What are the layers of thoughts during Centering Prayer?
I don’t want to sit right now.
I have too much going on.
I have many things that require my attention this moment.
With your sacred word you let go of these thoughts and return to God who patiently waits for you in the present moment.
I enjoyed the family gathering yesterday.
I wish my son would listen to me.
My boss asked me to take on a task I have no interest in performing.
With your sacred word you let go of these thoughts and return to God who patiently waits for you in the present moment.
I have many errands to do before the day ends.
What will I have for dinner tonight?
Maybe I will go see a movie tonight.
With your sacred word you let go of these thoughts and return to God who patiently waits for you in the present moment.
Similar to a runner’s high, I entered the space beyond my thoughts.
They no longer grasp my attention.
I easily let them float by without resisting or clinging to them.
I sink deeper and deeper into the bottomless depths of God.
The closing bell goes off.
I do not know where I went but I know I was not asleep.
I rested in the rest of God.
I was beyond my thoughts and emotions.
I was in the spaces between my thoughts.
I removed the barriers between God and I.
Little be and Big Be.
No words or thoughts required.
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I was hoping for some help with my struggles with centering prayer by reading this article. Instead, I found this leap from distractions to thoughtlessness. How it happened you do not say. And it does not help me going forward.
“What will I have for dinner tonight?
Maybe I will go see a movie tonight.
With your sacred word you let go of these thoughts and return to God who patiently waits for you in the present moment.
Similar to a runner’s high, I entered the space beyond my thoughts.
They no longer grasp my attention.
I easily let them float by without resisting or clinging to them.
I sink deeper and deeper into the bottomless depths of God.
The closing bell goes off.
I do not know where I went but I know I was not asleep.
I rested in the rest of God. “
Hi Pamela
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I am in the middle of updating my web site. I will try to add a search feature. Good idea!
Let me answer your question by sharing the centering prayer guidelines. The sacred word is usually 1-2 syllables. We interiorly say it to begin our centering prayer sit and when we find we engage our thoughts during centering prayer. We use it when needed to come back to the present moment and the purpose of our sit: to open to the presence and actions of God within. It is not used as a mantra. It is used when we engage our thoughts. Does this help?
THE FOUR BASIC GUIDELINES OF CENTERING PRAYER:
1. Choose a sacred word as the symbol of your intention to consent to God’s presence and action within.
2. Sitting comfortably and with eyes closed, settle briefly and silently introduce the sacred word as the symbol of your consent to God’s presence and action within.
3. When engaged with your thoughts, return ever-so- gently to the sacred word.
4. At the end of the prayer period, remain in silence with eyes closed for a couple of minutes.