Contemplative
Prayer—A mystical prayer practice that leads
one into the "silence" but in actuality leads away from
God.
Definition
of Contemplative Prayer: As it is expressed
in a modern day movement is mystically (i.e. based on a technique
or method) in which one empties the mind of thought through repetition,
usually of a word or phrase or focus on the breath. In this case the
silence would be an absence of thought, all thought.
Note: To understand what contemplative prayer
entails, we recommend you read A
Time of Departing.
The
purpose of contemplative prayer is to enter an altered
state of consciousness in order to find one's true
self, thus finding God. This true self relates to the belief that
man is basically good. Proponents of contemplative prayer teach that
all human beings have a divine center and that all, not just born
again believers, should practice contemplative prayer.
*
* * * *
"Contemplative
consciousness," says [Thomas] Merton,
is "a trans-cultural, trans-religious, trans-formed consciousness
… it can shine through this or that system, religious or
irreligious"(Thoughts on the East, p.34)
"Sparked
by Eastern meditative techniques, today's version of centering prayer
is bent on stilling the mind." A Quiet
Revolution—JODI
MAILANDER FARRELL
Listen
to What Contemplatives Have To Say About This Form of Prayer
and the Contemplative Lifestyle.
"For
Fr. Bede, being universal meant to be centered and grounded. He generated this universality of heart through his daily
practice of meditation and contemplative prayer, and this
opened him ever more to the myths, symbols and teachings of
the other great religions of the world." Man, Monk, Mystic by Pascaline Coff, O.S.B. Speaking
of Bede Griffiths.
"This
understanding of the unity of the human family is central to
Christianity. Our spiritual journey, especially contemplative
prayer, together with its practices for daily life, are
processes of becoming aware of just how profound that unity
is with God, ourselves, other people, other living beings, the
earth, and all creation." Thomas Keating in The Transformation
of Suffering
"...
beyond our methods and understanding is an ultimate reality that is open to all people regardless of their religious
traditions. The overwhelming sense of this groundbreaking
conference was the unifying force of a contemplative prayer practice."
Jena Hatchett WCCM 2001
Did
Jesus instruct his followers to empty their minds through contemplative
prayer?
On the contrary He said, "You shall love the Lord your God with
all your heart, with all your soul and with all your MIND."
Matthew 22:37 [NKJV]
Click
here to Read an Excerpt of
A Time of Departing where Ray Yungen discusses contemplative
prayer.
"Be
not carried about with divers and strange doctrines. For it is a good
thing that the heart be established with grace; not with meats, which
have not profited them that have been occupied therein." Heb
13:9
Contemplative Spirituality: A belief system that
uses ancient mystical practices to induce altered states of consciousness
(the silence) and is rooted in mysticism and the occult but often wrapped
in Christian terminology. The premise of contemplative spirituality
is pantheistic (God is all) and panentheistic (God is in all). Common
terms used for this movement are "spiritual formation," "the
silence," "the stillness," "ancient-wisdom,"
"spiritual disciplines," and many others.
Quotes
From Contemplatives
"Even
if done with the intention of pleasing God, Centering Prayer could
present serious problems for mentally or emotionally stressed
or potentially unstable individuals."
"I
began to feel energy or electrical current rushes through my body,
and some stomach muscle cramping. For the next few weeks, these
sensations intensified, and bodily shaking/twitching began ...
For
more information from contemplatives themselves, see:
