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 […]
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 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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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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The Difference Between Centering Prayer and Dom John Main’s Christian Meditation
Q: I'm a longtime meditator and student of contemplative practice traditions. As such I have maintained an interest in and appreciation of modern Christian approaches to meditation. In regard […]
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Back to Basics
Q: I heard at the CO September 2017 conference that Fr. Thomas is emphasizing a return to the basics. What does this mean in your view? A: Thomas is […]
What Texts to Use With Lectio Divina
Q: I’ve been listening to The Spiritual Journey on CD’s and watching DVD’s to become thoroughly familiar with Centering Prayer. I am praying Lectio Divina, per Fr. Keating’s guidelines of […]
Lectio Divina and Attuning to the Spirit
Q: Recently I attended a poetry gathering … The young man who teaches poetry used Lectio Divina as a method to find interpretation of the poetry and called it that. […]
Thomas Keating & The Three Biological Needs
Q: Thomas Keating identifies three essential biological needs for human beings: (1) Security & Survival, (2) Power & Control, and (3) Affection & Esteem. Can you please tell me if […]
Welcoming & Security Issues
Q: I need help. Every day I pray the Welcoming Prayer. I trip up at “I let go my desire for security and survival.” I’m a mother. How can I […]
Praying to the Old Man on the Throne?
Q: Recently, when I concluded my session of Centering Prayer and recited the Lord's Prayer, as is my custom, I was struck by the disparity between the Trinity in Whom […]
Distinguishing Awareness and Presence
Q: I was listening to this video of Fr. Keating: https://youtu.be/bcc5_R9415Q If a clearer or fuller context is required, it might be necessary to listen to a few minutes […]
Sacred Feeling as a Sacred Symbol
Q: I feel led towards using what I would call sacred ‚Äúfeeling‚Äù when doing Centering Prayer. My feeling is love for God that I feel in my heart. It seems […]
Placing Your Attention IN
Q: I have been doing Centering Prayer for 6+months now, and have hit a bit of a road block. In reading Cynthia Bourgeault’s book, The Heart of Centering Prayer, and […]
Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament & Centering Prayer
Q: I am fairly new to the practice of Centering Prayer. In my Catholic faith I participate weekly in the Adoration of our Lord through the Eucharist. I feel at […]
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Just Be in the Silence
Q: I’ve been practicing Centering Prayer for about two years. It has helped me in more ways than I could ever express. My question has to do with what happens […]
Guiding New Practitioners
Q: While debriefing the 20-minute prayer practice as part of the Centering Prayer Introductory Workshop, two participants shared experiences about which I would like some advice. One mentioned going in […]
Living in a Religious Vacuum
Q: I have been raised as a Catholic and as a child participated in Eucharist and absorbed many cultural images of God and understandings of the faith. Later in my […]
Falling Asleep in Prayer
Q: I pray daily, at least once a day, using the Centering Prayer method. Sometimes I will fall asleep and then wake myself up abruptly from the dream state I […]
God as Divine Therapist
Q: Fr. Keating, in his book Intimacy with God and elsewhere, develops the idea – the image – of God as Divine Therapist. Yet Fr. Keating also argues that we must […]
Difficulty in Doing a Second Sit
Q: I have had numerous people tell me that they have no difficulty carving space for the first sit of the day, usually in the morning. But once the day […]
Concern About Welcoming Prayer and Passivity
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 your […]
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Using a Vision in Centering Prayer Instead of a Sacred Word
Q: In the last couple of weeks I find that a certain vision of a person with her/his back to me and arms stretched out toward a representation of me […]
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These Annoying Humans!
Q: What the heck is one supposed to do if one just doesn’t like people and humanity? Seemingly making some progress in my practice, desire closer relationship with God, but […]
