Category: Daily Practice

Annual Gathering: Listening to the Needs

8/30/2024

Photo by Priscilla Du Preez □□ on Unsplash

John Keller, MNCO co-coordinator

On Saturday, September 21, Minnesota Contemplative Outreach will host its Second Annual Gathering at Shepherd of the Valley Lutheran Church in Apple Valley.

This blog post is part of a series highlighting the four key purposes of the event:

Celebrate and enjoy each other's company
Listen to the needs of chapter participants
Invite and enlist new volunteers, focusing on gifts and discernment
Inspire hope in the process of transformation

Today, I’ll focus on the second purpose: listening to the needs of chapter participants.

As contemplatives, we deeply value the practice of listening. Each day, we spend twenty minutes twice a day in silence with God, consenting to God’s presence and action within us. This simple act of listening, free from expectations, allows us to understand what it means to be beloved children of God. To honor this commitment, our gathering will include two Centering Prayer sessions.

Our contemplative practice doesn’t end with prayer; it extends into our daily lives and interactions. We strive to listen with open minds and hearts, truly hearing the needs, joys, and sorrows of those we encounter. At our annual gathering, we will have extended conversations in both small and large groups, discussing how our Centering Prayer groups are serving the needs and dreams of their participants.

Our chapter hosts over 35 groups, each with unique formats and schedules, ranging from daily or weekly Zoom meetings to in-person gatherings in churches or homes. Some groups meet for a single twenty-minute session, while others include faith sharing, Lectio Divina, or book discussions. All are united in the goal of embracing transformation in Christ through Centering Prayer.

The Leadership Team hopes these conversations will not only support personal transformation but also strengthen our Centering Prayer groups. All group facilitators, or a representative, are strongly encouraged to attend and share insights on their group's progress and needs. Together we can discover and plan future events and materials to strengthen our Centering Prayer groups

You can register for the Annual Gathering here

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Be Present: 5, 4, 3, 2, 1

11/5/2015

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by Carol Quest

One gift Sister Mary gave to us at the fall retreat at Villa Maria was a simple practice to help us be grounded in the present. This practice is so simple and enjoyable that I find myself doing it just for fun. I refer to it as "Be Present: 5, 4, 3, 2, 1." Here's how it goes:

Take a deep breath and let it out.
Then notice 5 things you can SEE.
Next notice 4 things you can FEEL
Now notice 3 things you can HEAR.
Next notice 2 things you can SMELL.
Finally notice 1 thing you can TASTE.

That’s all there is to it—but doing it grounds me in the present, and allows me to be ready and open for what this moment brings. Try it and have FUN!

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The Power of Starting Again

9/16/2014

By Jon Spayde

For me, one of the greatest stumbling blocks to keeping up a Centering Prayer practice is perfectionism. It’s not that I hold up some lofty standard of excellence and compulsively strive to attain it. No–for me, just maintaining a minimum of effort can be difficult, so my perfectionism works at a low level and always in the negative: if I slack off at all, I feel like all of my previous efforts suddenly mean nothing, my commitment is a total lie, and I may as well give up and binge-watch another five episodes of Scandal.

A Spiritual Schlub?

If I miss one of my twice-daily CP sessions, or both of them, for a day, or two days, or several days, it’s proof positive to me that I’m a spiritual schlub who has no business pretending that he cares about conscious contact with God.

This nasty habit invades my actual CP sessions. If I spend most of the time daydreaming and forget to use my Sacred Word, I get depressed and wonder why I started this practice in the first place. I get visions of spiritual giants—Thomas Keatings and Thomas Mertons and Thérèses of Lisieux—their faces alight, their spirits swept up into the darkly glowing presence of God, while I sit slumped in my chair thinking about how I’m going to pay the house painter.

Come Back, Come Back

But if there’s one thing that most spiritual giants—great teachers, contemplatives, roshis, and rabbis—agree on, it’s that slacking off is inevitable and natural, and that the essence of real spiritual practice isn’t staying in a perfect groove—it’s starting back up again, and again, and again. Simply returning to the sacred word, the prayer, the breath, the practice, after falling off or falling away.

“If you break your vow ten thousand times,” the Islamic saint Rumi sang, “come back, come back.” A retreatant once complained to Thomas Keating that she had lost her concentration a thousand times during the CP session. Keating told her she was lucky—she’d had a thousand chances to reconnect with God.

So I am well advised, after three full days without any Centering Prayer at all, to simply return to my chair, set my timer, and whisper that sacred word in my head. Here I go once more, and when I run off the rails, I am perfectly capable of getting back on them again.

Crossposted from 12StepSpirituality.org

Meditation: Outside of the Box?

9/30/2011

By John Murphy

During my sessions of Centering Prayer, I am typically in the same area of my home, with a bit of the same ritual of quieting myself before prayer.

But it is SUMMER! We had a long winter, a wet summer, and I felt that I have been just cooped up for too long. So I decided to take CP out of my box and into the outside world! I knew of a very quiet place and "went for it." The first time was a sheer delight: low humidity, light breeze, a comfy temperature. Other times as I did a session or two, the outside was a delight. I felt in total union with God, Nature, and all of Human Kind! (Yes, I know we are not supposed to judge our sessions…but come on! This was the best few days in a really, really, long time!)

I wanted to sing from the top of the hills: The hills are alive with the sound of Centering Prayer!

Then, one day, I took a walk after work. I was a bit flustered by the day. "I know, I will do some CP." I found a quiet place and sat. There was no breeze. OK, just a thought: say my sacred word. It was rather hot… and after 8! OK, just a thought: Say my Sacred Word. A trickle of sweat was coming off my brow… and a bug, two bugs… I waved them away as I said my Sacred Word. I think I may have said it out loud as one of the bugs returned. I took a breath and went back to CP. That was as tough a 19 minute, 49 second session as I have had in a while. (Yes, I know we are not supposed to judge! But with the bugs, perspiration, heat… I am only human!)

The next day, my session was inside. Nice, quiet, a small fan humming in the background. Ah, life is good!

As I drove to work, one of my best contemplation times, I smiled at the similarities of outside practice vs. inside practice. We can try to control things but we can’t. Inside the phone can ring, the coffee machine sounds like it is overflowing. Outside, bugs, humidity, a bus honking and brakes screeching. (Forgot to mention that one :-) ). Some days, the discipline of CP is routine, even a touch of boredom can creep in. Other times there is joy. Or there is a feeling that a great burden has been lifted. Thoughts come wherever I go. One thing I learned outside: You need to let it all go. Recognize it, say your Sacred Word and let that go. It is returning to the practice of Centering Prayer. It is in the doing, rather than "making it special." Being disciplined to continue is the key. Yes, even if only 19 minutes and 49 seconds have passed, I could have taken in one more breath and relaxed into the communion of the intention of the prayer.

Will I ever go outside to do CP again? Yes, of course I will. I have done it in the past and will do it in the future. The lesson this time was not to get stuck on the place, but on the prayer.

True Self/False Self

3/1/2011

By Carolyn Young

This Moment, by Carol Wachter

If only for this moment, I will be loved.
Not for what I say or do...but for who I am.
(And not for whom I strive to be but who I was created as.)
Not just the nicely wrapped parts, either. And the parts of me I understand.
But my jagged edges, too, and my bewildered musing about why I do what I do.
If only for this moment, I will be.
Space-filled. Spacious. Aware. Free.

If only for this moment, I will let myself trust and let myself hope.
Not so much because I want to feel happy and optimistic
(or be perceived as being happy and optimistic!)
But because I want to know, in this moment, that I am
Intentionally fashioned and intricately connected.

If only for this moment, I will let wholeness find me.
In my head. In my body. In my heart
In my entire being.

Even in my ‘self’.
◆◆◆

Carol Wachter, a member of a Soul Friends group, a group practicing Centering Prayer wrote this poem after the group spent time reflecting on the concept of the true self and the false self. What is the true self ? Thomas Keating defines it as the image of God in which every one of us is created. When we live out our life in God with intentionality, we think and act from our true self. So what is the false self? We all have a false self. Its creation starts when we are children and things don’t go our way or we are hurt and bruised living in relationships with other imperfect humans. From these disappointments we develop all sorts of defenses which are in automatic drive. Most of the time we are not even aware of them. This false self is amplified by a culture that supports competition, material success, over consumption, divisiveness and fear. It is amazing how well most of us adjust to this life style and go along with it not realizing how little joy it brings us.

For most people who daily practice Centering Prayer and other contemplative prayer forms, life changes. This often happens in ways of which they are not even aware. They grow more confident in God’s love and discover new personal freedoms. No longer do they judge themselves and others from the culture’s viewpoint. The world’s forms of failures loose importance and their own definition changes. Slowly the self-critical spirit erodes. These people of intention become more open to all kinds of people they might not have accepted when responding from the false self. Their God given gifts and uniqueness begin to be discovered. The contemplative qualities of peace, love, joy and others begin dwelling within them.

When someone first starts a daily practice he/she may have doubts and questions about its value. They may be troubled by too many thoughts or the need to be doing something else. Questions arise such as, “Why isn’t something happening?” "Is God really there?" Even though we don’t know it, through this process we are learning to "let go and let God” into daily life. Sadly though, they may convince themselves to give up their practice. It is so hard for us humans to do what is the best for ourselves."

In order to avoid discouragement and doubt that ends a God centered regular practice, it is important to be part of a group where others are sojourning or have traveled the path long enough to know the fruits of the journey. These fellow travelers can offer assistance, reassurance and hope as well as a new kind of friendship. Carol’s poem arose from the experience of sharing with others a deep exploration of a relationship with God. Perhaps, God sets things up this way so that we come together in His name to find out who He is and who we are in our lives together.

Carolyn Young is a trained presenter of Centering Prayer and a member of the Minnesota Contemplative Outreach planning group.

"Wait! I think we need eggs! Better go get them!"

2/7/2010

By John Murphy

OK, the secret is out, I can make lots of excuses on why not to do or complete my session of Centering Prayer. I have 1,000 of them. They range from why I can’t take time to pray, to once in my prayer thoughts get to me and I want to stop. The last few weeks, I started a list on the reasons of what got in my way with Centering Prayer (CP).

Listing them did make me smile. On reflecting on some of them, like the one above, I laughed. Think about it God vs. eggs! Even better, the eggs won! Yes, I can do an analogy of the Pascal Mystery and an Easter thing or two, but eggs! The best part in doing this exercise was the ability to smile, laugh, and not take myself so seriously.

But excuses are a problem for me. So, what to do? Part is getting back to some “basics.” Not Centering Prayer basics, but John Murphy’s basics. I have studied a variety of authors in CP and other wisdom teachers in other traditions. I have internalized many of them. A few I will mention in this article come from traditions either outside of CP traditions, or my own quirky ways that help me stay true to the silent time I spend with my Creator.

First: Why do Centering Prayer? Why did I start this journey in the first place? In other words, what is my intention? I had a dear friend introduce me to meditation at the Shambhala Meditation Center in North East Minneapolis. It was fantastic. I learned a ton. But as I sat there, I felt a thought. Yes, of course I let it go! But after meditation I thought: What the heck are the Catholics or Christians doing about meditation. OK, I am Catholic. But more fundamentally, what about Theists, what do they do? For me, as I sat there in meditation, I sensed what Jesus told the Pharisees as to why his disciples were picking and eating corn. Matthew 12:6: “there is something greater here then the temple.” For me, that greater thing is God. So, from time to time I need to go back to that story. With a smile, I boldly tell myself: “John, when you sit, you sense that something is greater here than you. And that is building a relationship with God. The eggs can wait.” It is amazing what that pep talk can do.

Second: Making place for Centering Prayer. I love the stories on how people can etch out a specific time each day in their calendars for Centering Prayer. It makes perfect sense. But first thing in my morning is a run. I need to exercise for several reasons I will not go into here. My schedule changes so much that I cannot carve out a set time. Each day is “predictable” with a schedule but not from day to day. So, my time with God changes and adapts to my schedule. I put in a time slot to help alleviate the excuses of being too busy or needing to do something else “more important.” This takes some thinking. Not a good thing during CP but very good to get you there. To stay steadfast to my commitment, I often find needing to state to myself phrases like: “Once returning home, put your stuff down, light a candle and start. Do not go to the KITCHEN!!!” I will not go into another food excuse.

Third: This may sounds odd, but I forget why I am doing the practice all together. I have taken my seat, I am keeping my back strong, I gently say my sacred word… and in less than 5 minutes, I am gone. My mind is overwhelmed with thought, or worse I am basically sleeping. I gently return to my sacred word. But this time, it doesn’t work to simply and gently say the sacred word. My mind is just so busy and thoughts and story lines are going so strong, that a billboard with neon lights flashing my sacred word wouldn’t even catch my attention. I am just unaware of any intention that I started with at the beginning of the session. Not a clue why I am sitting in a chair, and could care less about “god knows what.” So for me, returning ever so gently to the sacred word does not “work.” This is when some techniques in meditation study have helped. It may be the same thing as Centering Prayer Teachings, but this different approach has worked for me with these severe times of being lost in thoughts, storylines or sleeping. I remember my meditation teacher telling me: “Start over.” To gently stop, remember your intention, and simply start over. So there I am, several minutes into my Centering Prayer lost in my false ego self, and I start afresh. The process is quiet, gentle and friendly to myself. I do not reset the timer, instead, I gently take a mental fresh seat as if I am just beginning a CP session. For me the process is following my breath, checking my posture, and stating my intention. “I am here God!” I take a few breaths in and out. I introduce my sacred word and let go. I am back! I am happy. Then if a thought comes up, the sacred word works fine and I can complete my relationship time with God.

Fourth: I take all of it so seriously.

When will I see God? Oops, am I doing it “right.” When will I be a saint? Oops another thought, can’t I get this straight? When will I have wisdom? No, no, no, do not have expectations!

Oh, the mental battles are something else. It helps me to remember to keep it soft and simple. Again, I remind myself: “John, lighten up.” So I take a tip from Tich Nat Han. I heard him state on a recording after telling us to breathe in and out slowly: “If you like, you can smile.” What great wisdom teaching. From time to time, I will say my sacred word and spontaneously smile. After all isn’t this a joyous time with our Creator? I know God smiles. You just need to look at all of us struggling so… and I can see our Creator tossing out loving energy to encourage us: “Just be.”

So I still struggle. I still make excuses. I try my best with a light heart, but at times, my thinking and small mind gets the best of me. I was telling this to a person just starting her journey. She exclaimed: “Really! And I thought it was just me.”

The intent of this article is to share with you how I have dealt with distractions to my Centering Prayer. From my perspective, I have found that over the years, I have taken some suggestions outside of Centering Prayer teachings and incorporated them in my prayer. This has assisted me in developing a stronger prayer life, and keeps me dedicated to my silent time with God. My hope is that some of my tips, can help you look at your tips. Because, to be very businesslike, the bottom line, at the end of the day, the result based evidence is: I enjoy being in silence with my Loving Energy that created me. It makes me smile and tear up at the same time… and remember, the eggs can wait.