OGC 2 Class 1: Kavannah and Concentration

As a result of the optimal interaction between attention and awareness that sati is really describing:

the distributed consciousness of awareness has more of the power usually found only in the focused consciousness of attention;
awareness is not so completely robbed of its conscious power whenever attention is focused on something;
there is a more appropriate selection of objects for the focused consciousness of attention due to the greater power of consciousness of awareness, and so attention is more effectively utilized;
attention exhibits more objectivity, more of the ‘seeing things as they are’ quality of awareness, and so there is greater clarity, less projection, and less subjective interpretation of whatever attention investigates.

When we “lose mindfulness”, sati has failed because consciousness is excessively focused on the current object of attention, and the conscious power of awareness consequently fades.

Even worse, when the attention is constantly shifting its focus from one object to another, genuine awareness disappears to be replaced by a stream of highly subjective impressions and projections left behind by fleeting moments of attention. When this happens to a samurai swordsman, he loses his head. When this happens to any of the rest of us, we lose our way in life, doing and saying the wrong things and getting caught up in suffering and delusion. Likewise, when the conscious power of awareness (sati) is inadequate or absent, attention tends to be focused on inappropriate objects. Those things that it would be to our greatest benefit to observe and investigate are instead disregarded. When mindfulness is well developed, experience is richer, fuller, more satisfying and less personal. This is because attention now plays an appropriate role within the larger context of a broad and powerful awareness. We are more fully present, happier and more at ease, not so easily caught up in the mind’s stories and melodramas. More importantly, because of an enhanced conscious awareness of the whole, and of relationships within the whole, Insight arises. Due to greater objectivity, clarity, and ‘seeing things as they are’, Insight arises. And because the investigative powers of attention are more appropriately and effectively utilized, Insight arises.

“These investigations have revealed that what makes experience genuinely satisfying is a state of consciousness called flow -- a state of concentration so focused that it amounts to complete absorption in an activity. Everyone experiences flow from time to time and will recognize its characteristics: People typically feel strong, alert, in effortless control, unselfconscious, and at the peak of their abilities. Both the sense of time and emotional problems seem to disappear, and there is an exhilarating feeling of transcendence.”

Flow: The Psychology of Optimal Experience, by Mihalyi Csikszentmihalyi.

משנה ברכות ה׳:א׳

אֵין עוֹמְדִין לְהִתְפַּלֵּל אֶלָּא מִתּוֹךְ כֹּבֶד רֹאשׁ. חֲסִידִים הָרִאשׁוֹנִים הָיוּ שׁוֹהִים שָׁעָה אַחַת וּמִתְפַּלְּלִים, כְּדֵי שֶׁיְּכַוְּנוּ אֶת לִבָּם לַמָּקוֹם. אֲפִלּוּ הַמֶּלֶךְ שׁוֹאֵל בִּשְׁלוֹמוֹ, לֹא יְשִׁיבֶנּוּ. וַאֲפִלּוּ נָחָשׁ כָּרוּךְ עַל עֲקֵבוֹ, לֹא יַפְסִיק:

Mishnah Berakhot 5:1

One may only stand and begin to pray from an approach of gravity and submission. There is a tradition that the early generations of pious men would wait one hour, in order to reach the solemn frame of mind appropriate for prayer, and then pray, so that they would focus their hearts toward their Father in Heaven. Standing in prayer is standing before God and, as such, even if the king greets him, he should not respond to him; and even if a snake is wrapped on his heel, he should not interrupt his prayer.

ראש השנה כ״ח א:ט״ז-י״ז

שְׁלַחוּ לֵיהּ לַאֲבוּהּ דִּשְׁמוּאֵל: כְּפָאוֹ וְאָכַל מַצָּה — יָצָא. כְּפָאוֹ מַאן? אִילֵימָא כְּפָאוֹ שֵׁד, וְהָתַנְיָא: עִתִּים חָלִים עִתִּים שׁוֹטֶה, כְּשֶׁהוּא חָלִים — הֲרֵי הוּא כְּפִקֵּחַ לְכׇל דְּבָרָיו, כְּשֶׁהוּא שׁוֹטֶה — הֲרֵי הוּא כְּשׁוֹטֶה לְכׇל דְּבָרָיו! אָמַר רַב אָשֵׁי: שֶׁכְּפָאוּהוּ פָּרְסִיִּים. אָמַר רָבָא, זֹאת אוֹמֶרֶת: הַתּוֹקֵעַ לָשִׁיר — יָצָא.

Rosh Hashanah 28a:16-17

§ It is related that the following ruling was sent from Eretz Yisrael to Shmuel’s father: If one was forcibly compelled to eat matza on Passover, he has fulfilled his obligation. The Gemara clarifies the matter: Who compelled him to eat the matza? If we say that a demon forced him, i.e., that he ate it in a moment of insanity, this is difficult. Isn’t it taught in a baraita: With regard to someone who is at times sane and at times insane, at the times when he is sane, he is considered halakhically competent for all purposes and is obligated in all the mitzvot. And when he is insane, he is considered insane for all purposes, and is therefore exempt from the mitzvot. If so, someone who was compelled by a demon to eat matza is not considered obligated to perform the mitzvot at all. Rav Ashi said: We are dealing with a case where the Persians compelled him to eat. Rava said: That is to say that one who sounds a shofar for the music, having no intent to fulfill the mitzva, fulfills his obligation, since the critical issue is hearing the blast and not the intent of the blower.

תלמוד ירושלמי ברכות ב׳:ד׳:י״ב-ה׳:א׳

א"ר חייא רובא אנא מן יומי לא כוונית אלא חד זמן בעי מכוונה והרהרית בלבי ואמרית מאן עליל קומי מלכא קדמי ארקבסה אי ריש גלותא. שמואל אמר אנא מנית אפרוחיא. רבי בון בר חייא אמר אנא מנית דימוסיא. א"ר מתניה אנא מחזק טיבו לראשי דכד הוה מטי מודים הוא כרע מגרמיה:

Jerusalem Talmud Berakhot 2:4:12-5:1

Rabbi Hiya Ruba said: I've never had kavvanah in my life except once, when I tried to do kavvanah, and then I wondered: who will stand in front of the king first, Arkabsa or the head of the Jüdische Gemeinde?

Shmuel said: I sometimes count birds.

Rabbi Bon son of Hiya said: I sometimes count rows of bricks.

Rabbi Matanya said: I am grateful to my head, because when it reaches the blessing of modim, it bows down by itself.

משנה תורה, הלכות תפילה וברכת כהנים ד׳:ט״ז

כֵּיצַד הִיא הַכַּוָּנָה. שֶׁיְּפַנֶּה אֶת לִבּוֹ מִכָּל הַמַּחֲשָׁבוֹת וְיִרְאֶה עַצְמוֹ כְּאִלּוּ הוּא עוֹמֵד לִפְנֵי הַשְּׁכִינָה. לְפִיכָךְ צָרִיךְ לֵישֵׁב מְעַט קֹדֶם הַתְּפִלָּה כְּדֵי לְכַוֵּן אֶת לִבּוֹ וְאַחַר כָּךְ יִתְפַּלֵּל בְּנַחַת וּבְתַחֲנוּנִים וְלֹא יַעֲשֶׂה תְּפִלָּתוֹ כְּמִי שֶׁהָיָה נוֹשֵׂא מַשּׂאוֹי וּמַשְׁלִיכוֹ וְהוֹלֵךְ לוֹ. לְפִיכָךְ צָרִיךְ לֵישֵׁב מְעַט אַחַר הַתְּפִלָּה וְאַחַר כָּךְ יִפָּטֵר. חֲסִידִים הָרִאשׁוֹנִים הָיוּ שׁוֹהִין שָׁעָה אַחַת קֹדֶם תְּפִלָּה וְשָׁעָה אַחַת לְאַחַר תְּפִלָּה וּמַאֲרִיכִין בִּתְפִלָּה שָׁעָה:

Mishneh Torah, Prayer and the Priestly Blessing 4:16

What is to be understood by concentration of the mind? The mind should be freed from all extraneous thoughts and the one who prays should realize that he is standing before the Divine Presence. He should therefore sit awhile before beginning his prayers, so as to concentrate his mind, and then pray in gentle tones, beseechingly, and not regard the service as a burden which he is carrying and which he will cast off and proceed on his way. He should, accordingly, also sit awhile, after concluding the prayers, and then leave. The ancient saints were wont to pause and meditate one hour before the service, one hour after the service and take one hour in its recital.

משנה תורה, הלכות דעות ג׳:ב׳

צָרִיךְ הָאָדָם שֶׁיְּכַוִּן לִבּוֹ וְכָל מַעֲשָׂיו כֻּלָּם לֵידַע אֶת הַשֵּׁם בָּרוּךְ הוּא בִּלְבַד, וְיִהְיֶה שִׁבְתּוֹ וְקוּמוֹ וְדִבּוּרוֹ הַכּל לְעֻמַּת זֶה הַדָּבָר. כֵּיצַד? כְּשֶׁיִּשָּׂא וְיִתֵּן אוֹ יַעֲשֶׂה מְלָאכָה לִטּל שָׂכָר, לֹא יִהְיֶה בְּלִבּוֹ לִקְבֹּץ מָמוֹן בִּלְבַד, אֶלָּא יַעֲשֶׂה דְּבָרִים הָאֵלּוּ כְּדֵי שֶׁיִּמְצָא דְּבָרִים שֶׁהַגּוּף צָרִיךְ לָהֶם מֵאֲכִילָה וּשְׁתִיָּה וִישִׁיבַת בַּיִת וּנְשִׂיאַת אִשָּׁה. וְכֵן כְּשֶׁיֹּאכַל וְיִשְׁתֶּה וְיִבְעל לֹא יָשִׂים בְּלִבּוֹ לַעֲשׂוֹת דְּבָרִים הָאֵלּוּ כְּדֵי לֵהָנוֹת בִּלְבַד עַד שֶׁנִּמְצָא שֶׁאֵינוֹ אוֹכֵל וְשׁוֹתֶה אֶלָּא הַמָּתוֹק לַחֵךְ וְיִבְעל כְּדֵי לֵהָנוֹת, אֶלָּא יָשִׂים עַל לִבּוֹ שֶׁיֹּאכַל וְיִשְׁתֶּה כְּדֵי לְהַבְרוֹת גּוּפוֹ וְאֵיבָרָיו בִּלְבַד. לְפִיכָךְ לֹא יֹאכַל כָּל שֶׁהַחֵךְ מִתְאַוֶּה כְּכֶלֶב וַחֲמוֹר אֶלָּא יֹאכַל דְּבָרִים הַמּוֹעִילִים לַגּוּף אִם מָרִים אִם מְתוּקִים. וְלֹא יֹאכַל דְּבָרִים הָרָעִים לַגּוּף אַף עַל פִּי שֶׁהֵן מְתוּקִים לַחֵךְ. כֵּיצַד? מִי שֶׁהָיָה בְּשָׂרוֹ חַם לֹא יֹאכַל בָּשָׂר וְלֹא דְּבַשׁ וְלֹא יִשְׁתֶּה יַיִן, כָּעִנְיָן שֶׁאָמַר שְׁלֹמֹה דֶּרֶךְ מָשָׁל (משלי כה כז) "אָכל דְּבַשׁ" וְגוֹ'. וְשׁוֹתֶה מֵי הָעֳלָשִׁין אַף עַל פִּי שֶׁהוּא מַר שֶׁנִּמְצָא שׁוֹתֶה וְאוֹכֵל דֶּרֶךְ רְפוּאָה בִּלְבַד כְּדֵי שֶׁיַּבְרִיא וְיַעֲמֹד שָׁלֵם הוֹאִיל וְאִי אֶפְשָׁר לָאָדָם לִחְיוֹת אֶלָּא בַּאֲכִילָה וּשְׁתִיָּה. וְכֵן כְּשֶׁיִּבְעל לֹא יִבְעל אֶלָּא כְּדֵי לְהַבְרוֹת גּוּפוֹ וּכְדֵי לְקַיֵּם אֶת הַזֶּרַע. לְפִיכָךְ אֵינוֹ בּוֹעֵל כָּל זְמַן שֶׁיִּתְאַוֶּה אֶלָּא כָּל עֵת שֶׁיֵּדַע שֶׁהוּא צָרִיךְ לְהוֹצִיא שִׁכְבַת זֶרַע כְּמוֹ דֶּרֶךְ הָרְפוּאָה אוֹ לְקַיֵּם אֶת הַזֶּרַע:

Mishneh Torah, Human Dispositions 3:2

It is necessary for man to set his heart and all his efforts solely to know the Name, blessed is He! so that his sitting down, his rising up and his speech shall be facing this goal. How may he accomplish it? When he will buy, or sell, or do work for wages, he should not have in his heart the accumulation of money only but he should perform these duties as a means to acquire the necessities of the body, as food, drink, dwelling-place and marriage; likewise when he will eat, drink, or lead a family life, he should not set his heart upon these things for the sole enjoyment thereof, until, as a consequence he will not eat and drink save that which is sweet to the palate, and marry to gratify his sensuality only. But he shall set his heart to eat and drink solely in order to keep his body and limbs in good health. He, therefore, should not eat everything his palate craves for like a dog or an ass, but partake of the things which are wholesome to the body whether bitter or sweet; and he shall not eat food which is bad for the body even though it be sweet to the palate. For example? One whose body was feverish shall not eat meat, nor honey, and drink no wine, as the subject was proverbally expressed by Solomon: "To eat too much honey is not good" (Prov. 25.27); he should rather drink cichorium intybus, even though it is bitter, as a consequence whereof he will eat and drink solely as a remedial means so that he may become healthy and stay healthy, seeing that it is impossible for man to sustain life save by food and drink. Likewise in connubial relation there shall be no coition save when it is of benefit to health, or to sustain species. One should, therefore, not yield to every urge, save when knowing that emission of semen is a helpful means medically or to sustain species.

משנה תורה, הלכות תפילה וברכת כהנים ד׳:ט״ו-ט״ז

כַּוָּנַת הַלֵּב כֵּיצַד. כָּל תְּפִלָּה שֶׁאֵינָהּ בְּכַוָּנָה אֵינָהּ תְּפִלָּה. וְאִם הִתְפַּלֵּל בְּלֹא כַּוָּנָה חוֹזֵר וּמִתְפַּלֵּל בְּכַוָּנָה. מָצָא דַּעְתּוֹ מְשֻׁבֶּשֶׁת וְלִבּוֹ טָרוּד אָסוּר לוֹ לְהִתְפַּלֵּל עַד שֶׁתִּתְיַשֵּׁב דַּעְתּוֹ. לְפִיכָךְ הַבָּא מִן הַדֶּרֶךְ וְהוּא עָיֵף אוֹ מֵצֵר אָסוּר לוֹ לְהִתְפַּלֵּל עַד שֶׁתִּתְיַשֵּׁב דַּעְתּוֹ. אָמְרוּ חֲכָמִים יִשְׁהֶה שְׁלֹשָׁה יָמִים עַד שֶׁיָּנוּחַ וְתִתְקָרֵר דַּעְתּוֹ וְאַחַר כָּךְ יִתְפַּלֵּל: כֵּיצַד הִיא הַכַּוָּנָה. שֶׁיְּפַנֶּה אֶת לִבּוֹ מִכָּל הַמַּחֲשָׁבוֹת וְיִרְאֶה עַצְמוֹ כְּאִלּוּ הוּא עוֹמֵד לִפְנֵי הַשְּׁכִינָה. לְפִיכָךְ צָרִיךְ לֵישֵׁב מְעַט קֹדֶם הַתְּפִלָּה כְּדֵי לְכַוֵּן אֶת לִבּוֹ וְאַחַר כָּךְ יִתְפַּלֵּל בְּנַחַת וּבְתַחֲנוּנִים וְלֹא יַעֲשֶׂה תְּפִלָּתוֹ כְּמִי שֶׁהָיָה נוֹשֵׂא מַשּׂאוֹי וּמַשְׁלִיכוֹ וְהוֹלֵךְ לוֹ. לְפִיכָךְ צָרִיךְ לֵישֵׁב מְעַט אַחַר הַתְּפִלָּה וְאַחַר כָּךְ יִפָּטֵר. חֲסִידִים הָרִאשׁוֹנִים הָיוּ שׁוֹהִין שָׁעָה אַחַת קֹדֶם תְּפִלָּה וְשָׁעָה אַחַת לְאַחַר תְּפִלָּה וּמַאֲרִיכִין בִּתְפִלָּה שָׁעָה:

Mishneh Torah, Prayer and the Priestly Blessing 4:15-16

Concentration of the mind—how is this condition [to be fulfilled?] Any prayer uttered without mental concentration is not prayer. If a service has been recited without such concentration, it must be recited again devoutly. A person finds that his thoughts are confused and his mind is distracted: He may not pray till he has recovered his mental composure. Hence, on returning from a journey or if one is weary or distressed, it is forbidden to pray till his mind is composed. The sages said that he should wait three days till he is rested and his mind is calm, and then he recites the prayers. What is to be understood by concentration of the mind? The mind should be freed from all extraneous thoughts and the one who prays should realize that he is standing before the Divine Presence. He should therefore sit awhile before beginning his prayers, so as to concentrate his mind, and then pray in gentle tones, beseechingly, and not regard the service as a burden which he is carrying and which he will cast off and proceed on his way. He should, accordingly, also sit awhile, after concluding the prayers, and then leave. The ancient saints were wont to pause and meditate one hour before the service, one hour after the service and take one hour in its recital.

טור, אורח חיים צ״ח:א׳

רבי חנינא ביומא דרתח פירוש ביום שהיה כועס לא הוה מצלי רבי אליעזר אומר הבא מן הדרך אל יתפלל תוך ג' ימים ר' אליעזר בנו של רבי יוסי הגלילי אומר אף המיצר שמואל לא הוה מצלי בביתא דאית ביה שכרא מפני הריח שטורדו רב פפא לא הוה מצלי בביתא דאית ביה הרסנא וכתב הר"ם מרוטנבורק אין אנו נזהרין עתה בכל זה שאין אנו מכוונין כל כך בתפלה ויתפלל דרך תחנונים.

Tur, Orach Chayim 98:1

Rabbi Hanina would not pray on a day that he was angry.

Rabbi Eliezer said: after returning from a journey, don't pray for three days.

Rabbi Eliezer ben Yose the Galilean says: even someone upset shouldn't pray.

Shmuel would not pray in a house with beer, because of the distracting smell.

Rav Papa would not pray in a house with fish.

Rabbi Meir of Rothenburg wrote: nowadays,we don't follow any of these practices, because we don't have so much kavannah in our prayers anyway.

אורח חיים צ״ח:א׳-ב׳

צריך שיהיה לו כוונה בתפלתו. ובו ה סעיפים:
המתפלל צריך שיכוין בלבו פי' המלות שמוציא בשפתיו ויחשוב כאלו שכינה כנגדו ויסיר כל המחשבות הטורדות אותו עד שתשאר מחשבתו וכוונתו זכה בתפלתו ויחשוב כאלו היה מדבר לפני מלך בשר ודם היה מסדר דבריו ומכוין בהם יפה לבל יכשל ק"ו לפני ממ"ה הקב"ה שהוא חוקר כל המחשבות וכך היו עושים חסידים ואנשי מעשה שהיו מתבודדים ומכוונין בתפלתם עד שהיו מגיעים להתפשטות הגשמיות ולהתגברות כח השכלי עד שהיו מגיעים קרוב למעלת הנבואה ואם תבא לו מחשבה אחרת בתוך התפלה ישתוק עד שיתבטל המחשב' וצריך שיחשוב בדברי' המכניעים הלב ומכוונים אותו לאביו שבשמי' ולא יחשוב בדברי' שיש בהם קלות ראש: הגה ויחשוב קודם התפלה מרוממות האל יתעלה ובשפלו' האדם ויסיר כל תענוגי האדם מלבו [הר"י ריש פ' אין עומדין] ואסור לאדם לנשק בניו הקטנים בב"ה כדי לקבוע בלבו שאין אהבה כאהבת המקום ברוך הוא [בנימין זאב סימן קס"ג ואגודה פרק כיצד מברכין]: לא יתפלל במקום שיש דבר שמבטל כוונתו ולא בשעה המבטלת כוונתו [טור בשם ר"מ מרוטנבורג הגה"מ פ"ד מהלכו' תפלה] ועכשיו אין אנו נזהרין בכל זה מפני שאין אנו מכוונים כ"כ בתפלה:

Shulchan Arukh, Orach Chayim 98:1-2

One Needs to Have Concentration While Praying, containing 5 s'ifim:
One who prays needs to concentrate on the meaning of the words which one brings forth from one's mouth. One should consider [it] as if the Divine Presence is opposite one, and remove all distracting thoughts from one, until one's thought and intention remain purely about one's prayer. And one should consider [it] as if one were speaking to before a king of flesh and blood, and one were organizing one's words beautifully and concentrating on them so as not to stumble, all the more [one should do so] before the King of kings of kings, the Holy One, who is Blessed, who examines all thoughts. And so did the pious ones and the men of action, who would seclude themselves and concentrate on their prayers until they would transcend [their] corporeality and strengthen [their] mental power, until nearly arriving at the level of prophecy. And if another thought comes to one in the midst of the prayer, one should be silent until the thought is eliminated. And one should think about things that humble the heart and concentrate it on one's Father in Heaven, and not think about things that contain levity ("light-headedness"). Gloss: Before prayer, one should think about the loftiness of God who is raised up and the lowliness of humanity, and remove all human pleasures from one's heart (Ri, beginning of chapter "Ein Om'din" [Berachot Chapter 5] ). And it is forbidden for a person to kiss one's small children in synagogue, in order to fix in one's heart that there is no love like the love of the Omnipresent Who is Blessed (Binyomin Ze'ev siman 163 and Agudah Chapter "Keitzad Mevarchin" [Berachot Chapter 6]). One should not pray in a place where there is something that negates one's concentration, and not at a time that negates one's concentration [Tur in the name of R. Meir of Rothenburg, Hagahot Maimoni on Chapter 4 from the Laws of Prayer]. And nowadays we are not careful with all of this since we are not able to concentrate so much during prayer.

אורח חיים ק״א:א׳

שצריך לכוין בכל הברכות ושיכול להתפלל בכל לשון. ובו ד סעיפים:
המתפלל צריך שיכוין בכל הברכות ואם אינו יכול לכוין בכולם לפחות יכוין באבות אם לא כיון באבות אע"פ שכיון בכל השאר יחזור ויתפלל: הגה (והאידנא אין חוזרין בשביל חסרון כוונה שאף בחזרה קרוב הוא שלא יכוין אם כן למה יחזור) (טור):

Shulchan Arukh, Orach Chayim 101:1

That One Must Have the Proper Intent For All The Blessings and That One Can Pray In Any Language, containing 4 se'ifim.
One who prays [the Amidah] needs to have the proper intent for all the blessings, but if he is not able to concentrate on all of them, he should at least concentrate on the blessing of the forefathers (the first blessing of the Amidah). If he didn't have the proper intent while saying the blessing of the forefathers, even if he has the right intent for the rest [of the blessings], he needs to return [to the beginning of the Amidah] and pray. Rem"a: Nowadays we do not return [to repeat the prayer when it is] due to of a lack of concentration, because [there's a fair chance that] even when he returns [to the beginning of Shemonah Esrei] it is likely that he will not have the right intent; if so, why should he return? (Tur)

באר היטב אורח חיים צ״ח:א׳

בלבו. כתב בספר הגן לבטל המחשבה רעה בעת התפלה יאמר ג''פ פי פי פי ואח''כ ירוק ג''פ ולא ירוק לגמרי רק בדרך נחת והלשון תהא בין שפתים בשעת הרקיקה ובודאי תלך המחשבה ע''כ. וכתב המג''א עליו ואינו נ''ל לעשות זה בתוך תפלת י''ח דהוי הפסק ומי יודע אם רפואה בדוקה היא:

Ba'er Hetev on Shulchan Arukh, Orach Chayim 98:1

n the Sefer Hagan, it is written that in order to cancel out a distracting thought that comes during prayer, one should say three times pi pi pi, and then spit three times. The spitting shouldn't be total, just with a soft tongue between the lips at the moment of spitting - after this, the distracting thought will surely disappear. However, the Magen Avraham wrote that he thinks this should not be done during the Amidah prayer itself, because it is an interruption, and we don't even know if it is an effective cure.

משנה תורה, הלכות דעות ב׳:ז׳

לֹא יְהֵא אָדָם בַּעַל שְׂחוֹק וּמַהֲתַלּוֹת וְלֹא עָצֵב וְאוֹנֵן אֶלָּא שָׂמֵחַ. כָּךְ אָמְרוּ חֲכָמִים שְׂחוֹק וְקַלּוּת רֹאשׁ מַרְגִּילִין אֶת הָאָדָם לְעֶרְוָה. וְצִוּוּ שֶׁלֹּא יְהֵא אָדָם פָּרוּץ בִּצְחוֹק וְלֹא עָצֵב וּמִתְאַבֵּל אֶלָּא מְקַבֵּל אֶת כָּל הָאָדָם בְּסֵבֶר פָּנִים יָפוֹת. וְכֵן לֹא יִהְיֶה בַּעַל נֶפֶשׁ רְחָבָה נִבְהָל לַהוֹן וְלֹא עָצֵב וּבָטֵל מִמְּלָאכָה. אֶלָּא בַּעַל עַיִן טוֹבָה מְמַעֵט בְּעֵסֶק וְעוֹסֵק בַּתּוֹרָה. וְאוֹתוֹ הַמְּעַט שֶׁהוּא חֶלְקוֹ יִשְׂמַח בּוֹ. וְלֹא בַּעַל קְטָטָה וְלֹא בַּעַל קִנְאָה וְלֹא בַּעַל תַּאֲוָה וְלֹא רוֹדֵף אַחַר הַכָּבוֹד. כָּךְ אָמְרוּ חֲכָמִים הַקִּנְאָה וְהַתַּאֲוָה וְהַכָּבוֹד מוֹצִיאִין אֶת הָאָדָם מִן הָעוֹלָם. כְּלָלוֹ שֶׁל דָּבָר יֵלֵךְ בַּמִּדָּה הַבֵּינוֹנִית שֶׁבְּכָל דֵּעָה וְדֵעָה עַד שֶׁיִּהְיוּ כָּל דֵּעוֹתָיו מְכֻוָּנוֹת בָּאֶמְצָעוּת. וְהוּא שֶׁשְּׁלֹמֹה אָמַר (משלי ד כו) "פַּלֵּס מַעְגַּל רַגְלֶךָ וְכָל דְּרָכֶיךָ יִכֹּנוּ":

Mishneh Torah, Human Dispositions 2:7

Man shall not be frivolous and sarcastic, nor sad and pessimistic, but of good cheer. Thus said the wise men: "Frivolity and light-headedness train man for prostitution" (Pir. Ab. 3.13). And they have commanded: Man shall not be boisterous in laughter, nor sad and forlorn, but receive every person with a kind expression upon his face. And so should he not be a man of an over-ambitious soul rushing for wealth, nor despondent and idle from work; but a being with a goodly eye, engage in affairs but little and be occupied in the study of the Torah, and in that little portion of his he shall rejoice. He shall not be contentious, envious, covetous or vain-glorious. Thus have the wise men said: "Envy, covetousness, and vain-gloriousness remove man from life" (Pir. Ab. 4.25). As a general rule of the matter he should follow the tendency of the middle-course of each and every disposition to the end that all of his tendencies will be firmly in the center, which is as Solomon said: "Balance well the track of thy foot, and let all thy ways be firmly right" (Prov. 4.26).

משנה תורה, הלכות דעות א׳:ז׳

וְכֵיצַד יַרְגִּיל אָדָם עַצְמוֹ בְּדֵעוֹת אֵלּוּ עַד שֶׁיִּקָּבְעוּ בּוֹ. יַעֲשֶׂה וְיִשְׁנֶה וִישַׁלֵּשׁ בַּמַּעֲשִׂים שֶׁעוֹשֶׂה עַל פִּי הַדֵּעוֹת הָאֶמְצָעִיּוֹת וְיַחֲזֹר בָּהֶם תָּמִיד עַד שֶׁיִּהְיוּ מַעֲשֵׂיהֶם קַלִּים עָלָיו וְלֹא יִהְיֶה בָּהֶם טֹרַח עָלָיו וְיִקָּבְעוּ הַדֵּעוֹת בְּנַפְשׁוֹ. וּלְפִי שֶׁהַשֵּׁמוֹת הָאֵלּוּ נִקְרָא בָּהֶן הַיּוֹצֵר וְהֵם הַדֶּרֶךְ הַבֵּינוֹנִית שֶׁאָנוּ חַיָּבִין לָלֶכֶת בָּהּ. נִקְרֵאת דֶּרֶךְ זוֹ דֶּרֶךְ יי. וְהִיא שֶׁלִּמֵּד אַבְרָהָם אָבִינוּ לְבָנָיו שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר (בראשית יח יט) "כִּי יְדַעְתִּיו לְמַעַן אֲשֶׁר יְצַוֶּה" וְגוֹ'. וְהַהוֹלֵךְ בְּדֶרֶךְ זוֹ מֵבִיא טוֹבָה וּבְרָכָה לְעַצְמוֹ שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר (בראשית יח יט) "לְמַעַן הָבִיא יי עַל אַבְרָהָם אֵת אֲשֶׁר דִּבֶּר עָלָיו":

Mishneh Torah, Human Dispositions 1:7

And how may a man inure himself in these tendencies so that they be permanent with him? He should try once, repeat it, and do a third time the things he is called upon to do in harmony with the tendencies of the middle-course, and repeat the practice continuously until the doing it will be accomplished with slight effort, and they will not be burdensome upon him, then will the tendencies be a fixed part of his being. And because the Creator is termed by these attributes which are the middle-way, this way is called the Lord's way. And, it is even in this that Abraham our father instructed his sons, saying: "For I know him, that he will command his children and his household after him, that they shall keep the way of the Lord" (Gen. 18.19). And he who walks in this way brings goodness and blessing upon himself, even as it is said: "In order that the Lord may bring upon Abraham that which He hath spoken concerning him" (Ibid.).

משנה ראש השנה ג׳:ז׳

הַתּוֹקֵעַ לְתוֹךְ הַבּוֹר אוֹ לְתוֹךְ הַדּוּת אוֹ לְתוֹךְ הַפִּטָּס, אִם קוֹל שׁוֹפָר שָׁמַע, יָצָא. וְאִם קוֹל הֲבָרָה שָׁמַע, לֹא יָצָא. וְכֵן מִי שֶׁהָיָה עוֹבֵר אֲחוֹרֵי בֵית הַכְּנֶסֶת, אוֹ שֶׁהָיָה בֵיתוֹ סָמוּךְ לְבֵית הַכְּנֶסֶת, וְשָׁמַע קוֹל שׁוֹפָר אוֹ קוֹל מְגִלָּה, אִם כִּוֵּן לִבּוֹ, יָצָא, וְאִם לָאו, לֹא יָצָא. אַף עַל פִּי שֶׁזֶּה שָׁמַע וְזֶה שָׁמַע, זֶה כִּוֵּן לִבּוֹ וְזֶה לֹא כִוֵּן לִבּוֹ:

Mishnah Rosh Hashanah 3:7

If one sounds a shofar into a pit, or into a cistern, or into a large jug, if he clearly heard the sound of the shofar, he has fulfilled his obligation; but if he heard the sound of an echo, he has not fulfilled his obligation. And similarly, if one was passing behind a synagogue,or his house was adjacent to the synagogue, and he heard the sound of the shofar or the sound of the Scroll of Esther being read, if he focused his heart, i.e. his intent, to fulfill his obligation, he has fulfilled his obligation; but if not, he has not fulfilled his obligation. It is therefore possible for two people to hear the shofar blasts, but only one of them fulfills his obligation. Even though this one heard and also the other one heard, nevertheless, this one focused his heart to fulfill his obligation and has therefore indeed fulfilled it, but the other one did not focus his heart, and so he has not fulfilled his obligation.

משנה ברורה צ״ח:א׳

(א) פירוש המילות - ואל יכוין האדם בשמות ויחודים רק יתפלל כפשוטו להבין הדברים בכונת הלב אם לא מי שהוא בא בסוד ד' ויודע לכוין ביה בלבא ורעותא ודחילו דאל"ה ח"ו מקלקל בזה הרבה עיין מ"א בשם הזוהר ובתשובת רש"ל סימן צ"ח כתב באורך והעיד על הר"ש שאמר אחרי שלמד סתרי הקבלה שהוא מתפלל כתינוק בן יומו. ועיין בפני יהושע ר"פ א"ע שכתב דאלו הכונות המבוארים כאן בשו"ע א"א לכוין בשעת התפלה רק קודם ובתפלה צריך לכוין פירוש המלות עי"ש:

Mishnah Berurah 98:1

Concentrate on the meaning of the words- and not on any mystical names of God or divine unifications, just simply pray to understand the words with a focused heart...

Rabbi Shimshon said that after he had learned all the mysteries of Kabbalah, he prayed like a one-day old baby.

All the descriptions of kavvanah in the Shulchan Aruch should be attained before the prayer, but in the prayer itself, one only concentrates on the meaning of the words.

ראש השנה כ״ח ב:כ״ה-כ״ט א:א׳

אֲמַר לֵיהּ רַבִּי זֵירָא לְשַׁמָּעֵיהּ: אִיכַּוַּון וּתְקַע לִי. אַלְמָא קָסָבַר: מַשְׁמִיעַ בָּעֵי כַּוָּונָה.

Rosh Hashanah 28b:25-29a:1

With regard to the intent required in order to fulfill the mitzva of shofar, Rabbi Zeira said to his servant: Have intent to sound the shofar on my behalf and sound it for me. The Gemara infers: Apparently, Rabbi Zeira maintains that he who sounds the shofar for others is required to have intent to discharge the hearer’s obligation.

אורח חיים ס׳:ב׳-ד׳

קרא ק"ש בלא ברכה יצא י"ח ק"ש וחוזר וקורא הברכות בלא ק"ש ונ"ל שטוב לחזור ולקרות ק"ש עם הברכות: סדר הברכות אינו מעכב שאם הקדים שנייה לראשונה יצא ידי חובת ברכות: י"א שאין מצות צריכות כוונה וי"א שצריכות כוונה לצאת בעשיית אותה מצוה וכן הלכה:

Shulchan Arukh, Orach Chayim 60:2-4

If one recited the Shema without a blessing, one has fulfilled the obligation of reciting the Shema. [Nonetheless,] one [later] goes back and recites the blessings without the Shema; however, it seems to me that it is proper to go back and recite the [entire] Shema with the blessings. The [wrong] order of the blessings does not hold one back [from fulfilling the commandment], therefore, if one recites the second [blessing] before the first, one has fulfilled one's obligation of [reciting the] blessings. There are those who hold that the commandments do not require intention, and there are those who hold that they do need intention in order to fulfill the doing of that commandment - and such [i.e. the latter] is the [correct] halacha.

תהילים ס״ה:ב׳

לְךָ֤ דֻֽמִיָּ֬ה תְהִלָּ֓ה אֱלֹ֘קִ֥ים בְּצִיּ֑וֹן וּ֝לְךָ֗ יְשֻׁלַּם־נֶֽדֶר׃

Psalms 65:2

Praise befits You in Zion, O God;
vows are paid to You;

שמות רבה כ״ט:ט׳

אָמַר רַבִּי אַבָּהוּ בְּשֵׁם רַבִּי יוֹחָנָן, כְּשֶׁנָּתַן הַקָּדוֹשׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא אֶת הַתּוֹרָה, צִפּוֹר לֹא צָוַח, עוֹף לֹא פָּרַח, שׁוֹר לֹא גָּעָה, אוֹפַנִּים לֹא עָפוּ, שְׂרָפִים לֹא אָמְרוּ קָדוֹשׁ קָדוֹשׁ, הַיָּם לֹא נִזְדַּעֲזָע, הַבְּרִיּוֹת לֹא דִּבְּרוּ, אֶלָּא הָעוֹלָם שׁוֹתֵק וּמַחֲרִישׁ, וְיָצָא הַקּוֹל: "אָנֹכִי יי אֱלֹקֶיךָ"

Shemot Rabbah 29:9

...

Derech Hamelech, R. Kalonymus Kalmish Shapira, Bereshit, pg. 5.

When a person comes to pray, s/he first needs to reveal the aspect of the Shechinah that dwells among us in exile. She is found within us; it is only that she is covered in garments. One can make her appear and reveal her through one's prayer in the aspect of "from the depths I called out YHWH," like Yosef called out to be saved from the pit." Similarly, I can call out to YHWH that I be raised from my depths...And through the holiness that is revealed within oneself, one prays to YHWH. And then the prayer that is prayed, it is like that which we find in the Kedushas Levi on the verse "Vayikra YHWH, YHWH," that YHWH may He be blessed, calls out to YHWH.