1. Prayer is a way to true humility. ²And here again it rises slowly up, and grows in strength and love and holiness. ³Let it but leave the ground where it begins to rise to God, and true humility will come at last to grace the mind that thought it was alone and stood against the world. ⁴Humility brings peace because it does not claim that you must rule the universe, nor judge all things as you would have them be. ⁵All little gods it gladly lays aside, not in resentment, but in honesty and recognition that they do not serve.

2. Illusions and humility have goals so far apart they cannot coexist, nor share a dwelling place where they can meet. ²Where one has come the other disappears. ³The truly humble have no goal but God because they need no idols, and defense no longer serves a purpose. ⁴Enemies are useless now, because humility does not oppose. ⁵It does not hide in shame because it is content with what it is, knowing creation is the Will of God. ⁶Its selflessness is Self, and this it sees in every meeting, where it gladly joins with every Son of God, whose purity it recognizes that it shares with him.

3. Now prayer is lifted from the world of things, of bodies, and of gods of every kind, and you can rest in holiness at last. ²Humility has come to teach you how to understand your glory as God’s Son, and recognize the arrogance of sin. ³A dream has veiled the face of Christ from you. ⁴Now can you look upon His sinlessness. ⁵High has the ladder risen. ⁶You have come almost to Heaven. ⁷There is little more to learn before the journey is complete. ⁸Now can you say to everyone who comes to join in prayer with you:

⁹I cannot go without you, for you are a part of me.

¹⁰And so he is in truth. ¹¹Now can you pray only for what you truly share with him. ¹²For you have understood he never left, and you, who seemed alone, are one with him.

4. The ladder ends with this, for learning is no longer needed. ²Now you stand before the gate of Heaven, and your brother stands beside you there. ³The lawns are deep and still, for here the place appointed for the time when you should come has waited long for you. ⁴Here will time end forever. ⁵At this gate eternity itself will join with you. ⁶Prayer has become what it was meant to be, for you have recognized the Christ in you.