Join us in September and October for an 8-week deep dive into contemplative Christianity through Cynthia Bourgeault’s book The Heart of Centering Prayer and The Cloud of Unknowing.
Cynthia Bourgeault brings a unique perspective to Centering Prayer by blending her deep understanding of contemplative Christianity with insights from Eastern spirituality and modern science. Her approach emphasizes the heart-centered aspect of this meditative practice, highlighting love as a transformative force. Bourgeault's teachings infuse Centering Prayer with a richer, holistic spirituality, expanding its scope beyond mere self-improvement to a path of profound inner awakening and interconnectedness. By bridging traditions and integrating wisdom from various sources, she offers practitioners a more inclusive, integrated, and spiritually fulfilling approach to Centering Prayer that resonates with a diverse and contemporary audience.
Centering Prayer is a method of Christian contemplation developed by Father Thomas Keating and Basil Pennington based on The Cloud of Unknowing. The Cloud of Unknowing is a 14th-century Christian mystical text attributed to an anonymous English author. This spiritual classic explores the path of contemplative prayer and the pursuit of a direct, intimate experience of God. The author advocates a form of meditation where the practitioner strives to transcend human understanding and knowledge, entering a state of divine union by surrendering all thoughts and concepts to a cloud of unknowing.
The book's relevance today lies in its enduring relevance to seekers of spiritual depth and wisdom across all religious traditions. In a secular age characterized by information overload and constant distractions, "The Cloud of Unknowing" offers a timeless message of quieting the mind, finding stillness, and seeking a profound connection with the divine. It teaches the value of humility, emphasizing that God cannot be grasped through intellect alone but through a heartfelt, wordless devotion.
Moreover, the book's emphasis on simplicity and detachment resonates with modern individuals seeking inner peace amidst the chaos of the digital age. It reminds us that spirituality isn't confined to any particular religious doctrine and that the pursuit of spiritual depth can be a universal human endeavor.
