What is the difference between Centering Prayer and Contemplative Prayer?
I have heard some people say they are the same.
I believe they are not the same.
Centering Prayer is a practice that opens us to Contemplative Prayer.
Centering Prayer is both a practice and a relationship with God.
We even let go of Centering Prayer to enter and open to Contemplative Prayer.
Contemplative Prayer is a silent sit with the pure presence of God who is beyond thoughts, emotions, words and physical sensations.
We let go of our thoughts, emotions and physical sensations with the use of our sacred word.
And open to the presence and actions of God within.
One way to think about it is when we look at a beautiful sunset.
We are wordless.
It is just beautiful.
As soon as we put words to it, we are out of Contemplative Prayer.
Contemplative Prayer is just being with Being.
It is nice to just be sometimes.
When we learn to be with God we learn to just be with people.
We learn to be with life and all of its ups and downs.
We open to life and all it offers.
We experience the fullness and richness of life.
Let me know if I can help.
Sitting with God: A Journey to Your True Self Through Centering Prayer is now available in Kindle and paperback. Try a free sample here.
