home in the sea.

because the thinking mind so dominates, there can be a bit of stiffness as it opens. This stiffness registers in the mind as boredom. With nothing for the grasping mind to do, it feels bored or even anxious.

The traditional role of God the Holy Spirit is to conform us to God the Word, Who then ushers us into the silent depths of God the Father.

As St. Isaac of Nineveh puts it, “Without temptations, God’s concern is not perceived, nor is freedom of speech with him acquired, nor is spiritual wisdom learnt, nor does the love of God become grounded in the soul.”

the pathless path of prayer knows only how to move through struggle; and the only way through is through—not around, over, under, or alongside, but through.

Literally “compassion” means to feel with. The word betokens more a felt solidarity with a person than positive feelings for a particular person.

Expansion of awareness does not mean that we become aware of yet more things. This book concerns the expansion that takes place within awareness itself, before awareness becomes awareness of this or that object.

Contemplative practice proceeds by way of the engaged receptivity of release, of prying loose, of letting go of the need to have our life circumstances be a certain way in order for us to live or pray or be deeply happy.

If this commitment is not balanced by an operative knowledge of how much we fall short of them, we will likely struggle a great deal with the fact that others fall short of the ideal as well.