Opening Minds, Opening Hearts Rev. Dr. Cynthia Bourgeault: A Common Sense of Shared Oneness
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Dec 10, 2023 In this engaging talk, Rev. Dr. Cynthia Bourgeault, a modern-day mystic and Episcopal priest, dives into the transformative power of contemporary contemplative practices like Centering Prayer. She discusses her deep connections within spiritual mentorship and the importance of embodying physicality in spiritual practices. Cynthia emphasizes the unifying role of contemplation across faiths, and the balance required in spiritual leadership for fostering community growth. Her insights aim to inspire a new generation of Wisdom teachers.
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Cynthia's Centering Prayer Origin
- Cynthia Bourgeault first encountered Centering Prayer through Thomas Keating in 1989 after reading about it years earlier.
- She quickly committed to the practice and became a presenter, integrating it deeply into her life and work.
Letting Go Enables Non-Dual Awareness
- Centering Prayer involves repeatedly letting go of thoughts as an act of kenosis, mirroring Christ's self-emptying.
- This practice cultivates objectless awareness, which transcends dualistic subject-object consciousness to reveal non-dual presence.
Divine Feminine's Role Expanding
- Thomas Keating maintained a traditional, masculine-centered view of God, not explicitly teaching the divine feminine.
- The divine feminine is an important expansion for evolving Christian contemplative spirituality beyond patriarchal limits.