The Heart of Centering Prayer: Part 1 of 4

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The Heart of Centering Prayer: Christian Nonduality in Theory and Practice
In this day of reflection, Rev. Bourgeault opens new ground with The Cloud of Unknowing by proposing that its anonymous author, in using the word "contemplation," is actually describing the transition to unitive or non-dual consciousness. This includes a brief exploration of what this actively entails, how this new perspective helps to clear up some of those notoriously difficult passages in The Cloud, and why centering prayer is so essential in the process.
Cosponsored by Contemplative Outreach of Boston and the School of Theology and Ministry
Rev. Cynthia Bourgeault is an Episcopal priest, teacher, author, and retreat and conference leader.
In this part Rev. Bourgeault recounts the history of contemporary centering prayer. She claims that the content of the Cloud of Unknowing cannot really be understood without experiencing the practice of centering prayer, in part because it involves a change of consciousness.
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[@spiritlightpajic7299]

🌅Only Someone Who Has Lived from The Contemplative Heart💟Centered Prayer COULD Possibly Speak As Y🪷u So Divinely Have Presented in This Beautiful Gift from The Transperent Heart and mind🙏Thank🦋Y🦢u💟

[@nickowchar2001]

What a great lecture - so knowledgeable and helpful! Her discussion of “The Cloud of Unknowing” is absolutely terrific. I hope other people get as much out of this as I have!

[@leannecollins7632]

Just love this and love her...If christians can begin to gather at this attentional point, no longer drawn outwardly by any object, judgement, desire, thought, we have left, only one place to be...being with God, without distractions, in a non dual meeting place.

[@oolala53]

or drawn by a story...

[@mariateresabastidaslizarra2508]

It gives me a chance to listen it over & Over. Thank you

[@dianeevelyne7410]

Great speech! Thank you❤️

[@lovesings2us]

Thank you so much!

[@mageetu]

Love love love you! You are getting through! 1

[@sawmill123456]

Great talk you help explain the Christian code words for Eastern Spirtual practices

[@paracelsusify]

There are no code words. Christian contemplation predates any influence from "the East" --which is not to say such influence today cannot be beneficial and the work of the Holy Spirit.

[@vaska1999]

The Greek and Eastern Orthodox churches have cultivated the practice of wordless prayer for the past 20 centuries.

[@oolala53]

@@paracelsusify Ha! The Indians had been doing it long before Christians. Where do you think Jesus learned it?

[@federicoramirez8175]

From 50:43 to 51:02 wow! Cynthia nailed it!

[@danielshin1400]

agreed

[@donmilo4733]

Awareness with thought ,divine presence, Holy moment . This is what we seek in C P Oh yes Christ Awareness actually looking through your eyes ,without the mined made plans - ego

[@oolala53]

Except it has nothing to do with the historical Christ.

[@donnaariente1335]

Thank you.

[@nicolehorlorzealmetal9890]

Love!

[@JonasAnandaKristiansson]

Yes, non duality is the way. Christianity is beautiful, when "looked at" from the non dual "view".

[@altonmilligan9948]

The text reads, it is written love your neighbor as yourself and hate your enemies. But Jesus said, but I say to you love your enemies and do good to those who persecute you. So there is a difference between neighbor and enemy. CB seems to be saying there is a higher form of consciousness for her and those who subscribe to this message. Isn't that a dualism? In fact, I think, I am a mind, I am a body, I am a spirit, three in one, just like the image of my Father. I don't have these things, creating a dualism, I am these things. As an aside, the term "one cosmos' is incorrect. That would make it a unity that is bounded. I don't know if the cosmos is one. And what does Jesus have to do with this rising consciousness? What do I need him for if I have the Buddha mind? I'm skeptical but will continue to listen.

[@almilligan7317]

Centering prayer is denial. When a thought comes in it is denied. Using Paul as letting go is rather deceptive because the beginning of why we let go is centering on the Cross and forgiveness; When you realize you are forgiven because of the work of Christ. The response is peace and love in this world.

[@geffreybolster3780]

I was asked,- What s the difference between prayer and meditation?

[@Apaulshi]

Richard Rohr talks about the different levels of prayer that dip into meditation and even deeper into the contemplative. So is there a difference? Yes and no 😁

[@geffreybolster3780]

To ask of God, the universe, . I look into your eyes, and begin traveling at beyond the speed of light to the center of the universe, and to my surprise, the center of me! So to ask of you, to ask of the universe is t ask of me , , too?

[@TheGuiltsOfUs]

SHIVA'S THIRD EYE REVEALS THE TRUTH

[@vaska1999]

The Orthodox church has cultivated the tradition of wordless prayer (the prayer of silence, or hesychia in Greek) for the past 2,000 years. The 20-min, twice a day, system is simply lifted from the practice of Hindu Transcendental Meditation without acknowledgement and has nothing to do with the Christian tradition of contemplative prayer, which never speaks of 20-min sessions.

[@7cuchulain]

Why don't they just read "the way of the pilgrim"?

[@ecstaticthunders8487]

The idea of combining Christian contemplation with Eastern practices is sadly misguided. The contemplative tradition is vast and rich beyond measure. It doesn't need to be made over with eastern mysticism. As Christians we should be refining what we have been given by the contemplatives, sifting through the neoplatonism and kabbalism and bringing it back into alignment with scripture. We do not need to add yet more foreign influence. The primary problem here is evident from the get go. The object and arena for all this is the self. God is almost bracketed out. The contemplative model is found in the Song of Songs, and it is not something vague and self elevating, but a matrimonial and nuptial relationship between the Christian soul and God. The distinction between intention and attention is subtle, but doesn't work. Bourgeault has herself said that the 'unified field' , 'ground', 'ultimate reality' etc can be used as substitutions for God. How do you direct focused intention toward a non-descript nebulous 'something'? God is at once transcendent, immanent and , crucially, localised, which is one of the many triads/dialectics that make our faith so unique. Bourgeault loses that I fear. The 'self-centredness' of the practice can only lead to a dead end. This form of kenosis also lacks the essential aspect of a self-sacrificial offering. It just seems to be an evacuation of ego. This may look like union with the Divine, but it most assuredly is not. There is no relationship. I know that most people will write me off as 'just another fundamentalist', but this type of universalising spirituality will end the faith, because Christ as cosmic archetype is not Christ at all, but just another avatar, demigod or manifestation.

[@swhite8381]

It’s all words

[@oolala53]

It sounds like you have simply studied and not experienced, like many scholars who shockingly have not an ounce of real "knowing." But it's all God's work.

[@janeteaton3240]

Totally new age / mystic practice !! God only knows what “spirit is conjured !! Run from this !!

[@vaska1999]

She's using the language of Hindu-influenced New Age pseudo-scientific stuff, but the prayer of silence -- and its fruits -- has been an honoured part of the Christian tradition for the past 2,000 years, during which time it' been continuously ptactised by the Orthodox churches. She seems completely ignorant of it.

[@carolbroughton2792]

M

[@janeteaton3240]

Ugh !!

[@janeteaton3240]

This is not Christian !!!

[@vaska1999]

Yes, it is. The Western churches lost the art at least 9 centuries ago and is re-discovering the "prayer of silence" which the Orthodox churches have cultivated continuously for the past 2,000 tears without any Hindu influence whatsoever.

[@lucyosullivanrsc7782]

Thank you.