Our founder was Winnie Young, and in 1995 Fr Carl Arico (on his first of 4 visits) helped her establish an ad-hoc national committee. This was replaced in 1997 by […]
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Eight Contemplative Attitudes and Centering Prayer
Q: I am reading all I can about the process…as well as doing it twice daily.. I have examined closely the “contemplative attitudes” such as opening/gentleness/simplicity etc…. is it ok […]
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Books, Retreats and Centering Prayer
Q: I've been doing Centering Prayer faithfully for over 20 years. In the first 10-15 years I was hungry for information and read just about every book on spirituality and […]
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Who Will Replace Thomas Keating?
Centering Prayer – I think it’s increasing, it’s burgeoning, and I think after my demise it’s likely to grow significantly, even more. I don’t know why, it’s just the nature […]
The Wind Beneath Our Wings
I first met that Irish monk years ago on the sidewalk. I was alone, hesitant, looking for belonging It was just the two of us standing there before Mass when […]
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The Contemplative Dimension of Giving
Q: During this time when giving has so much to do with emptying shelves and wallets, what is the contemplative dimension of giving? A: When I reflect on the word […]
Remembering Our Beloved
Well done,my good and faithful servant.Come, share my joy. – Matthew 25:21 As we mourn the passing of our beloved teacher, Fr. Thomas Keating, let us reflect on all that […]
My prayer has not gone to a deeper level
Q: I have been doing centering prayer faithfully for a number of years. However, I am still operating on the surface, as a beginner. My prayer has not gone to […]
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Governing Board Updates
As Pat Johnson prepares to retire from her role as administrator of Contemplative Outreach Ltd. at the end of 2018, the governing board agreed by consensus to appoint her to […]
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The Active Prayer Practice
Q: The active prayer is my daily "go to" practice along with Centering Prayer. Can you please clarify the differences and similarities between receptive and active contemplative practices, and how […]
Letter to Fr. Thomas from Ken Wilber
Here is a letter that Ken Wilber sent to Father Thomas shortly before he passed: Dearest Father Thomas, I‚Äôve been following your illness as it progresses, and, with so many […]
Feeling Into the Great Love and Spaciousness That Is the Being of Father Thomas Keating
My relationship with Fr. Thomas Keating has not been lengthy in terms of time but has been lasting in support for my practice and ministry and is embedded in my body as […]
Exploring Other Traditions
Q: I am a Christian contemplative, but find myself increasingly drawn to Buddhist meditation, but am afraid that I am deserting God as there is no emphasis on God in this […]
The Song in Our Hearts
In the spring of 2002, we brought a young man from Kosovo to Dallas to be fitted with a prosthetic. He had been living in England where he was expecting […]
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Struggling with Thoughts During the Night
Q: I just read Fr. Keating’s Open Mind, Open Heart book. What should I do during the night, while lying in bed, and I find myself with a bunch of general thoughts […]
The Maturation of the Sacred Word
Q: During my Centering Prayer practice, I notice that my sacred word can change, become vague, become softer, a bit different, or more subtle, like there is no word, but only […]
The Art of Divine Therapy
Fr. Thomas Keating states that two things happen in the inner room: We get in touch with our basic core of goodness, and the process of divine therapy is initiated […]
Centering Prayer and Embodied Contemplative Practices – My Experience
The article in the January 2018 e-bulletin, “Contemplative Movement” by Robin Gates, affirmed so many experiences that I observed during the first few years of my Centering Prayer practice. I noticed that […]
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The Welcoming Prayer and Taking Action
Q: I understand the Welcoming Prayer is about acceptance. But what about change and action? If your boss treats you bad, your doctor ignores your health, if someone threatens […]
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The Good News of Accompaniment
The first words of Jesus reported by Mark are, ‚ÄúThis is the time of fulfillment. The kingdom of God is at hand. Repent, and believe in the gospel‚Äù (Mark 1: […]
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Table Discussion, Overall Summary from the Contemplative Outreach Conference in Denver, September 21-24, 2017
The following is an edited collection of comments generated during several hours of small group discussions at the Contemplative Outreach Conference in Denver September 21-24, 2017. Comments were gathered […]
Simple Sharing; Huge Impact
You shall love the Lord, your God,with all your heart, with all your soul,and with all your mind.This is the greatest and the first commandment.The second is like it: […]
Contemplative Movement
Heaven and Earth converge in our bodies. The body is our teacher. It gives us messages and grounds us in the sacred present. It is the temple of the […]
Centering Prayer and the Transformation of Suffering
Q: I’ve been a Centering Prayer practitioner for several years and I’ve just finished reading The Better Part – Stages of Contemplative Living by Fr. Keating. I think that I’ve been going […]
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Back-to-Basics and the Centering Prayer Group
Fr. Thomas has asked the Centering Prayer community to take the next year and return to his basic teaching on the Christian spiritual journey. Here are three ways your […]
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