This book is designed to initiate the reader into a deep, living relationship with God. Written by an acknowledged spiritual master, the book moves beyond "discursive meditation and particular acts to the intuitive level of contemplation." Keating gives an overview of the history of contemplative prayer in the Christian tradition, and step-by-step guidance in the method of centering prayer. Special attention is paid to the role of the Sacred Word, Christian growth and transformation, and active prayer. The book ends with an explicit treatment of the contemplative dimension of the gospel. Open Mind, Open Heart will take readers into a world where God can do anything, into a realm of the greatest adventure—"Where one is open to the Infinite and hence to infinite possibilities.

Great chapter on the history of contemplative prayer in the Christian tradition.

Thomas Keating has been teaching centering prayer in the Christian tradition for many years. Based in the US, his movement Contemplative Outreach is roughly equivalent (although teaching a slightly different method) to the World Community for Christian Meditation based in the UK. This book gives an excellent and inspiring introduction to centering prayer which would be of interest to anyone wanting to find out more about Christian contemplative practice. ( )

A very insightful introduction to the ancient practice of centering prayer in our Christian tradition. I highly recommend it for those wanting to learn more about both the history and practice of this prayer form. ( )

This book is dangerous. Read this article:
http://www.catholicculture.org/docs/doc_view.cfm?recnum=6337
And then DO NOT read this book. ( )

Another copy: Amity House, NY; 1986, pbk.,137 pp. 2 copies

Deals with Contemplative and Centering Prayyer

This classic by Father Thomas Keating is a great book for beginning the journey of contemplative spiritually. It is one of those books that may be read over and over and each time there are new insights and awareness into the deeper meaning of consenting to God's presence and action within. Fr. Keating teaches us how to be still and know that God is God so that His love and grace can transform both our prayer relationship with Him and our lives. When the resources of our human condition are depleted, and we are tired of looking for happiness in all the wrong places, a Centering Prayer practice allows us to find our new selves, the true, non-dual identity for which we were destined from all eternity. This Keating classic is highly recommended by the Contemplative Prayer group.