Summary of Into the Deep: Finding Peace Through Prayer by Dan Burke

Dan Burke’s book Into the Deep: Finding Peace Through Prayer offers profound insights into the spiritual life, particularly in handling distractions during prayer. One of the most impactful analogies he provides is the comparison of distractions to mischievous monkeys in our minds. Here’s a refined summary incorporating this powerful metaphor and Burke’s strategies:

Distractions as Monkeys in Prayer

Prayer is often a battleground where the world, the flesh, and the devil conspire to distract us from communing with God. Burke uses the vivid analogy of our mind as a “gigantic tree filled with thousands of noisy monkeys” to represent these distractions. These monkeys symbolize everything vying for our attention during prayer—memories, desires, frustrations, sins, and even good thoughts. The older we get, the more monkeys we accumulate, reflecting our life experiences and learned behaviors.

Although these monkeys may rebel when we initiate a habit of regular prayer, Burke reassures us that the saints and mystics of the Church—the best “monkey-trainers” of all time—have left us with proven strategies to tame these distractions and succeed in our spiritual journey.

Five Strategies to Tame the Monkeys:

1. “Trick them.” Establishing a new prayer habit is easier when we engage in prayer first thing in the morning, while our minds (and monkeys) are still calm. Burke suggests rising 15 to 30 minutes earlier to pray, before the day’s distractions can take hold. He emphasizes creating “sacred time” and “sacred space” dedicated solely to prayer, free from distractions like phones and computers.
2. “Tolerate them.” Distractions are inevitable, and even the most disciplined prayer life will encounter them. Burke advises us to gently refocus on God when distractions arise. The key is not to fight the monkeys, but to patiently guide them back to God. As St. Francis de Sales said, “When your mind wanders or gives way to distractions, gently recall it and place it once more close to its Divine Master.”
3. “Train them.” With persistence, our minds can be trained to cooperate with our prayer habits. One effective method is lectio divina, where we engage deeply with Scripture. Burke breaks down lectio divina into manageable steps: reading, reflecting, responding, resting, and resolving. Starting with just 10 minutes a day can be powerful in taming the mind. St. John Paul II highlighted the importance of lectio divina: “The Word of God is the first source of all Christian spirituality.”
4. “Feed them.” The Eucharist is the ultimate nourishment for our spiritual life. Regular participation in the sacraments, especially the Eucharist, strengthens our resolve and sanctifies our efforts in prayer. As St. Faustina beautifully expressed, “Jesus, there is one more secret in my life… it is You Yourself when You come to my heart under the appearance of bread.”
5. “Consecrate them.” Prayer requires commitment, and Burke encourages making a formal consecration of our prayer life to God. Writing down clear, specific, and time-bound goals, and then committing them to the Lord in the presence of the Eucharist, can empower us to persevere in our spiritual journey.

In Into the Deep, Dan Burke offers practical wisdom grounded in the rich traditions of the Church, encouraging readers to embrace the battle of prayer with proven strategies to tame the “monkeys” of distraction and deepen their relationship with God.