St Peter of Damascus: The first stage of contemplation is that which leads the seeker to all the later stages...

The first stage of contemplation is that which leads the seeker to all the later stages. The person who is called to this first, stage should act as follows. 

He should seat himself facing the east, as once did Adam, and meditate in this way: Adam then sat and wept because of his loss of the delights of paradise, beating his eyes with his fists and saying: “O Merciful One, have mercy on me, for I have fallen.”

Seeing the angel driving him out and closing the door to the divine garden, Adam groaned aloud and said: “0 Merciful One, have mercy on me, for I have fallen.”

St Peter of Damascus