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    An Introduction to Centering Prayer
    An Introduction to Centering Prayer
    An Introduction to Centering Prayer
    Ebook30 pages20 minutes

    An Introduction to Centering Prayer

    By Anthony Coleman

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    About this ebook

    Centering Prayer is a method of silent prayer based on an anonymous 14th Century text called The Cloud of Unknowing, and has roots even further back in the writings of the Desert Fathers of Egyptian Monasticism. It has recently been popularized by the Trappist monk Thomas Keating.

    In The Cloud of Unknowing, the spiritual advisor describes a type of contemplative prayer in which one simply rests in the presence of God without an agenda. He believes that this "contemplative work of love" is the way to a changed spirit and character – and thereby the spiritual fruits of love, joy, and peace. By practicing Centering Prayer, one hopes to open themselves fully to the presence and action of God, experiencing authentic inner transformation in the process.

    An Introduction to Centering Prayer is a short tract designed to introduce readers to the discipline and encourage further study.

    LanguageEnglish
    PublisherAnthony Coleman
    Release dateOct 31, 2017
    ISBN9781370390496
    An Introduction to Centering Prayer
    Author

    Anthony Coleman

    Anthony was educated at 'Durford House School' in St Albans, Hertfordshire. He started painting in the 60s and taught at the 'Young People's Art Centre' for a while. He then qualified as an engineering designer and spent time at several headline companies. A few years ago, he took to the quill and started writing modern verse. Since beginning, he has been published in a wide range of literary magazines.

    Read more from Anthony Coleman

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    • 5/5
      Brilliant, succinct, straight to the point guide to Christian meditation. I highly recommend.

    Book preview

    An Introduction to Centering Prayer - Anthony Coleman

    An Introduction to Centering Prayer

    Anthony Coleman

    Table of Contents

    1. History

    2. Method

    3. Theological Paradigms

    4. Natural Effects

    5. Centering in the World

    6. The Shape of the Journey

    7. Further Reading

    8. Endnotes

    By the work of contemplative love man will be healed.

    – The Cloud of Unknowing

    I’m not convinced that Centering Prayer isn’t the solution to every problem you’ll ever have.  I don’t know that it is.  But I’m not sure that it’s not.  

    To the extent that God is the solution to everything that matters to the human heart, Centering Prayer is also the solution.  Because Centering Prayer is simply an opening of the self to the presence and action of God.  

    It’s remarkably simple. Pick a word that symbolizes your intention to rest openly in the presence of God. Sit with your back straight. When you catch yourself thinking, return to God, using the sacred word.

    That’s it.

    That might be the answer to the human condition.

    An Introduction to Centering Prayer

    Many have undertaken the task of drawing up an account of Centering Prayer. Thomas Keating, Cynthia Bourgeault, David Frenette, Basil Pennington, Murchadh Ó Madagáin. Each gives a far more comprehensive account than I intend to here. I simply want to provide a very brief history of the practice and discuss some ways of understanding the method and its effects. If this short tract leads the reader to further investigation or, even better, to experimenting with the practice, it has fulfilled its purpose.

    History

    Typically, those tracing the origins of Centering Prayer begin with The

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