Fr. Freeman’s form of Centering Prayer
Fr. Freeman’s method, as noted earlier, involves the use of what he himself calls a mantra; therefore, we will use that term as well. Fr. Freeman suggests the use of “maranatha,” usually translated as “Come, Lord Jesus,” as a suitable mantra, but persons are free to choose their own. Presumably, however, the mantra will have some significant religious meaning to the one choosing it.
Whatever mantra is chosen is repeated quietly again and again by the pray-er. The mantra is, of course, itself a prayer. Repeating a phrase such as “Jesus, I love you,” or even, “Love,” or “Jesus,” focuses the mind on the phrase and the reality that underlies the phrase. Constant repetition can help the mind relax and put aside other thoughts.
However, one must take care that the phrase itself, and repeating the phrase, do not themselves become distractions. If you are constantly reminding yourself that you must repeat the phrase, you must repeat the phrase, you must repeat the phrase, because there are many other things you would really rather be doing or thinking about, then this form of prayer is not likely to be useful. Or if the phrase is repeated for its own sake, rather than because you are saying yes to God’s invitation to come to God in love and open yourself to his transforming power, then the exercise may not even be a prayer at all. Prayer, by definition, must be directed toward God, and even holy words said without that purpose, for example, as in a play, or for the sole motive of relaxation, do not form a prayer. On the other hand, almost any phrase chosen and repeated for the purpose of saying yes to God and asking that God bring us to union with him according to his will expressed through Jesus will be a prayer.
Fr. Keating’s form of Centering Prayer
Centering Prayer as taught by Fr. Thomas Keating involves a sacred word. The word in this case, however, is not a mantra, nor is it intended for constant repetition. Its purpose to help the pray-er to gently brush aside distractions in a manner to be described shortly. Fr. Keating suggests that the word be short, one or two syllables, or at most three, unlike Fr. Freeman’s mantra which can be longer, even an entire sentence. Words such as “Jesus,” “love,” or “God,” are typical sacred words used in Fr. Keating’s form of Centering Prayer. Once again, a word should be chosen that will remind you that you are saying yes to God’s invitation to come to God in love and to be open to God’s work within you.
The primary use of the sacred word in Fr. Keating’s form of Centering Prayer is to gently brush aside distractions. You do not fight the distractions since such a struggle, as noted earlier, will only serve to focus your attention on the distractions and will itself then become a distraction. Nor is the sacred word to be thought of as a shield or sword to drive off since these images imply a struggle or warfare. The sacred word is more akin to a feather used to gently brush aside a distraction that may threaten your quiet resting in God. And unlike a mantra, which is continually repeated, the sacred word is used only when necessary to regain one’s focus.
A “mantra,” as the term is usually used, is a word or phrase that one uses each time one prays. A sacred word, on the other hand, can change from session to session of Centering Prayer, but it should not be changed during a session since seeking for another sacred word will itself be a distraction.
How long should a Centering Prayer session be and how often should one pray using this method? Generally, 20 minutes twice a day is suggested, but this should be taken as a suggestion only and not as a hard and fast rule. Trying to “squeeze prayer in” in the middle of a hectic day is often difficult and could easily make such prayer time chaotic and anxious. Often the best times to attempt Centering Prayer are early in the morning before the day’s rush begins or later in the evening after the day’s work has been completed. In any case, a quiet, comfortable location free of distractions is advisable. You do not want to have interrupt your prayer time to answer the phone or rush to remove a pot that is boiling over on the stove.
Fr. Freeman’s method, as noted earlier, involves the use of what he himself calls a mantra; therefore, we will use that term as well. Fr. Freeman suggests the use of “maranatha,” usually translated as “Come, Lord Jesus,” as a suitable mantra, but persons are free to choose their own. Presumably, however, the mantra will have some significant religious meaning to the one choosing it.
Whatever mantra is chosen is repeated quietly again and again by the pray-er. The mantra is, of course, itself a prayer. Repeating a phrase such as “Jesus, I love you,” or even, “Love,” or “Jesus,” focuses the mind on the phrase and the reality that underlies the phrase. Constant repetition can help the mind relax and put aside other thoughts.
However, one must take care that the phrase itself, and repeating the phrase, do not themselves become distractions. If you are constantly reminding yourself that you must repeat the phrase, you must repeat the phrase, you must repeat the phrase, because there are many other things you would really rather be doing or thinking about, then this form of prayer is not likely to be useful. Or if the phrase is repeated for its own sake, rather than because you are saying yes to God’s invitation to come to God in love and open yourself to his transforming power, then the exercise may not even be a prayer at all. Prayer, by definition, must be directed toward God, and even holy words said without that purpose, for example, as in a play, or for the sole motive of relaxation, do not form a prayer. On the other hand, almost any phrase chosen and repeated for the purpose of saying yes to God and asking that God bring us to union with him according to his will expressed through Jesus will be a prayer.
Fr. Keating’s form of Centering Prayer
Centering Prayer as taught by Fr. Thomas Keating involves a sacred word. The word in this case, however, is not a mantra, nor is it intended for constant repetition. Its purpose to help the pray-er to gently brush aside distractions in a manner to be described shortly. Fr. Keating suggests that the word be short, one or two syllables, or at most three, unlike Fr. Freeman’s mantra which can be longer, even an entire sentence. Words such as “Jesus,” “love,” or “God,” are typical sacred words used in Fr. Keating’s form of Centering Prayer. Once again, a word should be chosen that will remind you that you are saying yes to God’s invitation to come to God in love and to be open to God’s work within you.
The primary use of the sacred word in Fr. Keating’s form of Centering Prayer is to gently brush aside distractions. You do not fight the distractions since such a struggle, as noted earlier, will only serve to focus your attention on the distractions and will itself then become a distraction. Nor is the sacred word to be thought of as a shield or sword to drive off since these images imply a struggle or warfare. The sacred word is more akin to a feather used to gently brush aside a distraction that may threaten your quiet resting in God. And unlike a mantra, which is continually repeated, the sacred word is used only when necessary to regain one’s focus.
A “mantra,” as the term is usually used, is a word or phrase that one uses each time one prays. A sacred word, on the other hand, can change from session to session of Centering Prayer, but it should not be changed during a session since seeking for another sacred word will itself be a distraction.
How long should a Centering Prayer session be and how often should one pray using this method? Generally, 20 minutes twice a day is suggested, but this should be taken as a suggestion only and not as a hard and fast rule. Trying to “squeeze prayer in” in the middle of a hectic day is often difficult and could easily make such prayer time chaotic and anxious. Often the best times to attempt Centering Prayer are early in the morning before the day’s rush begins or later in the evening after the day’s work has been completed. In any case, a quiet, comfortable location free of distractions is advisable. You do not want to have interrupt your prayer time to answer the phone or rush to remove a pot that is boiling over on the stove.
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