Centering Prayer and Inner Awakening [Paperback]

Cynthia Bourgeault (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: June 25, 2004

Practitioners of Centering Prayer are known for the great enthusiasm they bring to the practice of this ancient discipline. Centering Prayer and Inner Awakening is a complete guidebook for all who wish to know the practice of Centering Prayer. Cynthia Bourgeault goes further than offering an introduction, however. She examines how the practice is related to the classic tradition of Christian contemplation, looks at the distinct nuances of its method, and explores its revolutionary potential to transform Christian life. The book encourages dialogue between Centering Prayer enthusiasts and those classic institutions of Christian nurture—churches, seminaries, and schools of theology—that have yet to accept real ownership of the practice and its potential.

Editorial Reviews

Review

It is amazing how confirming, clarifying, and encouraging Cynthia Bourgeault's teaching is. Probably the best on practical prayer I have ever read. (Richard Rohr O.F.M., author of Everything Belongs)

This book will be inspiring, clear, and helpful to those who look well into it. (Philip C. Fischer Review For Religious)

Every page of this book contains profound but accessible spiritual teaching and wisdom for living. (The Anglican Journal)

Centering Prayer and Inner Awakening is a superb book, a wonderfully accessible introduction to Centering Prayer and the role it can play in your own ‘salvation unto eternity.’ Highly recommended for all who are on a spiritual path of any sort. (Ken Wilber, author of The Eye of Spirit)

Bourgeault’s prophetic voice points the way to restore harmony, dignity, and depth to our lived Christian community. (The Anglican Journal)

Cynthia Bourgeault's book is a must-read. . . . Her simple and clear explanations of the contemplative process so apparently based in her own experience re-ignited my own yearning to live a deeply God-centered life and renewed my commitment to the practice. (Anne Simpkinson, co-author of Soul Work: A Field Guide for Spiritual Seekers)

About the Author

Cynthia Bourgeault has studied and taught in a number of Benedictine monasteries in the United States and Canada. An Episcopal priest, she is well known as a retreat and conference leader, teacher of prayer, and writer on the spiritual life. She is the author of a number of books, including Mystical Hope.

Product Details

• Paperback: 178 pages
• Publisher: Cowley Publications (June 25, 2004)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1561012629
• ISBN-13: 978-1561012626
• Product Dimensions: 8.4 x 5.4 x 0.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 9.6 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (39 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #32,397 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #2 in Books > Christian Books & Bibles > Protestantism > Anglican
  • #10 in Books > Christian Books & Bibles > Protestantism > Episcopalian
  • #87 in Books > Religion & Spirituality > Spirituality > Prayer

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Most Helpful Customer Reviews

312 of 321 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars De-mystifying mysticism July 23, 2004

By Kenneth R. Pepin

Format:Paperback

First, a disclaimer: the author is my (informal) teacher. Still, while this might be the reason that I might not submit a negative review, I can submit a positive one with enthusiasm not founded in my personal connection.

There are numerous "de-constructionists" in the Christian market-place -- Bishop John Spong, Marcus Borg amoung them, and I argue that they perform an essential service. But for spiritual growth, these writers are a little more likely to give a stone than a drink of water. Cynthia's book is a refreshing answer to the vacuum that I feel after reading one of those books.

Centering Prayer and Inner Awakening is thoroughly grounded in Christian tradition -- this is a Christian text by an Anglican (Episcopal) priest -- but it draws from a larger context than the 21st century North American one. In doing so, she challenges some perspectives that are unquestioned. The first and perhaps the most important is the question of "where God is". In the long tradition of contemplatives, Cynthia suggests that attempts to look for God "out there" is going to lead to a religion that is fractured and a faith that is out-of-touch with what we know in our hearts to be true. No, God is to be found within -- which must be carefully contrasted with the notion that we are in any way "god".
So the way to discover God? Cynthia gently takes us through the approaches that have been used over the millennia, but lands on a relatively modern approach (about 30 years old) usually called "centering prayer". It would be a disservice here to describe this, except perhaps to say a couple of things about what it isn't.... This isn't a New Age technique to lower blood pressure, experience enlightenment, or meet your inner child (and I say this with great respect to methods that do all of the above). Most challenging for those newly introduced to the method, this doesn't "do" very much -- looked at from the external perspective -- at all.

The best I can say in a few words allotted me, is this purports to be the way that we can find our "true selves" (in contrast to that exterior presentation of our selves), and more profoundly, allow our true selves to connect to that ember of God that burns in all of us. And this is an end in and of itself.

Having said that, 30 years of this practice has lead to some observations that need to be made: that the connection to the true self leads to surprising healing of that external self (I'll use the word that is generally used here: the egoic self). Cynthia provides a short phychology of Centering Prayer, and then -- for those who are concerned about the orthodoxy of the method -- a theology of Centering Prayer. Don't be intimidated. This is accessible stuff.

And last, as the book title suggests, she takes us full circle. It turns out that that inner work (work that we ourselves are not aware of -- it is only between our inner self and God), our spiritual life is surprisingly watered. In an age when our religion lives in our heads -- that when that head religion is being unceremoniously dismantled, the age-old contemplative tradition is here to nurture our hearts back to health. This book shows you how. I recommend it. Read more ›

120 of 121 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars An outstanding overview of centering prayer October 29, 2005

By Dan Grafius

Format:Paperback

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.

139 of 142 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Addresses the False Self April 10, 2005

By JHAT

Format:Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase

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.

37 of 38 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars More Bread for the Journey February 11, 2005

By pjp vst

Format:Paperback

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.

30 of 30 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars A Comprehensive Examination of Centering Prayer and Contemplation November 2, 2006

By D. R. Markel

Format:Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase

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!