The Danger of Centering Prayer by Rev. John D. Dreher

http://www.catholicculture.org/docs/doc_view.cfm?recnum=234 ^

[fishtank]

Has anyone here ever run into the "centering prayer" movement? I did in the Catholic Church (several years ago) and also now I have been hearing about it from a non-Catholic.

Overall, I agree with the author of this piece.

Comments?

[Maximilian]

Thanks for posting this. This is an excellent and well-written article. It serves an important purpose in alerting Catholics to a very dangerous problem. The article also points out the way in which this "centering prayer" technique is often foisted upon unsuspecting Catholics without advance warning or even a description of what they are doing. So it is important to be informed and on guard.

Of a few quibbles with the article, the main one I would point out is that the article implies that this Buddhist-Christian syncretism only occurred some years ago at Spencer Abbey where centering prayer was developed. But it has continued until the current day. In fact, a news item within the past few weeks related that one of the monks there was recently made a "Zen master."

[Gamecock]

Comments?

I can't figure out how to drag predestination into this, so I'll just keep quite. ;-)

[Maximilian]

Here is the news item about the Trappist monk becoming a Zen master:

Fr. Kevin Hunt Installed as Zen Teacher

On April 17, 2004, Fr. Kevin Hunt, OCSO, a Trappist monk of St. Joseph’s Abbey in Spencer, Massachusetts, and a former member of the MID board, was installed as a Zen teacher (Sensei) in a ceremony held at the abbey. The installation was led by Fr. Robert Kennedy, S.J., who is the only North American Jesuit who is also a Zen Master (Roshi) and who served as Fr. Kevin’s teacher. The installation was witnessed by the abbot of St. Joseph’s and the rest of the monastic community as well as by over seventy guests, including Zen teachers and members of Catholic religious orders from around the country.

Fr. Kevin thereby became the first Trappist monk who is also a Zen teacher. In recognition of this unique event, letters of commendation were written by His Holiness the Dalai Lama and by Fr. Peter-Hans Kolvenbach, the superior general of the Society of Jesus. Fr. Kolvenbach wrote, “Many Christian have found Zen to be a valuable instrument for progressing in the spiritual life. By coming to focus on the present moment through the practice of the techniques of Zen meditation, the Christian can become aware of God’s immediate loving presence.”

Fr. Kolvenbach’s remarks reflect the commitment made by the Jesuits at their 34th General Congregation to foster dialogue with other religions, an activity that they called “a shared commitment to a transformation of the cultural and social life within which people live.” Noting that Pope John Paul II has wished to make interreligious dialogue an apostolic priority for the third millennium, Fr. Kennedy said that his work with Fr. Kevin was one way in which this priority could be carried out. He added that this installation ceremony points to “the unity and cooperation between the Jesuits and the Trappists as well as to the friendship and mutual esteem between Buddhists and Christians.” He also sees it as a continuation of the dialogue between Christians and Buddhists that has been fostered over the past half-century by persons such as Thomas Merton, himself a Trappist monk.

[P.O.E.]

The basic flaw I see in all these types of meditations is the self-obsession.

[arkady_renko]

There is a group of nuns that teach this in the Diocese of Peoria. They have a retreat house over in the Quad Cities. I would assume they have the blessing of the Bishop here since the diocesan paper prints schedules, etc. for the place. I see if I can find more.

A_R

[Gamecock]

quite=quiet

[Aliska]

Has anyone here ever run into the "centering prayer" movement? I did in the Catholic Church (several years ago) and also now I have been hearing about it from a non-Catholic

I got in a twit and said I would never set foot in a church again nor post in this forum. I hereby retract those words, and am sorry that I got upset, but I don't know where I will go from here.

A priest I liked very much offered to teach me centering prayer. A red flag went up, but I was open to talking with him about other things (lots of issues). I even had the book. Maybe I read something somewhere negative about it around the same time. I can't remember.

I don't know how we are supposed to pray and I don't like to climb all over anyone who does it differently than me.

I try to pray like Jesus taught us in scripture, in His name, in my own language, sometimes mentally and sometimes out loud.

Do I think God will send down lightning bolts if you don't get everything just right? No. Do I think certain religious practices can be dangerous. Yes. Do I know who is right and who is wrong? No.

Centering prayer has been crossed off my list for a long time as an option. That's one mistake I escaped. I made many, many others.

[patent]

lol.

[Dominick]

Has anyone here ever run into the "centering prayer" movement? I did in the Catholic Church (several years ago) and also now I have been hearing about it from a non-Catholic.

I have. It is basically another facet of the TM movement. One has to understand about some Eastern teachings, Christianity is not incompatible to their goals, however, the reverse is not true. Many eastern concepts are not compatible with Christian theology.

We don't seek the "god" within, we seek God as a objective being outside ourselves. I think the concept that God can't act except without man is a gateway to this heresy. God is a supernatural being outside our existence. God can act totally without us, he make it so we CAN make that step to him, not waiting for us to get some trance state to act.

It used to be that labor was a way to glorify God, well in the TM/occult/eastern movements I was involved in, labor was a way to meditate. It is funny to see the Monastic Rules being supplanted by these activities to simply be turned around back to what it was before, except with a heresy added in. Like I said TM has no problems being embedded in Christianity, but their faith ceases to be Christian with TM added.

[jrpascucci]

One of the powerful aspects of the new age movement(s) is that people are looking for a change from their daily experience. The Church's long and complex tradition (more complex than certain people are willing to admit), if taught more fully, can bring all the positives that people seek when they turn to the 'new age' BS, with none of the contraorthodox baggage or blind paths.

Instead of being watered down new ageism raising it's head in the Church, it could also be embraced, and nurtured, where it is licit and not outside of the realm of Church teaching - it's up to the Bishops to determine this. That said, I think most recognize a little bit of inculturalisation has never hurt the Church - quite the contrary - the synthesis has been good for it, I think.

I happen to disagree with the article's contention about the Cloud of Unknowing: Therese and St. John of the Cross express similar ideas, for instance. Reasonable people can and should come forward and discuss their concerns - I have no problem with quiet inquisition of such practices, but at least be familiar with the basis, and don't be too narrow in your critique: the Catholic Church is more interesting, and bigger, than any individual's view of it is.

Definitely don't throw the baby out with the bathwater, especially if there is good stuff coming of it. It's very easy to subscribe bad motives to the well-intentioned. The "Satan's Strategy" thing is this in spades - completely over the top, and undercuts the article's more reasonable contentions.

[fishtank]

My personal story is thus:

At a retreat run by the local parish priest (who is now teaching at a seminary!), he led us in a "centering prayer" (CP). Being VERY naive, I thought it was 'cool'. Fast forward a few years, and I found out that CP was TranscendentalMeditation with the word "Jesus" spray painted over it - like grafitti on a highway overpass.

I confess that I felt cheated and violated after I found this out. I still do.

Dreher said something very profound:

"Centering prayer differs from Christian prayer in that the intent of the technique is to bring the practitioner to the center of his own being. There he is, supposedly, to experience the presence of the God who indwells him. Christian prayer, on the contrary, centers upon God in a relational way, as someone apart from oneself."

How to pray?

Jesus gave us the model (not a formula) in the Lord's Prayer.

On thinking about the CP controversy I'm having with this friend, I reviewed the Lord's Prayer line by line.

It is VERY -other- directed. The 'other' is "Our Father in heaven".

Thanks for your note! Your honesty and frankness is refreshing.

[Flying Circus]

I know some people who are big on Taize and always trying to get others to go. Something does not feel right about it and I always duck out of going.

[fishtank]

What is Taize?

[Aliska]

Thank you. I thought it sounded a little like St. Teresa of Avila and her "interior castle". Maybe there are similarities. Interior castle goes deep within. Believe me, if you are spiritually unprepared to face some unpalatable truths about yourself, you don't want to go deep within without a firm grip on your faith. At least St. Teresa didn't use an invocation in the form of a word. I ended up not opting to go her way because she wrote something about depressed people which I tend to be, so I have to keep things as plain and simple as possible.

I like your explanation of the Lord's prayer. You can't go wrong with that as an outward directed (or upward) prayer. If God wants to go within, He can get in if I let Him.

Somebody now has mentioned Taize. I think that might be charismatic stuff which I now avoid. Somebody else mentions the bishop allows centering prayer (in a diocese very accessible to me). The bishops are allowing a lot of things I refuse to participate in.

There was an outbreak of charismatic activity of some sort shortly before all the slaughtering started in Rwanda. I don't know if there is a connection or not. Probably it was just coincidental.

These are times that try mens' souls (and womens' too). If one is to err, it is better to err on the side of caution.

[Flying Circus]

A type of prayer supposedly developed in France during WWII. From the way it has been described to me, some scripture readings are done, but much of the time is apparently spent in silent navel gazing with violins playing in the background. Elements of the silent prayer time described to me sound like centering prayer.

Personally, I'd rather spend the time at Mass and know that I receive some real spiritual sustenance.

[COBOL2Java]

fishtank, going to bump this for later reading. I skimmed the article and the author seems spot on. However, I would mention that contemplative prayer could be misunderstood as coming from this same centering prayer tradition. This is not the case. The Carmelites have been practicing contemplative prayer, as have many other religious orders (Carthusians, Poor Clares, etc.) for a very long time. I can speak of the Carmelite tradition and point to St. John of the Cross for such a tradition.

Anyway, my two cents worth for now. Gotta get back to work.

[workerbee]

I just heard of Taize about a week ago. The Episcopal church in town is holding a Taize service and had run an ad (invitation) about it in the local paper. It's described as originating as a ecumenical movement in France. That was pretty much enough for me to believe it isn't something I'd want to get involved with.