Chapter 1 Summary and Analysis

Chapter 1 begins with her explanation that a vision was granted her of how this book might be presented. She compares the human soul to a castle of diamond or crystal and says it is filled with dwellings in every direction, but at its center is the dwelling place of God our Creator, and He waits there for us to draw close to Him and commune with Him. She also compares the human soul to a garden in which God takes great delight as a thing of beauty. She points out it was created in the image of God Himself and so is not to be understood, but treasured and protected as a thing of incredible worth.

Teresa stresses the value of knowing oneself in this first chapter and of being as grateful for the blessings we observe in other people as...