Collected here are 300 short meditations by Christian contemplatives from the 2nd to the 14th century, arranged under three general headings: practice, theory, and gnosis. Many were written by the legendary Desert Fathers, who fled the decadence of the city for a contemplative life. To read any one of these ancient meditations - to repeat it to yourself, explore its implications and relevance to your life - is to begin the soul's ascent on the path of mystical knowledge.