“In the essence, centering prayer is almost idiot-proof.” The conferees titter, but Cynthia explains. It is an “inner gesture”, letting God know that you are open to any message.
“If you catch yourself thinking, you let the thought go,” she says. It is a beautiful practice of letting go! What a lesson for me!
This type of prayer can help us recognize what we need to let go of in our “return to God.” As the centering prayer movement has taken off within the Catholic church, it seems to open a whole new way of thinking about things–not what people think, but how they think. It creates a capacity for “non-dual thinking”, embracing the both/and rather than the either/or. Sounds like a conversation we’ve been having on Facebook recently.
Apparently there is data on why this sort of meditation works this way: how we respond initially to a stimulus in the outer world is tied to which part of our brain reacts. In general, this is the reptilian brain, the deepest and oldest part of our brain. This is where we get violence and dualism.
However, if the brain is trained to open and soften, the neocortex gets involved much earlier in the stimulus-response process. Good stuff. (Is it possible to force violent people to practice centering meditation? That probably wouldn’t work; or at least it would be against the intention of prayerful contemplation.)
To be able to listen “through the still and open heart”–what a beautiful image! I am excited to practice this more. Cynthia compares the inner reality created by this practice to Jesus’ term “the kingdom of heaven”.
I’m not going to take the time/space here to discuss the historical nature of this meditative practice–nor am I going to get too much deeper into the issues of reality (spiritual sight of things “unseen”). But I welcome an opportunity to center. I’ll let you know what happens.
Sarah, do you remember the women’s retreat at the Stronghold? We learned how to do centering prayer there. I was afraid I would not be able to do it given how my mind works. And how I fidget all the time. But I remember how wonderful it was, how calming and centering it was. How I was able to let it all go and concentrate on, well, nothing! And just listen. I remember I felt like I was wrapped in loving arms and I felt safe and relaxed. AND THEN someone said “times up” and everybody got up and started running around. I didn’t get it. I remember feeling disappointed and a bit angry because they could transition from something so beautiful to something so mundane in a fraction of a heartbeart. And not even give it a second thought. I felt that several times that weekend, (among other frustrations) but that was the most striking to me. I was ready to continue contemplation and allow my thoughts to gradual resurface in a meaningful way. It was a beautiful moment in time.
I do remember that! I have thought of it often and how much it seems to represent some of the problems I have in the established church–that not only is it not relevant enough to enough people, but it is very fidgety! haha…not to diminish what you are saying. I seem to have changed the way I perceive everything. Thanks for reminding me!
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