My husband and I retired at the same time about six years ago and we came to Bend, Oregon ‚Äúto live happily ever after.‚Äù Our children and grandchildren live nearby […]
The Role of Purgatory
Q: I have a question on Purgatory……my hope has always been that to suffer here and experience death is enough … however our Church teaches differently. I would like to […]
Silent Visits from God
sometimes silence creates loud noises in the heart, and sounds off in thebrain with chaotic patterns making us our own worst enemy the quiet itself is peaceful enoughbut the disturbances; […]
Jesus Christ and the Holy Trinity
Q: I have just turned 73 and for most of 50 years I have practiced Buddhism ‚Äì Zen, later Vajrayana, and more recently Theravada (Vipassana meditation), although I was briefly […]
Contemplative Service in Hospice
Coming from the perspective of someone who has survived cancer certainly puts you in a place to understand, at least partially, what our hospice residents are going through. One thing […]
Centering Prayer and Brainwave Entrainment Products
Q: For the past 6 months I have been using a brainwave entrainment product (developed by people associated with the Integral Movement and Ken Wilber) with my Centering Prayer practice. […]
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What is “My Shadow Self”
Q. I am quite new to practicing Centering Prayer and entering into the contemplative life, and I am craving it more and more. I am an avid reader and have […]
Restlessness During Centering Prayer
Q: I do Centering Prayer two times a day, first thing in the morning and then as the last thing at night. During my evening prayer I get very restless […]
Panentheism
Q: Is panentheism the theology being taught by contemplative prayer? A: I refer you to an article written by Thomas Keating on ‚ÄúClarifications regarding Centering Prayer‚Äù: ‚ÄúPantheism is usually defined […]
Gratitude & Listening
What an enormous and lifetime gift of grace is given through each and all of you at Contemplative Outreach as we all continue on the Way through your guidance, resources, […]
Finding a Quiet Place
Q: My mother is 92, lives with us and has for the last 5 years. This is during the time when I also started Centering Prayer. It is so hard […]
Breath Prayer
Q: In The Contemplative Outreach News, December 2009, you had an article entitled, ‚ÄúReflections on the beginning: 1983.‚Äù In it, you mentioned Fr. Keating recommending four spiritual exercises; one of […]
A Short Poem of Daily Surrender
‚ÄúCommit your life to the Lord,Trust in Him and He will act,So that your justice breaks forth like the lightYour cause like the noon day sun‚Äù– Psalm 37 1-4 Open […]
Visiting San Quentin
‚ÄúDress like you‚Äôre going to a funeral,‚Äù my friend George advised. The long list of rules for visitors to San Quentin California State Prison includes no blue or orange clothes, […]
The Dark Nights, Who Does It Affect?
Q: I wonder, can one experience the dark nights, if one is not practicing centering or contemplative prayer, but is just a devoted Christian? I somehow get the impression that […]
Restlessness During Centering Prayer
Q: I was a regular practitioner of Centering Prayer in the 1990’s. For the last few years, however, I make time for it in the mornings after reading some Scripture, […]
Mysteries Like Love
Reaching out,there is no edge.I can see forever,with eyes of light,in a stillness,breathing in and out,enfoldment,like a kiss from mybeloved Divine. Open your heart,my sweet one,receive your radiant gifts,eaching in,o […]
My Heart Has Unfit Edges
This is dedicated to a very holy ( though she was unaware) seamstress, Ginny, who was one of the most unconditional lovers I know as mom, friend, wife and grandmother. […]
Is “God is All, in All” a way of saying that God’s immanent?
Q: I see the title of the new DVD in your store, ‚ÄúGod is All, in All‚Äù, and it makes me wonder about the transcendent nature of God. Is God […]
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Does God Judge?
Q: My small groups was watching the Heartfulness DVD series with Thomas Keating and Betty Sue Flowers, in particular, the section on sin. At the end, we were discussing the […]
Transform the World One Prayer at a Time, one Gift at a Time
May it be done to me according to your word.Luke 1: 38 This year I have been amazed at how the work of Contemplative Outreach is spreading around the world. […]
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Music During Centering Prayer
Q: I once asked my prayer group if it was permissible to have a melody running through one’s head while centering, and their answer was no. Often I have a […]
Homecoming
While seeking to clear my seeing,so I could really know love,be love, walk in the world in service to love,I forgot my activities, my routine, my habits,my drama, my occupation, […]
God’s Unconditional Love and the Last Judgment
Q: As a practising contemplative/meditator for many years and a more recent follower of Father Thomas Keating’s spiritual advice and direction, I do have one “very spiritually perplexing question” that […]
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Eventide
As I sit on my sofafacing southI hear the crickets,little pinpricks of soundin the night.I open wideto the stars and beyond,to that which we call God. I open to the […]
