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Summary: Practical and inspiring
Review: I just finished this book, and found it to be immensely helpful in developing my meditation discipline. I found the discussion of the stages of contemplation fascinating and helpful to my current stage on the journey. Some of these kind of books tend to be hard to read. I find this one to be straightforward, easy to understand and to apply.
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Summary: In Love with Him
Review: If you desire union with God this is the book to read. One of the obstacles to union life is the benigh self or false self that Keating talks about. And indeed as Paul talks about in Romans 7: 14-28 and in 29 he cries out "Who will deliver me from this grotesque, evil thing called myself?!!". Centering prayer is the practice of letting go of this creature, of denying yourself of leaving yourself to dive into God, to cling, to hug Him closer. It is a practice!! It is is not a high quick acting experience, it talks time, patience and continued practice. Do it!! and it will do you!! It builds the much need element of patience into our character which as James says you need that you may be complete lacking nothing. It also keys us into the deep knowledge of God, "Be still and know that I am God" and we get to know the "God that acts on behalf of those who wait on Him" as we wait for the potter to mould the pot.
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Summary: You Don't Need To Go To India
Review: Like the great Asian religions, Christianity has a long tradition of meditation and mysticism, but that history has been widely forgotten in recent centuries. Thomas Keating, a Cistercian priest, monk and abbot, is among those who have revitalized this meditative practice, called Centering Prayer, for contemporary times.Centering Prayer is much like the Buddhist Vipassana, or Insight Meditation, except that instead of keeping your attention on the breath, you focus on your acceptance of God's presence within you. This difference is vitally important. One major result is what Keating calls the "purification of the false self." It is well known among Buddhists that Vipassana does not resolve psychological problems. You can become enlightened, and still be obnoxious. However Centering Prayer's focus on God's presence within enables God to bring our psychological problems to the surface and release them over time. Although Keating is a Catholic, Centering Prayer has spread rapidly among other Christians and non-Christians because it doesn't depend on any theological dogmas.
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Summary: New Age, not Christian
Review: New Age and Eastern claptrap wrapped in a faux Christian wrapper.
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Summary: The Claremont Apostalate of Ignorance
Review: Once again we hear from another disciple of fundamentalism. Prayer is only prayer if you follow it exactly as proscribed by those self-anointed, self-righteous pharisitical parasites. True Christians can indeed speak to God by opening themselves to God and resting in his presence. I doubt as if the disciple of the First Church of Claremont ever even read the book, but is instead responding to what he or she imagines it to be in there, in the same way that others some forty years ago played their Beatle records backwards to discern the satanic messages contained therein. The Bible is "God Speaking to Mankind." To deny man's response to God is to deny the central core of His message contained in scripture. To call Centering Prayer a pagan/occult method of prayer displays a fundamental ignorance of scripture itself. I would suggest that that the First Church of Claremont actually 1) read the Bible in its entirety and 2) actually read the book, rather than conduct an amazingly transparent castigation of an ancient, Christian method of prayer.
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Summary: An Essential
Review: One of the biggest problems for anyone attempting a spiritual, prayerful life, exactly how to go about praying is a problem. The obvious vocal, ritualistic prayers are simple enough and Christians utilize this method fully, but a true spiritual relationship is difficult to develop. That's why Keating's work is important. He shows us a method we might utilize towards that end. My primary hang-ups and questions considering contemplative and centering prayer were entirely addressed by this work, and there's no doubt in my mind that I'd recommend it to anyone looking to further their prayer life.
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Summary: Very Powerfully Written
Review: Open Mind Open Heart is a very powerful, condense book with many words of wisdom. Prayerful consideration of the ideas presented will deepen your spiritual life as it has mine.
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Summary: When you're (I'm) ready, the book presents itself...
Review: Phew, after over 20 years of meditating, this Vipassana-like method has done more perceptable, ineffable good for me than all I've attempted before. Very powerful and simple. A real, loving relationship with God has resulted. And....it's beginning to spill over into my other relationships. He (Keating) is a liberal thinker whose compassion and depth of insight is refreshing.
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Summary: The Bible - written in stone.
Review: Speaking of 'the end of the world' the author says 'God reserves the right to change His mind'. There are things written in the Bible, specifically concerning the end times of the Revelation to John, that will 'not change'. They are written in stone! Those events will come to pass without fail. No amount of praying or contemplating will change prophetic events spoken of in the Bible. The end of time will come just as foretold in the Scriptures. Christians must be careful, the Bible must be the'only' authority which speaks for God. If we get away from that then we are merely following after what Jesus referred to in the gospels as 'the doctrines of men'.
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Summary: Excellent Guide for Contemplative Prayer
Review: The concepts of "centering prayer" and "contemplative prayer" are difficult for many of us who are used to activity and busy-ness in our daily lives. Thomas Keating, a Cistercian, outlines the traditions and gives a practical (if that is possible) guide to the benefits and the methods of integrating this into our daily lives. Following a brief discussion of the history of this type of prayer, the author lucidly explains the nature of contemplative prayer and concludes with an understanding of the contemplative nature of the Gospels. Allowing oneself to free the mind of distractions and "rest in God's presence" is a difficult and ongoing process, however Keating offers words of encouragement and understanding so that we realize that this type of prayer, like all types of prayer is not an end in itself, but is a journey. As one attempts to develop a deeper more significant relationship with God, this book is an invaluable resource. It is worth reading and referring to repeatedly as a guide in prayer, but also in reading Scripture.
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