Centering Prayer and Inner Awakening

Bourgeault does a very good job of introducing the practice of Centering Prayer and placing it within the framework of contemplation. She links experience to insight which reveals the tremendous power of this simple yet profound practice. Bourgeault expands this practice with additional chapters on the practice of the Welcoming Prayer - a means of extending the practice of Centering Prayer to the rest of the day. Bourgeault begins at the most basic level of explaining the practice of Centering Prayer and then builds upon the profound insight which this practice offers to the world in the 21st century. Very interesting and accessible!

Cynthia Bourgeault is an excellent writer and elucidates difficult concepts with consummate skill. There is much food for thought in her book, "Centering Prayer and Inner Awakening." This book is one of the very best I have read on centering prayer, and for those who have already read one or two books on the subject but have not yet had the pleasure of reading this one, I highly recommend it. She frequently adds to many of the insights offered by Father Keating in his books. She is not at all adversed to pointing out some of the potential pitfalls and snares involved in the practice of this type of prayer. One often gets a sense of whether a writer is speaking from the top of his or her head or is actually coming from a place of deep experience. Cynthia Bourgeault fits the latter category. Her explanations of the "inner witness" and unconscious programming seem right on target and add much to the continuing discussion of centering prayer in particular and the comtemplative life in general. Her chapter on Welcoming Prayer, I believe, is alone worth the price of the book. In it is a technique designed to disrupt our continued unconscious programming loop that I have found works very well. Although this book might not exactly qualify as an introduction to centering prayer, it nonetheless adds considerably to the growing number of books on this subject. It is not just another book about centering prayer.

I always find reading the reviews helpful in deciding whether to buy a book. However, I have never written a review before. I wondered whether I needed another book on centering prayer when I purchased the book. I was surprised and pleased at the way the author synthesizes and describes the history of centering (or contemplative) prayer connected with the centering prayer movement of the modern era, particularly describing the thought of Fr. Thomas Keating. One of my favorite sayings of Thomas Merton is that the closer you come to God, the closer you come to your true self. And this book describes how to deal with those conflicting emotions that feed the false self. I have heard that I needed to welcome the "Wisdom Teacher" when struggling, but have never known how to do this. The last chapters dealing with this give me examples and descriptions that will guide me more clearly. I think this is an excellent book, especially for those who are already practicing centering prayer.

I found this book helpful to find some other ways to enter into the joys of contemplative prayer. Keating has written books that introduced many contemporary readers to the topic. Bourgeault uses some creative images from the sea to help invite people to try this rewarding practice of spiritual formation.