Knowing What to Ask

Your careful and subtle question shows that purity is very nearly reached. For no one would be able even to ask about these matters, I will not say to look into them and discern them, except one who had been driven to sound the depths of such questions by careful and effective diligence of mind and by watchful concern, and whom the constant pursuit of a well-ordered life had taught by practical experience to try the entrance to this purity and to knock at its doors. Since, then, I see you, I will not say standing before the doors of that true prayer we have been speaking of, but touching its inner rooms and inmost parts, as it were, with the hands of experience, and already laying hold of some parts of it, I do not think I will find it hard to bring you now inside what I may call its hall, for you to roam through its recesses as the Lord may direct. Nor do I think you will be hindered by any obstacles or difficulties from looking into what is to be shown you. For the one who carefully recognizes what he ought to ask about is next door to understanding, and the one who begins to understand how ignorant he is is not far from knowledge. So I am not afraid of being charged with betraying secrets or with speaking lightly, if I now disclose what I held back from discussing when I spoke in my earlier talk on the perfection of prayer. For I think that its force was to be made clear to us who are busy with this subject and care about it, even without the help of my words, by the grace of God.