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CENTERING PRAYER AS A WAY OF TRANSFORMATION
The contemplative path as a way of transformation points beyond
the self to No Self, to the “I live, now not I, it is Christ who
lives in me.” And Centering Prayer as taught by Thomas Keating
reminds us that too often “we do not the things that we would
that we do.” We are driven by emotional programmes for
happiness that create a false self in us. Instead of happiness
these emotional programmes bring us unhappiness.
These programmes are hidden in the unconscious so that we are
not even aware of them and yet they drive our thoughts, feelings
and behaviour. Centering Prayer virtually forces us to face
these emotional programmes and requires us “to let go” of them.
“Letting go” is no easy process. It is slow and tedious. It
requires patience and commitment. As we “let go” of the
emotional programmes and of the false self, we live increasingly
out of the true self, and we rest in the Divine Indwelling.
Our customary preoccupation with the incessant thoughts that
fill our mind is like a ceiling that blocks the unconscious from
coming into consciousness. When in Centering Prayer our mind
quiets down that ceiling becomes permeable and the unconscious
filters through. Sometimes gently, sometimes dramatically we
come face to face with the demons within - unmet needs from our
childhood, deprivation and abuse of one kind or another that
drove us to develop compensatory behaviour to deal with the
pain. Through the practice of Centering Prayer, slowly, over
time, we begin to get free of the control of the emotions and of
the behaviour that they drive.
Keating speaks of Centering Prayer as Divine Therapy and claims
that Centering Prayer goes deeper into the psyche than
psychological therapy does! This may be true and yet even he
admits that there are those who may need to see a therapist to
address their psychological disorders, disorders that can block
the spiritual path. I know the difference that psychological
counselling has made in my life and I see the difference it
makes in the lives of many.
Psychological understanding, a new world view, behavioural
change can create space within us, clear the hurdles in our path
and help us to continue the journey from the surface self to the
deep self. But make no mistake, important and helpful as it may
be, psychology is not enough. To quote Gerald May, “psychology
stops short at the mystery of life. We need another discipline
if we are to enter the vast unknown.”
That entry into the Unknown calls for faith and requires the
practice of spiritual disciplines. The daily discipline of
Centering Prayer morning and evening challenges us. Twenty
minutes each time with the mind, like a monkey, racing hither,
thither and hither again! It is no easy matter to remain
faithful to this practice when the romance is over; when the
early encouragements, the comforting feelings and insights are
gone; gone the glimpses of undreamt of possibilities.
And yet we stay with it - twenty minutes of disciplined
practice, morning and evening, as tiny bit by tiny bit, the
worst is chiselled from us. Not that we can even see it
happening. And yet, over time, almost unknowingly a knowing
develops. Deep down somewhere inside of us we begin to know - in
the midst of our unknowing. And a deep peace, gentle joy and
abiding sense of gratitude emerge within us. Transformation is
underway.
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