The Enzo Bianchi book Words of Spirituality is stunning, short chapters that focus on prayer and spirituality. Attention is one of the words that he explores. The concept of attentiveness is profound and has the ability to change how we interact with ourselves, one another and with God.
Attention in the Christian tradition has tended to be a focusing of the mind - 'pay attention!' etc. whereas the true meaning of attention and hence the attitude of attentiveness is very different. Attention is not the activity of a particular human faculty rather a movement of the entire person, mind, body and spirit. It is a lucid 'presence to oneself' that becomes the discernment of the presence of God in the human person. Hesychius of Batos said 'Attention is the silence of the heart uninterrupted by thoughts.'
There is a very close relationship between prayer and attentiveness, - some have argued that total attentiveness is the same thing as prayer. It goes against humanity that has a tendency to scattered thoughts, drowsiness and laziness and calls us into the constant struggle that is attentiveness - Attention to God through attention to self. Through true attentiveness the 'I' is simplified and reduced and we realise that which makes us truly live is what we focus our attention on. Attentiveness makes present the one which is longed for and desired.
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