Discipline required to attain spirituality

...In the first stage of one’s spiritual life one should try to concentrate one’s mind by going into solitude to meditate upon Him; when by constant practice, the mind has been brought under control, one can meditate anywhere one chooses. A young plant requires to be protected with care by a fence, or else goats and cows will eat it up; but when the same plant grows into a large tree, the cows and goats tied to it will not injure it....