Intimacy With God: An Introduction to Centering Prayer

by Thomas Keating

The prominent Trappist monk and founder of the centering prayer movement, Thomas Keating provides this poetic and accessible introduction to the method of Centering Prayer.

Genres: Spirituality, Religion, Prayer, Christian, Christianity, Nonfiction, Faith

176 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1994

About the author

Keating entered the Cistercian Order in Valley Falls, Rhode Island in January, 1944. He was appointed Superior of St. Benedict's Monastery, Snowmass, Colorado in 1958, and was elected abbot of St. Joseph's Abbey, Spencer, Massachusetts in 1961. He returned to Snowmass after retiring as abbot of Spencer in 1981, where he established a program of ten-day intensive retreats in the practice of Centering Prayer, a contemporary form of the Christian contemplative tradition.

He is one of three architects of Centering Prayer, a contemporary method of contemplative prayer, that emerged from St. Joseph's Abbey in 1975. Frs. William Menninger and Basil Pennington, also Cistercian monks, were the other architects.
n 1984, Fr. Thomas Keating along with Gustave Reininger and Edward Bednar, co-founded Contemplative Outreach, Ltd., an international, ecumenical spiritual network that teaches the practice of Centering Prayer and Lectio Divina, a method of prayer drawn from the Christian contemplative tradition. Contemplative Outreach provides a support system for those on the contemplative path through a wide variety of resources, workshops, and retreats.
Fr. Keating currently lives at St. Benedict's Monastery in Snowmass, Colorado.

Reviews

[Nate · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was recommended to me by a monk in his eighties in a meeting of spiritual direction with me. I had been feeling very attracted to the practice of Zen meditation for its focus on the present moment, breathing, and acceptance of change, pain, emotional ups and downs, etc. I had felt that my prayer life was getting too cluttered with words. I had enjoyed for quite some time praying various forms of the hours, but often felt that I was just rushing through them because there was too much verbal/left-brain material. Centering prayer seems to bring together the best of modern psychological insights marrying them to an ancient practice, but making its explanation more simple and applicable to someone of the 21st century. One of the big differences between centering prayer and other forms of meditation, especially Buddhist forms, is that centering prayer is a focusing of one's intention rather than attention. The main purpose of centering prayer is to focus one's intention to allowing God's spirit to come and change one's heart to become more Christlike. This requires a lot of pain and inner turmoil as one's ego/small self becomes dislodged and burned away. It also creates more space in one's soul for acceptance of God's will.

[D'Linda · Rating 5 out of 5]

A must read:

- refresh you faith
- let God work on your soul
- lower your blood pressure
- bring hope back to your existance

[Ci · Rating 5 out of 5]

This slim book is a how-to book for Centering Prayer, the most elementary practice in the Benedictine tradition. This practice is diametrically different from common ecclesiastic prayers in conventional church setting. It is not public, nor audible, nor forceful. The best way to describe it is "to rest in God". No forced thinkings nor unnatural feelings.

The first chapter outlines the recent movement from "self outside of God", toward "God in the self". The latter resonates Eastern religions' center theme while negates the conventional transcending, outside, fearful, requiring pleading and negotiating divine presence.

The process has some similarity to Mindfulness Meditation method, with the additional centering on holding a sacred word, although not a mantra-like active articulation. My current understanding is that Centering Prayer needs to be practiced for one or two years before understanding (or just to see) its effect. To hear God, the author asks us first to trust the process of resting in quiet solitude. By orienting one's state of mind toward the divine, then the process would unfold itself. I understand the first stage of its effect in "rest moves toward peace." And peace will bring more tumultuous "unloading" of unhealthy thoughts from deep psyche, which makes the praying process a crucible for spiritual purity.

The author comments on the pure spiritual growth instead of the "spiritual junk food" (page 72). Since the author did not elaborate much, I wonder if it is a refutation of the more conventional evangelic mainstream in modern America.

I could not make much more than the first stage of understanding, even though the contents are plainly written. I plan to revisit this book in a year's time.

-- Notes on March 27.

[Contemplative Outreach Hawaii · Rating 4 out of 5]

Suggested for those establishing a practice of Centering Prayer. It is considered one of the three foundational books by Fr. Thomas Keating along with Open Mind, Open Heart and Invitation to Love. Intimacy with God goes deeper into the practice including popular discussions and diagrams on: the dynamics of Centering Prayer, the river as a metaphor for human consciousness, the "target" diagram illustrating levels of awareness, etc.; the circular illustration of the four moments of Centering Prayer; the analogy of the tell and the archeological dig in uncovering our wounds of a lifetime; and the spiral staircase depicting various spiritual levels.

The book also covers supportive practices like Lectio Diviina and praying the rosary. As well as Centering Prayer in the World.

[Kris · Rating 2 out of 5]

A rather dull and dry book, considering the powerful topic.

Written from a distinctly Catholic perspective, Keating somehow incorporates influences from Eastern religions into Christianity while throwing in some technical language to hopefully help readers pray better to God. There are plenty of vague phrases to go around. Exactly what is "divine union" and how is it "discovered"...? What is Keating referring to when he says we can get "closer to our true self"...? Who knows?

No luck pulling this book randomly off the library shelf. I sped-read the last 70+ pages.

[Mary · Rating 3 out of 5]

if you are looking for a book that gives basic instructions to contemplative prayer then this book isn't for you. This book gives history, reasons, beliefs, and facts. It was interesting read and I found it fascinating but wasn't what I was looking for.

[Andrew · Rating 5 out of 5]

The definitive book on lectio divina and centering prayer as spiritual practice. The book also offers an excellent historical perspective on the mystical tradition in Christianity, and on how it became un-mystical or "Western" in Keating's terms, in the 18th century and following.

[David · Rating 1 out of 5]

Blah blah blah. Use less wordy, over the top language, less history. I expected concrete explanations and practical, actionable guidance. This book could have been half as long. Would be interesting to hear how Blinkist would do this book in 15 minutes.

[Scott Beddingfield · Rating 5 out of 5]

Just when you thought you’ve read everything Keating had to say about Centering Prayer and Contemplative practice, along comes this helpful, deep and at the same time practical treatment of the subject. Some chapters deeply probe concepts like the Trinity, reminiscent of Cynthia Borgeault’s work. However like the prayer itself, if one slows down and lives with a the text, there’s much to gain. This is one I’ll definitely re-read much the same way I return to his classic, “Open Mind, Open Heart.”

[Rich Lewis · Rating 5 out of 5]

“This book describes the unfolding experience of contemplative life that grows as the false self and the accompanying sense of separation from God recedes.”

I have been a practitioner of centering prayer for just over 3 years.  Let me share some key insights that I gained as I read this wonderful book.

Trust
“The Christian spiritual path is based on a deepening trust in God. It is trust that first allows us to take the initial leap in the dark, to encounter God at the deeper levels of ourselves. And it is trust that guides the intimate refashioning of our being, the transformation of our pain, woundedness, and unconscious motivation into the person that God intended us to be.”

Each time I sit in silence I trust God. Laurence Freeman reminds us that meditation is an act of faith. During this time, I trust that God will transform me slowly and at His, not my pace, into the person He intended me to be. This can certainly be scary and frustrating because I constantly bring my ideas and preconceived notions to the silent prayer table.

I must let go of who I think I am, what I think I want to be so I can open to the Divine. Each time I sit in silence with God I practice my faith muscle. As I trust God during the silence of centering prayer I better learn how to trust God during my non silent times of the day.

The Body
“The body is storehouse of emotional energy that is not adequately processed.”

A long term silent prayer practice heals my body. Silent prayer is a safe place where I can and should feel comfortable to allow the release of the often unconscious emotional energies that are stored in my body as clenched teeth, tight chest, heavy shoulders, upset stomach to name a few.  God loves me and only wishes to heal me to my innermost core.

Pain: A Sacred Symbol
“Then we just sit with it, and the pain itself becomes our sacred symbol.”

This is an excellent suggestion. My sacred word is an internal image of a Jesus icon. There are times when my mind especially races during centering prayer. My mind is preoccupied with worry and anxiety. Rather than use my Jesus icon at this time, I can use the worry or anxiety as my sacred symbol over and over again until the closing bell has rung.

Wear Away the False Self
“By returning to the sacred word again and again, we gradually are wearing away the layers of false self until they are emptied out.”

“The fullness of divine life of course is not permanently established until we come to the bottom of the pile of our emotional junk. The undigested emotional material of a lifetime has to be processed by the Divine Therapist before we can as access the fullness of liberation from the false self.”

This beautiful act of ever so gently returning to the sacred word wears away the false self layers! It is a daily act when I release the false self chains and become the person God wants me to be. I can also return to my sacred word even during my non silent times of the day and remain focused on who God wants me to be.

Sacred Reading
“In our day, we are almost completely desensitized to sacred reading because we are so used to newspapers, magazines, and speed reading.”

Sometimes it is nice to read a book slowly and chew on it. That is why I like lectio divina. Sacred reading is a different type of reading. I read with the eyes of the heart. What glimmers and shimmers as I read the pages? What is the Divine trying to reveal to me? I encourage others to try it too.

Whole Being
“It is the opening of mind and heart – our whole being – to God beyond thoughts, words, and emotions.”

When we sit in silence with the Divine we bring our whole being to God: body, mind and heart. I relax my body yet remain alert. I let go of thoughts and emotions that are on my mind. I open my heart to God. This is important! We must open our whole being to God: body, mind and heart.

Mystery
“….so that when we sit down in our chair or on the floor, we are relating to the mystery of Christ’s passion, death, and resurrection, not as something outside of us but as something inside of us.”

I will admit that I struggle with this one. If God is in me, as I sit in silence I relate to the mystery of Christ’s passion, death and resurrection as something inside of me. It makes sense and I trust that God will continue to reveal more of this mystery to me.
What suffering am I in the midst of? What must I die to in order to better experience the presence of God? What new life have I seen resurrected in my daily routines and activities?

Next Steps
“The primary teaching of Centering Prayer is basically very simple and can be expressed in two words: “Do it!”  It will then do you. But it requires doing it every day.”

“No one understands contemplative prayer without some experience of it.”

“When we are sitting in Centering Prayer, we may seem to be doing nothing, but we are doing perhaps the most important of all functions, which is to become who we are, the unique manifestation of the Word of God that the Spirit designed us to be.”

The next steps are simple yet very important. Keep at it! A twice per day, centering prayer practice will transform you. You will become the person God intends you to be!

I will go back and re-read this enlightening book.

Rich Lewis
www.SilenceTeaches.com

[Chris Schutte · Rating 4 out of 5]

Helpful introduction to centering prayer, with some chapters seeking to connect centering prayer to other prayer practices like the rosary and the charismatic gifts.

[Teemu Räty · Rating 5 out of 5]

Vuoden 2022 paras kirja! Ja luin sen viimeisenä. Minulla on tapana alleviivata ja korostustusseilla merkata kirjojani. Tästä kirjasta tuli ehkä yksi merkatuimmista kirjoista. :)

Kirja auraa sisään kontemplatiivisen rukouksen ja roomalais-katolisen spiritualiteetin syvyyksiin hienosti rakennetulla teologisella kokonaisuudella. Olen lukenut nyt jonkin verran kristinuskon spiritualiteettia käsitelevää kirjallisuutta ja luonnollisesti oman uskonnon harjoittamisen kautta minulla on tietynlainen "insight" asiasta, joten Keatingin hengelliset läpät eivät koskettaneet vain käsitteellisen tiedon janoani vaan holistisesti koko elämääni. Kirjaa reflektoiden suren, että evankelikaalisessa herätyskristillisyydessä puuttuu sen toimijuuteen orientoituneessa uskon harjoittamisessa herkkyyden ja hiljaisuuden virtaukset, mitkä korostuvat taas kontemplatiivisen rukouselämän harjoittamisessa.

Keatingin kirja on niin tuhti paketti, joten en lähde erittelemään ja avaamaan kaikkia kirjan hienouksia. Sanotaan myös näin, että kristinuskon spiritualiteetista, kristologiasta ja vaikkapa uskontotieteestä kiinnostuneet henkilöt saavat tästä kirjasta hurjan paljon pureskeltavaa. Kielteisenä huomiona jäin pohtimaan Keatingin ehkä liiankin tarkasti kuvailemaa Jumalan sisäistä olemusta ja Persoonien funktiota, kuitenkin samalla hieman ennen kuvailuaan Keating mainitsee myös, että Jumalaa ei voi Hänen suuruudessaan kuvata, koska Jumala on käsittämätön. Tämä ei minua nyt niin häiritse, mutta jotain kielteistäkin arvioon täytyy laittaa, ettei mene ihan vain ylistämiseksi. Kuitenkin kristinuskoon ja elämään kuuluvat ristiriitaisuudet... koska tämä elämä on monimutkainen kokonaisuus, näin viisastellen.

Kirja oli myös selkeästi ja johdonmukaisesti kirjoitettu. Kirjassa ei ollut mitään virkehirviöitä ja vaikeaselkoisuutta vaan Keating on kirjoittanut haastavasta aiheesta todella lukijaystävällisesti. Suosittelen suuresti tähän kirjaan tutustumaan.

[Jody · Rating 2 out of 5]

The value I derived from this book came in the first half of the book. The first half provides a detailed explanation of how to do Centering Prayer and the four layers of benefits that you reap from a twice-daily, long-term practice of Centering Prayer.

My criticisms are threefold:

1. The book never explains how or why a person magically reaps those benefits by simply practicing Centering Prayer. It just happens. Trust the process. That’s a fine and dandy wish, but do 90% of practitioners achieve all four levels of healing and enlightenment? As it’s written, it sounds guaranteed, but no detail is given.

2. The second half of the book is almost impenetrable. I read the book with my husband. We’re both college graduates, huge readers, and professional writers. And we both found the second half of the book almost incomprehensible. The book’s subtitle is “An Introduction to Centering Prayer.” But for whom? Theologians and philosophers?

3. All the Christian references became increasingly offensive to me. A whole lot of non-Christians around the world practice meditation and experience enlightenment and other benefits. I understand that Christianity is the author’s worldview, but surely if this style of meditation is legit and so beneficial to all of humanity, the book would be more inclusive. But it’s not. Instead, the book goes increasingly deeper into the Christianity and the Trinity weeds.

[Mary · Rating 4 out of 5]

Keating has authored many books prior to this one. This book is subtitled "An Introduction to Centering Prayer," but to me this seemed more appropriate for advanced beginner or intermediate practitioners. A good half of this book discusses how centering prayer can be an encounter with the "divine therapist" and how the trauma of childhood can often confront people in centering prayer. He presents aspects of psychology, the conscious and unconscious, emptying ourselves of the "false" self. The rest of the book presents disparate topics related to centering prayer from using lectio divina or the rosary as supportive practices to the charismatic movement. These chapters could be read on their own and I expect to come back to this book to re-read parts occasionally. The last chapter is particularly interesting for Keating's views on centering prayer as a method for interacting with God and the Trinity.

I really enjoyed his brief overview of the development of contemplation in the U.S. and as well as his discussion of catholic spirituality both before and after Vatican II. This explains a lot about divisions in the Catholic church today and why many are finding the church to be overly dogmatic and lacking in spiritual growth. Much of Keating's knowledge of the historical use of contemplation are sprinkled throughout the book.

[Fede Boccacci · Rating 4 out of 5]

Keating es uno de los grandes maestros contemporáneos de la oración cristiana. Su método de “oración centrante” es una preparación para llegar a la oración contemplativa. Esta técnica consiste en destinar dos momentos de veinte minutos al día para orar, repitiendo una palabra sagrada durante todo ese tiempo.

Lo valioso de su método es el énfasis que hace, no tanto de la repetición o de la concentración, sino de que esta es un signo de nuestro consentimiento a la presencia y a la acción de Dios en nosotros. Lo central no está en la atención o en el vaciamiento sino en la intención de entrar en esa comunión de amor con el Dios que nos habita.
Aquí se inicia una terapia divina, donde Dios va sanando el corazón de los bloqueos, se abren canales para liberar el contenido que quedó guardado en el inconsciente y que actúa identificandonos con falsas imágenes de nosotros mismos. Esta terapia se da en 4 pasos: repetición de la Palabra sagrada, descanso, descarga del inconsciente o náusea psíquica, y evacuación del dolor primitivo.

Experiencias similares pueden ocurrir con la Escritura a través de la lectio divina, o con la contemplación de un ícono o con el rezo del rosario.

Una guía muy valiosa para dar pasos de profundidad en la vida de oración.

[Anthony Risson · Rating 5 out of 5]

My spiritual director suggested I begin with this work by Keating to gain insight and awareness of Centering Prayer. Each page is rich with thought, intent and description. Keating offers a classic piece of writing by which we can journey in the heart of God and know our home is in the heart of God and an expression of God's heart.

From the basic movement and energy of Centering Prayer, to the rich layers of being in the Divine and all activity being an act of grace with the Divine, Keating guides the reader into a place of beauty, holiness and meaning. This is a language of prayer that finds resonance within. The way of Centering Prayer is a gift alongside other activities of prayer, and other spiritual disciplines and Keating invites us into the discovery of our heart will enable a prayer for the world to be shaped and spoken.

[Eileen · Rating 4 out of 5]

ⓒ 1994. Cleared up some misconceptions I had about the purpose and process of Christian Meditation. Still gives nowhere near as much instruction on how to do it as Buddhism. For those who wish to stay within the Christian tradition, it may indeed be helpful. I affirm his last chapter on the importance of doing it with a group–for support, encouragement, and effectiveness. Protestants may want to skip the chapter on praying the rosary.

[Jungsook Chung · Rating 3 out of 5]

한글로 읽었다. 하느님과의 친밀. 번역에 문제가 있는 것 같지는 않은데 책을 읽고 나서 어떻게 하는 것이 향심기도를 통해 관상기도로 간다는 것인지 잘 알 수가 없다. 내가 알아들은 것은 하느님 안에서 쉬는 것이 관상이라는 것, 묵주기도를 통해서도 그리 할 수 있으니 묵주기도를 하다가 관상이 시작되면 묵주기도를 끝내지 말고 관상에 머물라는 정도이다. 관상기도를 하면 우리의 내면이 변화된다. 무언가 같은 이야기가 반복되는 데도 나는 그 말들에 매료되거나 감을 잡을 수가 없었다. 영성책에 별 세개라니 미안하기는 한데 독자인 내가 취할 바를 잘 못 얻었으니 어쩌랴. 그래도 읽던 책이니 끝은 내야겠고 뒤로 갈수록 더욱 지루해져서 눈으로 대강 훑었다. 죄송하다. 거의 다 읽고 그랬으니 읽은 것으로 간주해야겠지. 시간을 허비한 것 같은 느낌.

[Sydney Johnson · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was okay. I had really high expectations expecting it to be a step by step guide to Christian meditation and some parts filled that while others were a bit unnecessary. There a diagrams in this book that don’t really detail anything concretely that are more distracting than anything else. I am going to track back to Contemplative Prayer by Thomas Merton which to me was a bit deeper than this.

[Gigi · Rating 5 out of 5]

Part manual. Part theory. Part memoir. I enjoyed reading about centering prayer and lectio divine from the source of one who helped define the terms. Some parts of the book were over my head and admittedly I will never practice these disciplines to the depth Keating describes but I want to live from my center. And want my goals and ambitions to originate from there.

[John Chaffee · Rating 5 out of 5]

A great read. Keating formalized my understanding of Centering Prayer and how deeply spirituality overlaps with psychology. I have utilized his understanding of “Divine Therapy” often in my teachings at the university level. Read this alongside Bourgeault’s book on Centering Prayer as well as the more recent translation of The Cloud of Unknowing.

[Susan · Rating 3 out of 5]

More book reviews! I read this one for book club. It’s a good introduction to centering prayer, a topic in which I have long been interested. The book gives some practical information including what centering prayer is, its influences, its focuses and its practice. Some of the book is repetitive and some is too abstract for someone like me who is more literal to follow, but it was an interesting read. It made me think about my prayer life and ways I can work to quiet my mind and become more centered on God. But I doubt I will ever become a true practitioner. I am just happy praying the rosary. That is centering prayer for me

[John Lucy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Keating is a fantastic teacher of centering prayer. Like C.S. Lewis with Christian theology, Keating makes it easy to understand the purpose and process.

A must read for anyone seeking to develop spiritual disciplines to walk closer to God.

[Rob Steinbach · Rating 5 out of 5]

I began practicing centering prayer over the last year. Many spiritual formation writers mention centering prayer in their writings and at some point they reference Thomas Keating. So it was a gift to slowly work through this spiritual classic.

[Wylie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Guidebook to Centering Prayer (a form of “meditation”). The book convinced me to incorporate the practice into my life and I am really enjoying it!

[Emily Brady · Rating 4 out of 5]

Helpful introduction to Centering Prayer. Enjoyed the background information, history of the practice, as well as instruction on how to attempt the practice in your own life.

[Jared Stine · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you’re serious about deepening your faith and spirituality, this is the how-to for the practice of Centering Prayer.

[Sarah Wilson · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a great overview of a complicated subject, but simple practice. It helped me make the abstract more concrete - or at least ok with the abstract.

[Amy Hunt · Rating 5 out of 5]

Easy read!
This book showed a new perspective on prayer and relating to/with God.

[Kirstyn Wegner · Rating 4 out of 5]

Dense prose—lots to mine here, and many gems were found. I just wish it had more information on how to engage in contemplative prayer.