Centering Prayer And Rebirth In Christ On The Tree Of Life

This unique book draws on “the secret wisdom of Israel” (Qabalistic Tree of Life) to describe the soul’s inner purification, healing and rebirth in Christ rooted deep in the mysterious process and inner silence of non-conceptual contemplative prayer. “Prayer in secret” (Matt. 6:6) is prayer in the unconscious. Using the Tree of Life as a map of universal creation and the individual soul (Macrocosm and microcosm), Centering Prayer and Rebirth in Christ offers a detailed and revealing look into the hidden workings of the Spirit in the soul’s inner depths. When read slowly and thoughtfully, this book elevates the mind, offering what is, for most of us, a new vision of our evolving life in Christ and Christ in us. The essence of Centering Prayer is consenting to God’s presence and action in us and in our life. The work of the Spirit in us aims to bring us from the limitations and disappointments of our false self (over-identifi cation with the separate-self sense of ego and its ill-conceived desires) into the fulfillment of our true self as a spiritual being. As the false self’s obstacles are removed by the divine action, which needs our willing consent and cooperation, our growing freedom to consent becomes cause for increasing peace and joy in the soul. This is a gift of divine love that brings us step by step into the fullness of our life in Christ—which is a continuing rebirth into the limitless light, life, and love of the divine consciousness. The intended purpose of Centering Prayer’s conceptual background is to support the actual practice of non-conceptual contemplative prayer and the wondrous process of inner spiritual unfolding that Centering Prayer facilitates.

This far-ranging book presents God, the Ultimate Mystery of non-created Reality, as Christ—the One Who loves us. Spirituality beyond language and in general; the inner mystical meaning of the Cross of Christ; differing Christian windows found in the stages of evolving consciousness identified by Integral Theory; and Centering Prayer’s close relationship to all of this are core themes in this work. An important insight of Integral Theory reveals that when people are unaware of the stages of evolving consciousness, they tend to believe that the perspectives of their own stage(s) are the only true or realistic views—which is actually untrue and leads to needless confusion, conflict and misunderstandings among individuals in different stages of evolving consciousness. Additionally: prayer; the allegorical sense of Scripture; Lectio Divina; grades of evolving love; duality?/?non-duality; and apophatic theology are also major topics discussed. The gift of non-conceptual contemplation, into which Centering Prayer leads us, is shown to be a key to Christian unity and harmony among all religious and spiritual traditions seeking to serve the One Who loves us. Non-conceptual Centering Prayer—as a movement into simplicity and silence—is readily available to people seeking a deeper spirituality in all denominations and in all stages of evolving consciousness.

Bridge across Troubled Waters is written to clarify a variety of misperceptions and criticisms regarding Centering Prayer. It is also written to explore the intimacy of the divine relationship we all have with God. The aim is to build a healing bridge of mutual understanding and regard across the divide that separates Christians who embrace Centering Prayer from those who doubt or oppose it. This book is intended for all those who are curious about Centering Prayer and who may have been exposed to criticisms of the prayer, so they may learn about it from a pro-Centering-Prayer perspective and then make an informed assessment. It is also intended for doubters and critics, as an invitation to reconciliation and to considering Centering Prayer from another's viewpoint. Ultimately, Bridge across Troubled Waters is meant for anyone with interest in these issues and in experiencing a new view of the dynamic two-way relationship we all have with God.

This far-ranging book presents God, the Ultimate Mystery of non-created Reality, as Christ--the One Who loves us. Spirituality beyond language and in general; the inner mystical meaning of the Cross of Christ; differing Christian windows found in the stages of evolving consciousness identified by Integral Theory; and Centering Prayer's close relationship to all of this are core themes in this work. An important insight of Integral Theory reveals that when people are unaware of the stages of evolving consciousness, they tend to believe that the perspectives of their own stage(s) are the only true or realistic views--which is actually untrue and leads to needless confusion, conflict and misunderstandings among individuals in different stages of evolving consciousness. Additionally: prayer; the allegorical sense of Scripture; Lectio Divina; grades of evolving love; duality/non-duality; and apophatic theology are also major topics discussed. The gift of non-conceptual contemplation, into which Centering Prayer leads us, is shown to be a key to Christian unity and harmony among all religious and spiritual traditions seeking to serve the One Who loves us. Non-conceptual Centering Prayer--as a movement into simplicity and silence--is readily available to people seeking a deeper spirituality in all denominations and in all stages of evolving consciousness. C O N T E N T S Foreword by Fr. Carl J. Arico Introduction 1. What is Spirituality? 2. Beyond Language 3. Through a Mystical Christian Window 4. Evolving Consciousness and Christian Windows, Part One: The Tribal, Warrior, and Traditional Stages 5. Evolving Consciousness and Christian Windows, Part Two: The Modern, Postmodern, and Integral Stages 6. Prayer is Relating to God 7. Three Grades of Love: Bronze, Silver, and Gold 8. Apophatic Theology: Duality and Non-Duality 9. Christian Unity and Harmony of Religions

"Putting on the Mind of Christ examines the biblical, historical, scientific, and theological aspects of contemplative prayer and mysticism that has the effect of changing our outlook on the world and seeing God and neighbor as a holistic unity"--

Our biography is our most precious, intimate possession, yet how much do we really know about ourselves? With a little work, we can discover in the unfolding of our biography the traces of a marvelous, cosmic patterning--the cycles of our life. The seven-year cycle converts experience into psychological faculties; the twelve-year cycle marks the way changing self-awareness of the personality is translated into our life's work; the thirty-year cycle marks a major turning point in life. The Veiled Pulse of Time explores these cycles, as well as the questions of freedom and destiny, transformation, reincarnation, and karma. "Bryant writes with force and beauty. His deep insights into the elements of rhythm, the "time body," and the cycles in human life, combined with examples from biographies as diverse as Nehru, Marilyn Monroe, and Leo Tolstoy, make for a book that cannot be put down until finished. An invaluable work for counselors, educators, and those who wonder about their destiny." --Robert Sardello, PhD, author of Facing the World with Soul

Generational and family curses and bondage are real distressful experiences that plague and cause us suffering; they complicate and make personal and family life hard and unnecessarily burdensome. Healing You and Your Family Tree is written to address and counter this assault on families by evil forces, and their often hidden and unsuspecting agents. It outlines twelve comprehensive open doors to bondage and, gives insights on how to recognize the operations of demonic powers behind them, and the loopholes, mechanisms and tactics that lead to bondage. This well researched and detailed book is a useful guide to discern family curses that may be causing spiritual distress, the steps necessary to close the doors to evil, and how the power of prayer and intercession in the Spirit opens doors to grace and freedom through faith in the Holy Name of Jesus. Prayer is the antidote to evil, and the master key to healing. Prayer is the life of the soul as water is the life of fish. To pray well is to dwell and move in God. Saint Alphonsus Liguori said those who pray will be saved; those who do not pray will not be saved. The contemplative approach to healing has a special place for the prayer initiative as the gateway to freedom. God indeed governs the world, but prayer governs God. The prayer of faith that saves and heals rests on four solid pillars of prayer, penance, silence and solitude. We learn to pray by praying; when we do, we move mountains and overturn worldly kingdoms, GodaEUR(tm)s reign takes root in our hearts to make all things new in the love of the risen Christ. Christians born again and inserted into Christ by the Spirit in Baptism, united and strengthened in Him through Confirmation and the Sacraments, are prepared for victory in spiritual combat. This book equips readers with the knowledge and tools needed to succeed in battles against evils. It prepares believers to gain vital knowledge of self and God, and outlines principles for daily victories in spiritual warfare with the strength of self-knowledge grounded in the truth of GodaEUR(tm)s unconditional love for us, and the armor of light we need to stand firm in faith and to resist and overcome evil. Our senses, thoughts, feelings, and desires help us to navigate the challenging road of suffering due to generational curses. This book helps us to engage our reason and faculties and gifts to cooperate with GodaEUR(tm)s grace to receive healing. We are assured that the ultimate solution to generational suffering lies in the committed and intense relationship with Jesus Christ in a life of charity rooted in truth, humility, moral purity and personal holiness, for the one purpose of acquiring purity of heart, by which we see God. It emphasizes the supreme power and effectiveness of ChristaEUR(tm)s perpetual priestly sacrifice in setting all captives free, and alerts readers to the unseen but game-changing Spirit-inspired intercession of the contemplative approach to healing. Contemplation intensifies GodaEUR(tm)s fire-power in us through the Holy Spirit, we share in Divine intimacy, and are enabled to fight the good fight against the crosses of bondage with a sure and humble resignation to GodaEUR(tm)s Divine and always Victorious will.

Centering prayer, both a meditative technique and the experience of God’s presence in every waking moment, is a spiritual practice that all Christian continue to strive for. David Keller, close colleague of Thomas Keating and director of Keating’s Contemplative Ministry project, offers practical suggestions for personal prayer, addresses its difficulties, and reveals what is special about it in relation to other prayer traditions. Short but substantive, this book is for Christians looking for new insights about prayer and for people who are drawn to contemplation, but do not think the church has much to offer them. Above all, Keller emphasizes that it is the integration of personal prayer and our day-to-day activities that forms a life of prayer. Prayer is a life-long vocation, he reasons, not a separate compartment of life.