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Excellent! The writing is straightforward and still captures the mystical aspects of prayer.
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Centering Prayer and Inner Awakening
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Practitioners of Centering Prayer are known for the great enthusiasm they bring to the practice of this ancient discipline. Centering Prayer and Inner Awakening is a complete guidebook for all who wish to know the practice of Centering Prayer. Cynthia Bourgeault goes further than offering an introduction, however. She examines how the practice is related to the classic tradition of Christian contemplation, looks at the distinct nuances of its method, and explores its revolutionary potential to transform Christian life. The book encourages dialogue between Centering Prayer enthusiasts and those classic institutions of Christian nurture―churches, seminaries, and schools of theology―that have yet to accept real ownership of the practice and its potential.
192 pages, Paperback
First published June 25,2004
This edition
- Format
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192 pages, Paperback
- Published
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June 25, 2004 by Cowley Publications
- ISBN
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9781561012626
- ASIN
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1561012629
- Language
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English
About the author
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Modern day mystic, Episcopal priest, writer, and internationally known retreat leader, Cynthia Bourgeault divides her time between solitude at her seaside hermitage in Maine, and a demanding schedule traveling globally to teach and spread the recovery of the Christian contemplative and Wisdom path.
She has been a long-time advocate of the meditative practice of Centering Prayer and has worked closely with fellow teachers and colleagues including Thomas Keating, Bruno Barnhart, and Richard Rohr. Cynthia has actively participated in numerous inter-spiritual dialogues and events with luminaries and leaders such as A.H. Almaas, Kabir Helminski, Swami Atmarupananda, and Rami Shapiro.
Cynthia is a member of the GPIW (Global Peace Initiative for Women) Contemplative Council and recipient of the 2014 Contemplative Voices award from Shalem Institute. She is a founding Director of both The Contemplative Society and the Aspen Wisdom School. She continues to contribute to The Contemplative Society in her role as Principal Teacher and advisor.
Cynthia is the author of eight books: The Holy Trinity and the Law of Three, The Meaning of Mary Magdalene, The Wisdom Jesus, Centering Prayer and Inner Awakening, Mystical Hope, The Wisdom Way of Knowing, Chanting the Psalms, and Love is Stronger than Death. She has also authored or contributed to numerous articles on the Christian Wisdom path in publications such as Parabola Magazine, Gnosis Magazine, and Sewanee Theological Review.
Cynthia Bourgeault is currently one of the core faculty members at The Living School for Action and Contemplation.
from http://www.contemplative.org/cynthia-...
She has been a long-time advocate of the meditative practice of Centering Prayer and has worked closely with fellow teachers and colleagues including Thomas Keating, Bruno Barnhart, and Richard Rohr. Cynthia has actively participated in numerous inter-spiritual dialogues and events with luminaries and leaders such as A.H. Almaas, Kabir Helminski, Swami Atmarupananda, and Rami Shapiro.
Cynthia is a member of the GPIW (Global Peace Initiative for Women) Contemplative Council and recipient of the 2014 Contemplative Voices award from Shalem Institute. She is a founding Director of both The Contemplative Society and the Aspen Wisdom School. She continues to contribute to The Contemplative Society in her role as Principal Teacher and advisor.
Cynthia is the author of eight books: The Holy Trinity and the Law of Three, The Meaning of Mary Magdalene, The Wisdom Jesus, Centering Prayer and Inner Awakening, Mystical Hope, The Wisdom Way of Knowing, Chanting the Psalms, and Love is Stronger than Death. She has also authored or contributed to numerous articles on the Christian Wisdom path in publications such as Parabola Magazine, Gnosis Magazine, and Sewanee Theological Review.
Cynthia Bourgeault is currently one of the core faculty members at The Living School for Action and Contemplation.
from http://www.contemplative.org/cynthia-...
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Centering prayer is a type of meditation. She goes into how this differs from other types of meditation and how to accomplish it. She gets to the point early on in the book and then goes into a lot of detail about the history of centering prayer. Towards the end, she touches on a welcoming prayer I found very helpful.
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Great book about going deeper in contemplative practices with God.
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Very articulately clarifying. I highly recommend for anyone interested in or practicing the western forms of contemplative prayer. Particularly appreciated her scholarly treatment of its historical context and evolution.
I had been simultaneously reading and listening to it but had to finish the audio by a library return date. I’m still reading the book in order to further integrate the practice, but see no way to note that version and status separately in Goodreads. It seems to force me to designate one or the other.
I just wish she would help me understand the need for the sacred word when my Zen practice of breath witnessing seems an even more direct practice, although I will perhaps conclude that it helps me keep it Christo-centric as I aim to take all thoughts captive to Christ and surrender them to Him.
I had been simultaneously reading and listening to it but had to finish the audio by a library return date. I’m still reading the book in order to further integrate the practice, but see no way to note that version and status separately in Goodreads. It seems to force me to designate one or the other.
I just wish she would help me understand the need for the sacred word when my Zen practice of breath witnessing seems an even more direct practice, although I will perhaps conclude that it helps me keep it Christo-centric as I aim to take all thoughts captive to Christ and surrender them to Him.
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I give this five stars not because the writing was amazing but because her ideas and guidance have stuck with me even though I read this five years ago. I have given away and re-purchased because I have found her insights to be life changing.
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I feel like reading this book opened a door and I am standing on the threshold of an amazing opportunity for transformation. Bourgeault's explanations of cataphatic prayer and apophatic prayer allowed me to see and understand what was not working in my meditative experiences. I have started making Centering Prayer part of my daily life practice, and can already see subtle shifts occuring. Bourgeault's clearly written descriptions for the methods of Centering Prayer and Welcoming Prayer provide wonderful approaches for nurturing the heart through awareness and deepening surrender.
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Context: I have dabbled in various forms of meditation over the last five plus years and have been on the look out for a primer on something in the Christian tradition. This book was recommended to me by a clergy member and I have since incorporated some of its components into my daily practice.
Takeaways: I found a number of nuggets throughout the book, but found most of the pages and writing a bit long winded and not very concrete. What resonated with me could have largely been summarized into a long form blog post (primarily Part I on the method of centering prayer and the chapter later in the book on welcoming prayer), though others may enjoy the flow of the writing style and ordering of the book. Below are a few of the nuggets that spoke to me, outside of the general instruction mentioned above:
1. The importance of silence in spirituality: "Virtually every spiritual tradition that holds a vision of human transformation at its heart also claims that a practice of intentional silence is non-negotiable."
2. The metaphor of "putting a stick into the spoke of thinking"
3. Practicing for the big one: "when we enter meditation, it is like a "mini-death"..."
4. The quintessential Jesus response: "...the meeting of any and all life situations (including the final one, where a concentrative method is no longer possible) by the complete, free giving of oneself."
5. There is a wonderful flow chart titled "The False Self in Action" that I believe captures the importance of centering prayer (or other types of meditation) in one image
Recommendation/Conclusion: I recommend this book to those also in search of a meditation practice with a more Christian bend. However, I only give it three stars as I found myself skimming a sizable portion of the book and felt it took a good amount of digging to find the key points. Overall, still worth a read!
Takeaways: I found a number of nuggets throughout the book, but found most of the pages and writing a bit long winded and not very concrete. What resonated with me could have largely been summarized into a long form blog post (primarily Part I on the method of centering prayer and the chapter later in the book on welcoming prayer), though others may enjoy the flow of the writing style and ordering of the book. Below are a few of the nuggets that spoke to me, outside of the general instruction mentioned above:
1. The importance of silence in spirituality: "Virtually every spiritual tradition that holds a vision of human transformation at its heart also claims that a practice of intentional silence is non-negotiable."
2. The metaphor of "putting a stick into the spoke of thinking"
3. Practicing for the big one: "when we enter meditation, it is like a "mini-death"..."
4. The quintessential Jesus response: "...the meeting of any and all life situations (including the final one, where a concentrative method is no longer possible) by the complete, free giving of oneself."
5. There is a wonderful flow chart titled "The False Self in Action" that I believe captures the importance of centering prayer (or other types of meditation) in one image
Recommendation/Conclusion: I recommend this book to those also in search of a meditation practice with a more Christian bend. However, I only give it three stars as I found myself skimming a sizable portion of the book and felt it took a good amount of digging to find the key points. Overall, still worth a read!
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This is a densely written book, quite challenging, and one which pays rereading several times. I'm finding it really helpful in helping me to move beyond where I have been in prayer. The author has a knack of explaining difficult concepts in simple terms but the density of the writing means that progress is slow; no matter, because slow reading of this subject matter is appropriate.
I found Chapter 10 From Healing to Holiness most helpful in appreciating that this deep inner work results in a new creation, not simply a repair of the existing creation.
I look forward to discovering more as I reread it....
I found Chapter 10 From Healing to Holiness most helpful in appreciating that this deep inner work results in a new creation, not simply a repair of the existing creation.
I look forward to discovering more as I reread it....
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