Articles

As I read the latest "Voices of the Community" articles from the current Contemplative Outreach e-bulletin, I noticed something I had not seen before . . . one could go back to previous articles.  So I did just that . . . going back to one I had written two years ago just after Easter that year (see the article "A Very Different Holy Week.").

Q:  Where does one initially place their awareness during Centering Prayer?  In other words, when introducing the sacred word does one let the awareness float up toward heaven someplace "outside" oneself, or...

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 Centering Prayer group may want to take-in these teachings together.

In 2006, my late wife, Kate, four other psychotherapists, a cognitive behavioral trainer, and myself began a program at Travis County Correctional Center in Austin entitled LifeTools^©. It provided psychological, cognitive behavioral, and spiritual direction for over 200 men until 2009, when the program ended.

Q. Fr. Keating recommending four spiritual exercises; one of them was the development of the breath prayer, which might help us truly be followers of our Lord who prayed constantly. I am unfamiliar with the breath prayer; I would appreciate your describing it.

What would you do
If you were given
But just one more day to live?

Ordinary time is over and now we are presented with a different, sacred time: one of fasting, reflection and penance. This period of Lent mirrors the forty days Christ spent in the desert connecting deeply with the Father.

The following texts from the Gospel of John are a New Testament scriptural and theological inspiration for the practice of Centering Prayer and Contemplative Outreach.

Can Centering Prayer take place at the level of our being? Your comments and corrections please.

Q: What do you think about doing Centering Prayer while wearing a biofeedback device such as an emWave? I have been doing this for about 2 years now and it seems to be bringing about some very profound changes in my life and relationships, and a big shift in my perception of God. But sometimes...

Q:  I'm rather new to Centering Prayer. Perhaps the most common thought I have while practicing, which takes me away from my sacred word, is an awareness of my breathing. I've noticed that although I'm not mouthing my sacred word ...  Perhaps I'm so much of an audio learning that I can't help but link my thoughts to my breathing? Anyways, is this a concern?...

I have a 50 year old sister with Williams' Syndrome (similar to Downs Syndrome - different chromosome)....Have you had experience sharing this practice with disabled adults?