OS (Text) -- 18

89 Since every thought (logismos) enters into the heart through the imagination of certain sensible things, at that time the blessed light of the Divinity dawns on it when it should be completely at leisure from all things and should become unfigured by these things, if, indeed, that splendour discloses itself to the pure mind (nous) in accordance with the deprivation of the mental representations of all things.

90 By as much as you attend extremely to the intellect (dianoia), by that much will you pray to Jesus with yearning; and, again, as much as you regard your intellect (dianoia) negligently, by that much will you also grow distant from Jesus. And just as the first enlightens extremely the air of the intellect (dianoia), thus also to turn the head aside from sobriety and from the sweet invocation of Jesus by nature darkens completely the air of the intellect (dianoia), as the matter is by nature of this sort, as we have said, and it is not otherwise. And this you will receive by experience making a trial of [it] in work (ergon), for it is not in the nature of things for virtue, and certainly such a delightful labour as this that gives birth to light, to be taught if not by experience.

91 Continually to invoke Jesus with a certain yearning filled with sweetness and joy <has as> cause the air of the heart’s being filled with joy and serenity on account of the extreme attention. Of extreme purification of the heart, the cause is Jesus Christ, the Son of God and God, the Cause and Maker of all goods, for he says: ‘I am a God who makes peace.’ [Cf. Isa. 45, 7.]

92 A soul which is shown kindness and made sweet by Jesus with a certain exultation and charity rewards the Benefactor through confession, thanking and invoking with joy of heart him who makes her peaceful, and within herself intelligibly seeing him bring to naught the imaginations of the wicked spirits.

93 David says: ‘And my intelligible eye looked upon my intelligible enemies; and my ear will hear those who are risen up against me plotting wickedness.’ [Cf. Ps. 91, 12.] ‘And I saw from God the recompense of sinners occurring in me.’ [Cf. Ps. 90, 8.] There not being any imaginations in the heart, the mind (nous) stands in [its condition] according to nature, being ready to be set in motion in every contemplation that is delightful, spiritual and beloved by God.

94 So thus, as I have said, by nature these are constituents of each other: sobriety and the prayer (euche) of Jesus. For on the one hand the extreme attention [is a constituent] of continual prayer (euche); and on the other hand the prayer (euche) again [is a constituent] of extreme sobriety and attention in the mind (nous).

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