The document provides guidelines for the practice of Centering Prayer, a contemplative prayer method using a sacred word to facilitate opening oneself to God's presence. It describes choosing a sacred word and sitting in silence while gently returning attention to the word when distracted by thoughts. The goal is resting in God through quieting the mind beyond words. Effects are experienced in daily life, not during the prayer itself. Regular practice with a support group helps maintain the commitment.
Vida, obra e influencia de uno de los personajes más grandes de la Historia de la Iglesia, patrono, modelo y protector de todos los párrocos y sacerdotes del mundo
Núcleos, objetivos y contenido del curso de Catequesis para niños 1º Sacramental. Material Catecismo de la Conferencia Episcopal Española "Jesús es el Señor"
Este material es un resumen de algunas de las Obras del Espíritu Santo que revelan la actividad constante y efectiva del Espíritu de Dios en el creyente y la iglesia de Cristo.
¡Libertad! Todos queremos tenerla. La Biblia nos dice que fuimos creados para disfrutarla a plenitud, para no conformarnos con menos. Sin embargo, allá en el tiempo del cual no tenemos registro, excepto el que nos dan las Escrituras, el hombre perdió su libertad. Canjeó su libertad por la esclavitud.
Vida, obra e influencia de uno de los personajes más grandes de la Historia de la Iglesia, patrono, modelo y protector de todos los párrocos y sacerdotes del mundo
Núcleos, objetivos y contenido del curso de Catequesis para niños 1º Sacramental. Material Catecismo de la Conferencia Episcopal Española "Jesús es el Señor"
Este material es un resumen de algunas de las Obras del Espíritu Santo que revelan la actividad constante y efectiva del Espíritu de Dios en el creyente y la iglesia de Cristo.
¡Libertad! Todos queremos tenerla. La Biblia nos dice que fuimos creados para disfrutarla a plenitud, para no conformarnos con menos. Sin embargo, allá en el tiempo del cual no tenemos registro, excepto el que nos dan las Escrituras, el hombre perdió su libertad. Canjeó su libertad por la esclavitud.
http://mindpersuasion.com/covert-hypnosis/
If you want to become persuasive, it's a lot easier if you are enthusiastic about what you are persuading. Learn More: http://mindpersuasion.com/covert-hypnosis/
What does it mean to live for the larger story of your life? Author and speaker Os Hillman found that there are 6 unique stages God often takes a person through to fulfill the larger story of their life.
Want to have more passion in your relationship? Learn tried and true ways to create passion and then keep it.
It is about neuroscience, spirituality, emotional connection and attachment, not just sexual techniques.
How to Practice Spiritual Meditation.pdfKnowing Overt
Hey there, curious soul seekers and mindful adventures! Curious about how to practice spiritual meditation and unlock its profound benefits? Spiritual meditation isn't just a practice; it's a journey towards self-discovery, inner peace, and profound connections. Delving into the depths of spiritual meditation offers a path to a more tranquil and centered existence. It's a practice that transcends the ordinary, inviting individuals to explore the realms of their inner consciousness and spirituality. In this comprehensive guide, we'll delve into the intricate art of how to practice spiritual meditation, unveiling techniques, insights, and a roadmap for your transformative journey into the realm of inner serenity and self-discovery. Join us as we embark on this fascinating exploration, unraveling the secrets of Spiritual Meditation together!
Discover inner peace and spiritual growth through guided spiritual meditation. Explore the transformative power of mindfulness, spirituality, and meditation practices for a more balanced and harmonious life.
Presenting Miraculous Recovery!, a ministry designed to facilitate recovery in fellowship. "We have proved thousands of times, and are continuing to prove, that by the simple presentation of enough of the written Word of God to the minds and hearts of the (seemingly) incurably afflicted, they can be brought to the same state of certainty and assurance concerning the healing of their body as to the healing of their soul." F. F. Bosworth, 1924
BC&D-1: What is the definition of Biblical Counseling John Barnett
What is the definition of Biblical Counseling (Romans 15:4-6, 13-14)?
4 For whatever things were written before were written for our learning, that we through the patience and comfort of the Scriptures might have hope. 5 Now may the God of patience and comfort grant you to be like-minded toward one another, according to Christ Jesus, 6 that you may with one mind and one mouth glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.
• “teaching” (didasko) part of our great commission task to be “teaching” all true disciples of Christ (Mt. 28:20).
• “patience” (hupomeno) this word means “stays in place, abides”; God is described as being faithful and unchangingly staying in place. This also describes the Word (I Pet. 1:23) and in I Cor. 13:13 ‘faith, hope, and love’. This is also the great word of Psalm 27:14; Isaiah 40:31.
• “comfort” (paraklesis): means comfort that comes through God's Word that is based upon the faithful God we can and do trust. God is the God of patience and comfort, and He alone through His Word can comfort the downcast (II Cor. 7:6).
13 Now may the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, that you may abound in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit. 14 Now I myself am confident concerning you, my brethren, that you also are full of goodness, filled with all knowledge, able also to admonish one another.
• “The God of hope” is the source of hope we offer as Disciple-making/Counselors (v. 13a);
• His Holy Spirit energizes this hope by “the power of the Holy Spirit” (v. 13b);
• All Counseling/Disciple-makers need to be “full” of the Spirit (Gal. 5:22);
• Only by the Spirit are we “able” (v. 14a) this word (dunamai) means power or ability, it is passive, so that means ‘made able by another’, or ‘enabled’;
• All believers have been left with the job description (I Th. 5:14) to be Biblical Counselors “admonish one another” (noutheteo). This word means ‘impart understanding’, ‘set right’, or ‘lay upon the heart’. Paul said this is what his ministry was 24/7 (Acts 20:31).
Silence helps us conserve energy, watch ourselves, become sensitive and most importantly tune ourselves inwardly and outwardly.It develops listening skills and responsibility.
Importance of observing silence
How to observe silence
7 eye opening ways meditation can help your personal developmentShivaniKotian2
Meditation is a combination of deep relaxation and awareness. It is a technique for calming the mind and connecting with one's actual self. We grow so engrossed in the complications of our hectic life that we lose touch with our actual nature. Every person possesses an infinite supply of delight. Love is a part of who we are at our core.Our actual Self is love, and meditation, the age-old practise of quiet the mind, is the method to find it. It is the boundless joy and calm that we experience when we meditate, when we sit motionless for a few minutes with ourselves.
An introduction to the Christian practice of contemplation, especially in terms of silence and silent prayer. Contemplative, silent prayer is for everyone, and this slide show explains what it is, why it matters, who should do it, how to do it, and resources for further reading and exploration.
An overview of a number of methods for theological reflection-- especially in bringing together Scripture and faith tradition with personal experience. Much draws from Judith Thompson's book, "SCM Guidebook to Theological Reflection" by Judith Thompson (2016).
The Art of Breathing Meditation_ A Simple Guide to Inner Peace and Mindfulnes...Knowing Overt
Breathing meditation is a centuries-old practice that has stood the test of time, embraced by various cultures and spiritual traditions across the globe. At its core, it revolves around the simple act of tuning in to our breath – an action so innate and fundamental to life that we often take it for granted. By redirecting our attention to this basic bodily function, breathing meditation becomes a gateway to mindfulness.
It's essential to our well-being that we learn to quiet the mind and control our thoughts. The most essential part of us – our souls, spirits, inner selves (use whatever term you prefer) is much deeper inside of us than our thoughts. We are not our thoughts.
When we need to get clarity, to make major decisions about our lives, we need to access this deeper part of ourselves which is always connected to the divine. The following exercise will help you access that place.
"The rise of black power had a profound effect upon the appearance of black theology. When Carmichael and other radical black activists separated themselves from King's absolute commitment to nonviolence by proclaiming black power, white Christians especially members of the clergy, called upon their black brothers and sisters in the gospel to denounce black power as unChristian. To the surprise of white Christians, the National Committee of Negro Churchmen (NNC); later to become NCBC) refused to follow their advice and instead wrote a "Black Power Statement" that was published in the New York Time, July 31, 1966.
The Theology of Spirituality: It's Growing Importance Amid the Transformation...Jonathan Dunnemann
Abstract: This article raises issues surrounding the theology of spirituality as a relatively new theological focus. It argues that, faced with a changing world and numerous new (or perceived as new) phenomena, the theology of spirituality, as a scholarly area examining spiritual experience, is becoming a branch of
theological research of increasing importance. The first part of this article focuses on the ever-growing areas of interest found within the theology of spirituality, a growth stemming from the core of the field itself (agere sequitur esse). The second part emphasizes the newer areas of interest within the theology
of spirituality. These new horizons arise from the pluralism of theology itself and the criteria used in differentiating theological disciplines, such as ethno-geographic, doctrinal, and ascetic-practical concerns. In particular, amid a fast-changing world in which information and mutual contact have become incredibly accessible, the interpenetration of cultures and traditions can not only be of great value but also carry the dangers of a chaotic eclecticism. As this accessibility becomes ever easier and more pervasive, contemporary human beings can thus become confused, not only about their worldviews but also concerning their spiritual and religious beliefs. Thus, research into the theology of spirituality is becoming increasingly more important.
Using an interdisciplinary approach and a phenomenological, hermeneutic, mystagogical methodology, this paper explores how children describe the deep fruits of meditation in their lives. Seventy children, aged 7 to 11, from four Irish primary schools were interviewed; all had engaged in meditation as a whole-school practice for at least two-years beforehand. The study sought to elicit from children their experience, if any, of the transcendent in meditation. It concludes that children can and do enjoy deep states of consciousness and that meditation has the capacity to nourish the innate spirituality of the child. It highlights the importance of personal spiritual experience for children and supports the introduction of meditation in primary schools.
ASSESSMENT OF CHARACTER STRENGTHS AMONG YOUTH: THE VALUES IN ACTION INVENTORY...Jonathan Dunnemann
Raising virtuous children is an ultimate goal not only of all parents and educators but also of all societies. Across different eras and cultures, identifying character strengths (virtues) and cultivating them in children and youth have been among the chief interests of philosophers, theologians, and educators. With a few exceptions, these topics have been neglected by psychologists. However, the emerging field of positive psychology specifically emphasizes
building the good life by identifying individual strengths of character and fostering them (Seligman, 2002). Character strengths are now receiving attention by psychologists interested in positive youth development.
African American spirituality provides a rich lens into the heart and soul of the black church experience, often overlooked in the Christian spiritual formation literature. By addressing this lacuna, this essay focuses on three primary shaping qualities o f history: the effects of slavery, the Civil Rights Movement under Dr. Martin Luther King’s leadership, and the emergence of the Black Church. Lour spiritual practices that influence African American spirituality highlight the historical and cultural context of being “forged in the fiery furnace,” including worship, preaching and Scripture, the community of faith and prayer, and community outreach. The essay concludes by recognizing four areas o f the lived experiences of African Americans from which the global church can glean: (1) persevering in pain and suffering, (2) turning to God for strength, (3) experiencing a living and passionate faith, and (4) affirming God’s intention for freedom and justice to be afforded to every individual.
Strengths Building, Resilience, and the Bible: A Story-Based Curriculum for A...Jonathan Dunnemann
Depression is the leading cause of illness and disability in adolescents worldwide. Resilience training, founded on principles of positive psychology, is correlated with lower depression and
substance misuse in U.S. adolescents and military personnel. However, resilience training has focused primarily on secular interventions using western material. Religion is strongly correlated
with lower depression and also with well-being in developing countries. Ninety percent of adolescents live in developing countries, and at least two-thirds are oral learners who prefer
learning through stories and drama. This paper proposes a Bible story based curriculum that trains students in problem solving skills, character strengths, and both spiritual and secular
research-tested principles for resilience and well-being. The Bible is available by audio recording in 751 languages and offers a broad base of archetypal stories for teaching resilience. The
program is easily reproducible, culturally adaptable, respectful of all religions, and specifically crafted for oral learners. Through audio recordings to maintain fidelity, train the trainer programs
for dissemination and support of national and community leaders, the proposed curriculum for Global Resilience Oral Workshops (GROW) has potential to lower depression and lift well-being
in adolescents around the world.
Historical criticism attempts to read texts in their original situations, informed by literary and cultural conventions reconstructed from comparable texts and artifacts. African American interpretation extends this approach to questions about race and social location for the ancient text, its reception
history, and its modern readers. It arose as a corrective and alternative to white supremacist use of the Bible in moral and political arguments regarding race, civil rights, and social justice. Accordingly, African American interpretation has combined the
insights of abolitionists and activists with academic tools to demonstrate how biblical interpretation can function as an instrument of oppression, obfuscation, or opportunity. Of course, most of these developments have occurred in the larger framework of American Christianity. Yet, its analyses reach
beyond that specific setting, touching on the connections between the Bible and race in public discourse generally, whether in government, academia, or popular culture.
Appropriating Universality: The Coltranes and 1960s SpiritualityJonathan Dunnemann
The role of the Black Protestant Church has figured prominently in scholarly discussions of African American music culture, and to some extent its importance has been explored with respect to jazz. However, with the exception of the Nation of Islam, the influence of Eastern religious practices among black Americans has not been significantly researched nor have adequate connections been made between these spiritual pursuits and the musical innovations they inspired. Nevertheless, since the mid-’60s, black American artists have explored Yoga, Hinduism, various sects of Buddhism, Ahmadiya Islam, and Bahá’í. The
aesthetic impact of these pursuits has been multi-dimensional and far-reaching. In their study of Asian philosophy and religion, jazz musicians have been exposed to the sounds and musical processes they have discovered in the cultures from which these traditions have emerged. One can hear this influence in musical borrowings, such as the use of traditional instrumentation, the reworking of melodic material from folk and classical genres, and the incorporation of indigenous
improvisational and compositional techniques. Though less audible, Eastern spiritual traditions have also exerted a more abstract philosophical influence that has shaped jazz aesthetics, inspiring jazz musicians to dissolve formal and stylistic boundaries and produce works of great originality. Contextualizing the spiritual explorations of John and Alice Coltrane within American religious culture and liberation movements of the 1960s, this essay explores the way that
their eclectic appropriation of Eastern spiritual concepts and their commitment to spiritual universality not only inspired musical innovation, but also provided a counter-hegemonic, political, and cultural critique.
Who Is Jesus Christ for Us Today?
To say that Jesus Christ is the truth of the Christian story calls for further examination. It is one thing to assert that the New Testament describes Jesus as the Oppressed One who came to liberate the poor and the weak (Chap. 4); but it is quite another to ask, Who is Jesus Christ for us today? If twentieth-century Christians are to speak the truth for their sociohistorical situation, they cannot merely repeat the story of what Jesus did and said in Palestine, as if it were selfinterpreting for us today. Truth is more than the retelling of the biblical story. Truth is the divine happening that invades our contemporary situation, revealing the meaning of the past for the present so that we
are made new creatures for the future. It is therefore our commitment to the divine truth, as witnessed to in the biblical story, that requires us to investigate the connection between Jesus' words and deeds in firstcentury Palestine and our existence today. This is the crux of the christological issue that no Christian theology can avoid.
The pivotal role of religion and spirituality in the lives of African Americans marks this ethnoracial group as a particularly important target for attention in research on the psychology and sociology of religion. In this chapter we endeavor to achieve three ends: First, we briefly review literature on meanings of religiosity and spirituality among African Americans. Second, we review the literature on the link between religiosity, spirituality, and health among African Americans. Finally, we examine findings regarding the pathways by which religion and spirituality may achieve its ends.
Transformative Pedagogy, Black Theology and Participative forms of PraxisJonathan Dunnemann
"This formative analysis is... on the significant developments in religious education by and for Black people, principally in the US. ..., I describe my own participative approaches to Black theology by means of transformative pedagogy, which utilizes interactive exercises as a means of combining the insights of the aforementioned ideas and themes into a transformative mode of teaching and learning."
"..., I have attempted to combine the radical intent of transformative education arising from the Freirerian tradition with Black liberation theology in order to develop a more participative and interactive mode of theo-pedagogical engagement that moves intellectual discourse beyond mere theorizing into more praxis based forms of practice.
Development of a Program for the Empowerment of Black Single Mother Families ...Jonathan Dunnemann
The most rapid growing family type in the United States is the single parent family. It is the dominant family type in the African-American community. According to the United States Bureau of the Census (2010), 69% of all Black children are born to single mothers. Single mother families are at a dramatically greater risk for drug and alcohol abuse, mental illness, suicide, poor educational performance, teen pregnancy, and criminality (National Center for Health Statistics, 1993).
Black Males, Social Imagery, and the Disruption of Pathological IdentitiesJonathan Dunnemann
Throughout the history of the U.S., racialized groups have often had their experiences profoundly shaped by social imagery in ways that have created tremendous hardships in the quest for
self-actualization and a healthy sense of self.
The purpose of this article is to shed light on the manner in which Black males have been one of the primary victims of negative social imagery and how the remnants of these constructions continue to have contemporary influences, ....
The Book of Joshua is the sixth book in the Hebrew Bible and the Old Testament, and is the first book of the Deuteronomistic history, the story of Israel from the conquest of Canaan to the Babylonian exile.
The PBHP DYC ~ Reflections on The Dhamma (English).pptxOH TEIK BIN
A PowerPoint Presentation based on the Dhamma Reflections for the PBHP DYC for the years 1993 – 2012. To motivate and inspire DYC members to keep on practicing the Dhamma and to do the meritorious deed of Dhammaduta work.
The texts are in English.
For the Video with audio narration, comments and texts in English, please check out the Link:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zF2g_43NEa0
The Good News, newsletter for June 2024 is hereNoHo FUMC
Our monthly newsletter is available to read online. We hope you will join us each Sunday in person for our worship service. Make sure to subscribe and follow us on YouTube and social media.
Lesson 9 - Resisting Temptation Along the Way.pptxCelso Napoleon
Lesson 9 - Resisting Temptation Along the Way
SBs – Sunday Bible School
Adult Bible Lessons 2nd quarter 2024 CPAD
MAGAZINE: THE CAREER THAT IS PROPOSED TO US: The Path of Salvation, Holiness and Perseverance to Reach Heaven
Commentator: Pastor Osiel Gomes
Presentation: Missionary Celso Napoleon
Renewed in Grace
In Jude 17-23 Jude shifts from piling up examples of false teachers from the Old Testament to a series of practical exhortations that flow from apostolic instruction. He preserves for us what may well have been part of the apostolic catechism for the first generation of Christ-followers. In these instructions Jude exhorts the believer to deal with 3 different groups of people: scoffers who are "devoid of the Spirit", believers who have come under the influence of scoffers and believers who are so entrenched in false teaching that they need rescue and pose some real spiritual risk for the rescuer. In all of this Jude emphasizes Jesus' call to rescue straying sheep, leaving the 99 safely behind and pursuing the 1.
The Chakra System in our body - A Portal to Interdimensional Consciousness.pptxBharat Technology
each chakra is studied in greater detail, several steps have been included to
strengthen your personal intention to open each chakra more fully. These are designed
to draw forth the highest benefit for your spiritual growth.
Homily: The Solemnity of the Most Holy Trinity Sunday 2024.docxJames Knipper
Countless volumes have been written trying to explain the mystery of three persons in one true God, leaving us to resort to metaphors such as the three-leaf clover to try to comprehend the Divinity. Many of us grew up with the quintessential pyramidal Trinity structure of God at the top and Son and Spirit in opposite corners. But what if we looked at this ‘mystery’ from a different perspective? What if we shifted our language of God as a being towards the concept of God as love? What if we focused more on the relationship within the Trinity versus the persons of the Trinity? What if stopped looking at God as a noun…and instead considered God as a verb? Check it out…
What Should be the Christian View of Anime?Joe Muraguri
We will learn what Anime is and see what a Christian should consider before watching anime movies? We will also learn a little bit of Shintoism religion and hentai (the craze of internet pornography today).
1. THE GUIDELINES
1. CHOOSE A SACRED WORD AS THE
SYMBOL OF YOUR INTENTION TO CONSENT
TO GOD’S PRESENCE AND ACTION WITHIN.
2. SITTING COMFORTABLY AND WITH EYES
CLOSED, SETTLE BRIEFLY, AND SILENTLY
INTRODUCE THE SACRED WORD AS THE
SYMBOL OF YOUR CONSENT TO GOD’S
PRESENCE AND ACTION WITHIN.
3. WHEN YOU BECOME AWARE OF
THOUGHTS,RETURN EVER-SO-GENTLY TO
THE SACRED WORD.
4. AT THE END OF THE PRAYER PERIOD,
REMAIN IN SILENCE WITH EYES CLOSED
FOR A COUPLE OF MINUTES.
THE METHOD OF CENTERING PRAYER
by Thomas Keating
Theological Background
The grace of Pentecost affirms that the risen Jesus
is among us as the glorified Christ. Christ lives in each of
us as the Enlightened One, present everywhere and at all
times. He is the living Master who continuously sends the
Holy Spirit to dwell within us and to bear witness to his
resurrection by empowering us to experience and
manifest the fruits of the Spirit and the Beatitudes both in
prayer and action.
Lectio Divina
Lectio Divina is the most traditional way of cultivating
friendship with Christ. It is a way of listening to the texts
of scripture as if we were in conversation with Christ and
he were suggesting the topics of conversation. The daily
encounter with Christ and reflection on his word leads
beyond mere acquaintanceship to an attitude of
friendship, trust and love. Conversation simplifies and
gives way to communing, or as Gregory the Great (6th
century), summarizing the Christian contemplative
tradition, put it, “resting in God.” This was the classical
meaning of contemplative prayer for the first sixteen
centuries.
Contemplative Prayer
Contemplative Prayer is the normal development of
the grace of baptism and the regular practice of Lectio
Divina. We may think of prayer as thoughts or feelings
expressed in words. But this is only one expression.
Contemplative Prayer is the opening of mind and heart –
our whole being – to God, the Ultimate Mystery, beyond
thoughts, words, and emotions. We open our awareness
to God whom we know by faith is within us, closer than
breathing, closer than thinking, closer than choosing –
closer than consciousness itself. Contemplative Prayer is
a process of interior purification leading, if we consent, to
divine union.
The Method of Centering Prayer
Centering Prayer is a method designed to facilitate
the development of contemplative prayer by preparing our
faculties to cooperate with this gift. It is an attempt to
present the teaching of earlier time (e.g., The Cloud of
Unknowing) in an updated form and to put a certain order
and regularity into it. It is not meant to replace other kinds
of prayer; it simply puts other kinds of prayer into a new
and fuller perspective. During the time of prayer we
consent to God’s presence and action within. At other
times our attention moves outward to discover God’s
presence everywhere.
Explanation of the Guidelines
I. “Choose a sacred word as the symbol of your
intention to consent to God’s presence and
action within.”
A. The sacred word expresses our intention to be in
God’s presence and to yield to the divine action.
B. The sacred word should be chosen during a brief
period of prayer asking the Holy Spirit to inspire
us with one that is especially suitable to us.
1. Examples: Lord, Jesus, Father, Mother,
Mary; or in other languages: Kyrie, Jesu,
Jeshua, Abba, Mater, Maria.
2. Other possibilities: Love, Peace, Mercy,
Silence, Stillness, Calm, Faith, Trust, Yes;
or in other languages: Amor, Shalom,
Amen.
C. Having chosen a sacred word, we do not change
it during the prayer period, for that would be to
start thinking again.
D. A simple inward gaze upon God may be more
suitable for some persons than the sacred word.
In this case, one consents to God’s presence
and action by turning inwardly to God as if
gazing upon God. The same guidelines apply to
the sacred gaze as to the sacred word.
II. “Sitting comfortably and with eyes closed, settle
briefly and silently introduce the sacred word as
the symbol of your consent to God’s presence
and action within.”
A. By “sitting comfortably” is meant relatively
comfortably; not so comfortably that we
encourage sleep, but sitting comfortably enough
to avoid thinking about the discomfort of our
bodies during the time of prayer.
2. B. Whatever sitting position we choose, we keep
the back straight.
C. If we fall asleep, we continue the prayer for a few
minutes upon awakening if we can spare the
time.
D. Praying in this way after a main meal
encourages drowsiness. Better to wait an hour
at least before Centering Prayer. Praying in this
way just before retiring may disturb one’s sleep
pattern.
E. We close our eyes to let go of what is going on
around and within us.
F. We introduce the sacred word inwardly and as
gently as laying a feather on a piece of
absorbent cotton.
III. “When you become aware of thoughts, return
ever-so–gently to the sacred word.”
A. “Thoughts” is an umbrella term for every
perception including sense perceptions, feelings,
images, memories, reflections, and
commentaries.
B. Thoughts are a normal part of Centering Prayer.
C. By “returning ever-so-gently to the sacred word,”
a minimum effort is indicated. This is the only
activity we initiate during the time of Centering
Prayer.
D. During the course of our prayer, the sacred word
may become vague or even disappear.
IV. “At the end of the prayer period, remain in silence
with eyes closed for a couple of minutes.”
A. If this prayer is done in a group, the leader may
slowly recite the Our Father during the additional
2 or 3 minutes, while the others listen.
B. The additional 2 or 3 minutes give the psyche
time to readjust to the external senses and
enable us to bring the atmosphere of silence into
daily life.
Some Practical Points
1. The minimum time for this prayer is 20 minutes. Two
periods are recommended each day, one first thing
in the morning, and one in the afternoon or early
evening.
2. The end of the prayer period can be indicated by a
timer, provided it does not have an audible tick or
loud sound when it goes off.
3. The principal effects of Centering Prayer are
experienced in daily life, not in the period of
Centering Prayer itself.
4. Physical Symptoms:
a. We may notice slight pains, itches, or twitches in
various parts of the body or a generalized
restlessness. These are usually due to the
untying of emotional knots in the body.
b. We may also notice heaviness or lightness in
the extremities. This is usually due to a deep
level of spiritual attentiveness.
c. In either case, we pay no attention, or we allow
the mind to rest briefly in the sensation, and then
return to the sacred word.
5. Lectio Divina provides the conceptual background for
the development of Centering Prayer.
6. A support group praying and sharing together once a
week helps maintain one’s commitment to the prayer.
Extending the Effects of Centering Prayer into
Daily Life
1. Practice 2 periods of Centering Prayer daily...
2. Read Scriptures regularly and study Open Mind,
Open Heart.
3. Practice one or two of the specific methods for
everyday, suggested in Open Mind, Open Heart,
chap. 12.
4. Join a Centering Prayer Support Group or Follow-up
Program (if available in your area.)
a. It encourages the members of the group to
persevere in private.
b. It provides an opportunity for further input on a
regular basis through tapes, readings and
discussion.
Points for Further Development
1. During the prayer period various kinds of thoughts
may be distinguished.
a. Ordinary wanderings of the imagination or
memory.
b. Thoughts that give rise to attractions or
aversions.
c. Insights and psychological breakthroughs.
d. Self-reflections such as, “How am I doing?” or,
“This peace is just great!”
e. Thoughts that arise from the unloading of the
unconsciousness.
2. During this prayer we avoid analyzing ourexperience,
harboring expectations or aiming at some specific
goal such as:
a. Repeating the sacred word continuously.
b. Having no thoughts.
c. Making the mind a blank.
d. Feeling peaceful or consoled.
e. Achieving a spiritual experience.
3. What Centering Prayer is not:
a. It is not a technique.
b. It is not a relaxation exercise.
c. It is not a form of self-hypnosis.
d. It is not a charismatic gift.
e. It is not a para-psychological experience.
f. It is not limited to the “felt” presence of God.
g. It is not discursive meditation or affective prayer.
4. What Centering Prayer is:
a. It is at the same time a relationship with God and
a discipline to foster that relationship.
b. It is an exercise of faith, hope, and love.
c. It is a movement beyond conversation with
Christ to communion.
d. It habituates us to the language of God which is
silence.
Thomas Keating: Contemplative Outreach, Ltd.; 9 William
St.; P.O. Box 737; Butler, NJ 07405; 201-838-3384.
CPT - 1/03