centering prayer/no circumference
This morning I showed up at the library of the chapter house of grace cathedral with a bible, a korean meditation bell, a sublime version of the rublev icon of the trinity, and a candle. i was setting up for the third centering prayer group i've been part of in the last 10 years. the only thing i really needed i carry with me at all times - the great silence in which we are allowed to perceive god more clearly.
centering prayer is an approach to meditation and contemplation in the christian tradition. in the way taught by the late basil pennington, and by thomas keating, both cistercians, during a period of silence one uses a short prayer, often from the scriptures, to bring the attention back to the presence of god.
in another tradition, taught by irish monastic john main, the phrase is repeated continuously, like a mantra in hinduism. this is a way that some christians have taken in order to "pray without ceasing." in this way, called christian meditation, the prayer finally becomes inextricably bound to the very rhythm of the body, usually with the beating of the heart.
praying silently, together. it seems like such a paradox, or at least a waste of time. especially since we know that god is always with us, and the world is always with us. but again and again i hear people saying that the experience of holding ourselves, together, in silence with god, is both unique and holy. maybe it is an experience of what cyril of jerusalem wrote; "when we commune, our souls mingle." this morning there was a diverse community drawn by the prospect of being in silence with god: friends who were from akron, ohio and chicago; a married couple from texas celebrating their wedding anniversary; two people from the staff of the diocese of california; the canon pastor of the cathedral, and four congregants of the cathedral. i thought about how the center, christ, encompasses all, so that while there is a center, there is no outward border. freeing, and exhilerating.
if you are interested in centering prayer and live in san francisco, please join us on wednesday mornings at 8:00 a.m. if you want to learn more about centering prayer, you might check out contemplative outreach, or the website for the world community of christian meditation.
