Centered Living: The Way of Centering Prayer

by M. Basil Pennington, Lawrence Kushner (Foreword by)

Overview

This look at the popular contemplative technique known as Centering Prayer is your key to a richer spiritual life. In easy-to-understand, non-technical language, internationally renowned author M. Basil Pennington combines testimonies of practitioners, updated guidelines, theological reflections, and helpful hints for teaching others in an exploration of all the essential information about Centering Prayer.

For millions of Christians worldwide, it is the experience of prayer rather than the words which constitute it that are most important. In its simplicity, Centering Prayer opens our hearts to God, cleanses the mind, and soothes the soul.

More than just a catalog of facts and practical suggestions, this book benefits even the most seasoned practitioner or teacher of Centering Prayer. However, the clarity of Father Pennington's approach also enables newcomers, Catholic and non-Catholic alike, to develop a firm grasp of the practice.

Paperback

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780764861710
Publisher:	Liguori Publications
Publication date:	08/24/1999
Sold by:	Barnes & Noble
Format:	eBook
Pages:	240
File size:	2 MB

About the Author

M. Basil Pennington, OCSO (1931-2005), the Trappist monk known worldwide for his efforts to help the Church re-find its contemplative dimension through the Centering Prayer movement, was admired as a speaker, teacher, and author. Pennington published more than sixty books and 1,000 articles.

Table of Contents

	Foreword to the New Edition	ix
	Foreword	xix
	Preface	xxiii
	Free to Be Faithful	1
	"We Are Legion"	6
	How Did We Get Here?	16
	The Untold Fruits of Centering Prayer	28
	Refining the Rules	42
	Contemplation and Method	53
	Deepening Our Understanding	65
	Thomas Merton and Centering Prayer	68
	Transformation of Consciousness	83
	Pure Consciousness	93
	The Cosmic Person	106
	Ours for the Receiving	115
	"...and I Will Refresh You"	122
	Where's the Cross?	129
	Has the Lord Gone to Dalmanutha?	134
	Sharing the Gift	141
	Courage!	144
	Sharers of the Word	149
	Return to the Father	156
	There Is a Time and a Place--and a Way	164
	A Checklist for Sharers and Teachers	170
	Follow-Up	179
	Centering Prayer Groups	186
	Beyond the Christian Community	193
	Epilogue: A Centered Life	201
	Appendixes	205
1	Guidelines for Centering Prayer	207
2	Guidelines for Lectio Divina	209
3	Guidelines for Preparing a Rule of Life	210
	Select Bibliography	212