1. "The ability of concentration can be developed indefinitely. To focus is to put it together. To bring together thoughts scattered in different directions means the ability to own and control a thought. ... Its degree indicates the degree of power of consciousness over the environment. ... Not to see, not to hear, not to touch and not to feel anything other than what the thought is focused on – will be the achievement of a yogi. ...It is possible to concentrate not only thoughts, but also feelings and will. The power of a concentrated will overcomes ordinary will, like a sharpened nail through soft wood. Everyone has the will, but very few can concentrate it. It is believed that there are people with strong and weak wills, but they often do not take into account the fact that even a relatively weak, but concentrated will is stronger than another – not concentrated, even if this latter was stronger under normal conditions..." [Facets of Agni Yoga 1960, 11]
2. "To concentrate oneself in the spirit means to bring back all the energies of the spirit directed towards various things and phenomena of the dense world and gather them into the focus of consciousness." [Facets of Agni Yoga 1957, 130]
3. "The fullness of concentration precisely means the wholeness of the undivided, non-halfhearted aspiration of the human microcosm. The will guides the concentration of consciousness..." [Facets of Agni Yoga 1957, 274]
4. "Simply listening to music, or looking at a picture, or solving a mathematical problem for its successful implementation requires the focus and concentration of the whole person, and this is the secret of the success of perception. ... The inability or, rather, the inaptitude of many to concentrate slows down their progress on the path of cognition. Concentration is closely related to tension, which most people avoid and fear. It is any work “by the sweat of your brow”, that is, at the limit of tension, that is still considered as a scarecrow or a biblical curse, while this is the main condition for every achievement. The path of least resistance is a path downhill, not climbing; evolution is connected with tension and overcoming." [Excerpts by Boris Abramov from the book "Aspiring Heart" 1955, 324]
5. "Concentration is tension. ... The basis of concentration is enhanced in–depth calmness, the basis of fussiness is anxiety." [Facets of Agni Yoga 1953, 490]
6. "... It is very necessary to remember that all high Yogis take care and deal only with the inner person, whose sphere lies in the world of thought. ... And the single concentration allowed by them is concentration on the chosen Highest Ideal, in a steady and unceasing effort to rise to It. And such concentration, precisely, continues non-stop; no matter what such a yogi does, his thought persistently sticks to his Ideal, everything is done by him in the name of this Ideal, he constantly feels in his heart the love and presence of this Image. ... Also, the prayer uttered by a yogi is an incessant heartfelt aspiration and standing before the Image of the Chosen One, and this aspiration is created in the thoughts and deeds of every day." [Letters of Helena Roerich in 9 Volumes - 2. 058]
7. "... Consciousness is tuned by constant remembrance of the most important. It is love that contains the ability to renounce himself and his own things in the name of a loved one. ...Focusing on the most important thing is impossible without love. ...If you want to succeed, learn to love." [Facets of Agni Yoga 1971, 659]
8. "The more focused attention is, the bigger the wire it is and the more it connects consciousness with the object of attention. But focusing on the Highest transports consciousness to a better world, freeing it from the influence of the harsh conditions of the passing moment. External conditions are assertive. They tend to invade consciousness like water into an empty space. And if the sphere of consciousness is not filled with something else, is not tightly closed, the external environment will inevitably invade it. Nature does not tolerate emptiness in anything." [Excerpts by Boris Abramov from the book "Aspiring Heart" 1958, 392]
9. "The hidden essence of phenomena can be discovered by focusing consciousness on them. ...But you need detachment from yourself, from your own thoughts and feelings. A consciousness filled with thoughts about itself is deprived of the ability to directly cognize people and phenomena, because the self is blinding." [Facets of Agni Yoga 1959, 43]
10. "All concentration requires self-denial." [Facets of Agni Yoga 1970, 367]
11. "Not without reason is it said that concentrated labor, full of striving, aids longevity. From it harmony is born. Because of it, the perception of supermundane knowledge becomes possible..." [Supermundane, 575]
12. "…The ability to concentrate and think creatively, provided the thought is purified, is not only very useful, but necessary." [Letters of Helena Roerich in 9 Volumes - 4. 072]
