The Heart of Centering Prayer: Nondual Christianity in Theory and Practice

Centering Prayer is the path to a wonderful and radical new way of seeing the world. It is not, as is sometimes thought, simply an act of devotional piety, nor is it a Christianized form of other meditation methods. Cynthia Bourgeault cuts through the misconceptions to show that Centering Prayer is in fact a pioneering development within the Christian contemplative tradition.

Cynthia provides a practical, complete course in the practice and goes deeper to analyze what actually happens in Centering Prayer: the mind effectively switches to a new operating system that makes open-hearted, nondual perception possible. She then takes readers on a journey through the classic, anonymous text, The Cloud of Unknowing, revealing it to be among the earliest Christian explorations of nondual consciousness.

Cynthia provides compelling evidence of how important Centering Prayer has become in the half-century since it first arose among American Trappist monks, and she explores the practice’s maturation and refinement over time.

The Heart of Centering Prayer will resonate with beginners as well as seasoned practitioners. It sheds new light on the well-hidden Christian nondual path.

Cynthia Bourgeault is a faculty member in the Center for Action and Contemplation’s Living School. She is a modern-day mystic, Episcopal priest, and internationally known retreat leader. Her books include The Holy Trinity and the Law of Three, The Wisdom Jesus, Centering Prayer and Inner Awakening, and Mystical Hope.

Paperback, 256 pages

Publisher: Shambhala, 2016