Thoughts - Thomas Keating on the Method of Centering Prayer

[AOZXRAY]

Great Illumination.

Ever closer to the Great I AM Presence of Life!

[ruzickaw]

too many words and explanation.

[sweeetly]

This is the same message as non dual teachings and that of Ramama Maharshi.

Great lecture.

[greenrate]

This is pretty typical of Keating's approach and personal style.

If you feel that his explanation is densely packed (with possibilities for additional understanding) . . . then you're probably a candidate for making good use of this type of prayer.

[jhgosnell]

literally speaking you are right. also, my two cents...the bible teaches the essence of what meditation/prayer is all about...be still and know i am God. The sacred word is not critical, what is critical is to consent to God's presence and action within.

thanks for your post

blessings

[bananax21]

He has gotten old now.

[bluegypsyheart]

loveit! love him and watched all the videos..who ever posted them ty sooo much..it has indeed being a blessing..bless you

[TheExastrologer]

The Bible does not teach us to use a "sacred word." Jesus prayed in a very ordinary way, as we should - simply speaking to God. If you are really praying you don't need a scared word. And you should not get to a state of no-thinking - this is Eastern mysticism. The diagram Keating uses with the boats on the water is based on Buddhism. Biblical meditation is pondering and thinking about what God is saying in his Word, not descending within through "levels."

[MTRaven450]

@TheExastrologer If you experience God's word from other level's it is no less God's word. As Keating says, you just see how beautiful it truly is. Perhaps you have a mind that doesn't need to be centered and can reach that 'union' with the Word without this. But for many who have very distracted and unruly minds, this practice is very helpful.

[TheExastrologer]

@MTRaven450 We have union with God in Christ. This is something Christians know through faith, based on God's word, and conviction of the Holy Spirit. We do not need to practice these techniques for "union." God's word is how he gave it to us - in the Bible. This is what we read and study and pray over. If one is reading God's word, one's mind can become calm and focused because of the power of God's word. It just takes desire and discipline to do so.Thanks for your gracious comment, however.

[coleslizzy]

Acknowledge thoughts but do not become attached to them...use them to your advantage

[beccogiallo]

I love listening to Ft. Keating. I was fortunate enough to hear him speak in person in 2006.

Thank you for posting this.

[Restitvtvs]

Thank you also for posting this video. Pax tecvm. +

[MyBabyReads]

Thank you so much. Bless You!

[lawrenceweiss]

Yes,

Thomas goes so far to say that thoughts are an "integral" part of Centering Prayer. Learning to acknowledge thoughts' presence, yet let them go without engagement is helpful to our spiritual growth. You might say, this practice teaches "ego-less" perspective, a step towards love.

[lricci]

The impediment to new meditators is struggling to let go of stray thoughts that intrude. Fr. Keating's instruction solves this dilemma.