{"id":27052,"date":"2026-09-02T13:10:41","date_gmt":"2026-09-02T19:10:41","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/resources2.soundstrue.com\/?p=27052"},"modified":"2026-09-02T13:14:05","modified_gmt":"2026-09-02T19:14:05","slug":"thomas-keating","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/resources2.soundstrue.com\/blog\/thomas-keating\/","title":{"rendered":"Father Thomas Keating on Centering Prayer and Inviting the Divine"},"content":{"rendered":"\t\t<div data-elementor-type=\"wp-post\" data-elementor-id=\"27052\" class=\"elementor elementor-27052\" data-elementor-settings=\"[]\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-inner\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-section-wrap\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-f7c2e7e elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"f7c2e7e\" data-element_type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-row\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-5b30533\" data-id=\"5b30533\" data-element_type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-a9220c0 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"a9220c0\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-text-editor elementor-clearfix\">\n\t\t\t\t<p>What would it mean to stop filling the silence and simply rest in it? That question sat at the heart of Father Thomas Keating&#8217;s lifetime of teaching, and his reflections continue to resonate with everyone seeking a more direct, personal relationship with God.<\/p><p>At Sounds True, we have spent over 40 years preserving the living wisdom of spiritual teachers so their insights remain accessible to seekers at every stage of the journey. We share the reflections of respected teachers like Father Thomas Keating through podcasts, digital courses, and transformational learning experiences that support personal and spiritual growth.<\/p><p>Here, we walk through Father Thomas Keating&#8217;s teachings on centering prayer, contemplative Christianity, and what it means to open the heart to the presence of the Divine.<\/p><h2><strong>Key Takeaways:<\/strong><\/h2><ul><li><strong>Father Keating&#8217;s Contemplative Legacy:<\/strong> Father Thomas Keating was a co-founder of Contemplative Outreach who spent decades making the Christian contemplative tradition accessible.\u00a0<\/li><li><strong>How Centering Prayer Works:<\/strong> Centering prayer is a simple, silent practice rooted in consenting to God&#8217;s presence. Instead of filling prayer with words or requests, practitioners choose a sacred word and gently return to it whenever thoughts arise.\u00a0<\/li><li><strong>Living the Contemplative Way:<\/strong> The contemplative life is a way of moving through the world with greater stillness, openness, and compassion. See how the interior awareness cultivated through centering prayer begins to shape everyday moments.\u00a0<\/li><\/ul><h2><strong>Who Is Thomas Keating and His Practice of Centering Prayer?<\/strong><\/h2><p>Father Thomas Keating dedicated his life to sharing Christian contemplative tradition with people from all walks of life. As a founding member and spiritual guide of Contemplative Outreach, he was one of the principal architects of the modern Christian contemplative prayer movement. Outreach itself stands as a living expression of his lifelong desire to recover the contemplative dimension of Christianity for the wider world.\u00a0<\/p><p>During his life, Fr. Keating traveled the world, teaching people about contemplative Christian practices and the psychology of the spiritual journey. In our podcast series, Fr. Keating reflects at length on <a href=\"https:\/\/www.soundstrue.com\/a\/resources\/podcast\/father-thomas-keating-inviting-the-presence-of-the-divine-part-two\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">centering prayer<\/a> and the quiet transformation it awakens in those who commit to the practice. He describes prayer as something that becomes an invitation to rest in silence and grow more receptive to the presence of God.<\/p><p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.soundstrue.com\/collections\/online-courses?configure%5Bfilters%5D=%28NOT%20tags%3ASearchspring-Exclusions%29%20AND%20collections%3Aonline-courses&amp;configure%5BfacetingAfterDistinct%5D=true&amp;configure%5BclickAnalytics%5D=true&amp;refinementList%5Bnamed_tags.data--parent-category%5D%5B0%5D=Spirituality\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-26769\" src=\"https:\/\/resources2.soundstrue.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/Awaken-Something-Greater-Within-You.-Find-Teachings-that-Speak-to-You-With-Sounds-True.png\" alt=\"Awaken Something Greater Within You. Find Teachings that Speak to You With Sounds True.\" width=\"1920\" height=\"1080\" srcset=\"https:\/\/resources2.soundstrue.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/Awaken-Something-Greater-Within-You.-Find-Teachings-that-Speak-to-You-With-Sounds-True.png 1920w, https:\/\/resources2.soundstrue.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/Awaken-Something-Greater-Within-You.-Find-Teachings-that-Speak-to-You-With-Sounds-True-300x169.png 300w, https:\/\/resources2.soundstrue.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/Awaken-Something-Greater-Within-You.-Find-Teachings-that-Speak-to-You-With-Sounds-True-1024x576.png 1024w, https:\/\/resources2.soundstrue.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/Awaken-Something-Greater-Within-You.-Find-Teachings-that-Speak-to-You-With-Sounds-True-768x432.png 768w, https:\/\/resources2.soundstrue.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/Awaken-Something-Greater-Within-You.-Find-Teachings-that-Speak-to-You-With-Sounds-True-1536x864.png 1536w, https:\/\/resources2.soundstrue.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/Awaken-Something-Greater-Within-You.-Find-Teachings-that-Speak-to-You-With-Sounds-True-800x450.png 800w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1920px) 100vw, 1920px\" \/><\/a><\/p><h2><strong>Thomas Keating&#8217;s Vision of Contemplative Christianity\u00a0<\/strong><\/h2><p>Fr. Keating describes contemplative Christianity as a path of direct experience with God, rooted in silence, prayer, and openness to divine grace. More than centering on outward activity alone, this tradition asks us to set aside time to become still and attentive to God&#8217;s presence. His teachings remind us that this quiet awareness allows faith to deepen beyond intellectual knowledge and grow into something personal.<\/p><p>Contemplative Christianity is distinct from many common expressions of Christian practice. Where much of modern Christian life emphasizes active worship, structured liturgy, communal service, and spoken prayer, contemplative tradition places interior stillness at its heart. Fr. Keating traces this lineage back to the Desert Fathers and Mothers, the earliest Christian mystics who understood silence not as an absence of God but as a primary way of meeting God.\u00a0<\/p><p>Keating invites us to reclaim that posture in our own time, trusting that the desire to be still before the Divine is itself a movement of grace. His reflections also show that contemplation is not limited to moments of formal prayer. Instead, it becomes a way of living that shapes how we respond to everyday experiences, relationships, and challenges.\u00a0<\/p><h2><strong>How Centering Prayer Deepens Your Contemplative Practice\u00a0<\/strong><\/h2><p>One of the central themes of Fr. Keating&#8217;s teaching is how centering prayer carries the contemplative life into daily rhythm, and the practice is simple. As thoughts arise during prayer, practitioners gently return to their intention of resting in God&#8217;s presence. Here is how this practice reaches into different areas of life:<\/p><h3><strong>Quieting the Restless Mind<\/strong><\/h3><p>Centering prayer creates a gentle, repeatable approach to releasing mental noise and returning to stillness. Where other meditative approaches may focus on breath control or visualization, this practice anchors the mind in a simple interior intention, making it easier to release thoughts as they arise without following them further.<\/p><h3><strong>Easing the Body into Rest<\/strong><\/h3><p>The regular practice of centering prayer has a deeply calming effect on the body, inviting the nervous system to release tension and settle into a state of restful awareness. Many practitioners find that even twenty minutes of quiet prayer leaves them more at ease than when they began, making it a grounding anchor for a full and demanding day.<\/p><h3><strong>Opening the Heart to Healing<\/strong><\/h3><p>Fr. Keating teaches that as the grip of accumulated stress and emotional pain begins to loosen through centering prayer, something softer rises in its place. This gradual unburdening creates space for healing at layers of the self that ordinary awareness rarely reaches, including wounds that have been quietly carried for years beneath the surface.<\/p><h3><strong>Becoming Fully Available to God<\/strong><\/h3><p>At the core of centering prayer is an act of complete consent: the willingness to be fully present to God without agenda or expectation. Fr. Keating describes this as one of the deepest forms of prayer, one in which we set aside our usual way of relating to God and simply make ourselves available to whatever the Divine wishes to offer.<\/p><p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.soundstrue.com\/collections\/online-courses?configure%5Bfilters%5D=%28NOT%20tags%3ASearchspring-Exclusions%29%20AND%20collections%3Aonline-courses&amp;configure%5BfacetingAfterDistinct%5D=true&amp;configure%5BclickAnalytics%5D=true&amp;refinementList%5Bnamed_tags.data--parent-category%5D%5B0%5D=Self-Compassion\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-26770\" src=\"https:\/\/resources2.soundstrue.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/Meet-Your-Sorrow-with-Kindness.-Learn-Practices-for-Self-Compassion-with-Sounds-True.png\" alt=\"Meet Your Sorrow with Kindness. Learn Practices for Self-Compassion with Sounds True.\" width=\"1920\" height=\"1080\" srcset=\"https:\/\/resources2.soundstrue.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/Meet-Your-Sorrow-with-Kindness.-Learn-Practices-for-Self-Compassion-with-Sounds-True.png 1920w, https:\/\/resources2.soundstrue.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/Meet-Your-Sorrow-with-Kindness.-Learn-Practices-for-Self-Compassion-with-Sounds-True-300x169.png 300w, https:\/\/resources2.soundstrue.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/Meet-Your-Sorrow-with-Kindness.-Learn-Practices-for-Self-Compassion-with-Sounds-True-1024x576.png 1024w, https:\/\/resources2.soundstrue.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/Meet-Your-Sorrow-with-Kindness.-Learn-Practices-for-Self-Compassion-with-Sounds-True-768x432.png 768w, https:\/\/resources2.soundstrue.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/Meet-Your-Sorrow-with-Kindness.-Learn-Practices-for-Self-Compassion-with-Sounds-True-1536x864.png 1536w, https:\/\/resources2.soundstrue.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/Meet-Your-Sorrow-with-Kindness.-Learn-Practices-for-Self-Compassion-with-Sounds-True-800x450.png 800w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1920px) 100vw, 1920px\" \/><\/a><\/p><h2><strong>Inviting the Divine into Everyday Life\u00a0<\/strong><\/h2><p>Fr. Keating&#8217;s teachings remind us that centering prayer helps us prepare for what our day-to-day brings. Here\u2019s what can happen when you start to invite the divine into your life:<\/p><ul><li><strong>Pausing Before You Respond:<\/strong> Someone navigating a difficult conversation at work might pause before responding, drawing on the same interior spaciousness cultivated during morning prayer. That brief moment of stillness can soften a reactive exchange into something more grounded and kind.<\/li><li><strong>Showing Up More Fully:<\/strong> A parent managing the relentless pace of family life might find that even ten minutes of quiet prayer each morning changes how they show up for the rest of the day. The patience practiced in silence begins to surface in the small, ordinary moments that matter most.<\/li><li><strong>Bringing Grief into the Silence:<\/strong> A person sitting with grief or uncertainty might bring that weight into centering prayer, trusting that God is present even in what cannot yet be spoken. Fr. Keating taught that this kind of surrender, releasing the need to resolve or explain, is itself a profound act of faith.<\/li><\/ul><p>At Sounds True, we believe this transformation is available to anyone willing to begin. Our digital courses and in-depth programs bring the wisdom of teachers like Fr. Keating into a format you can return to again and again, wherever you are in the journey.<\/p><p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.soundstrue.com\/collections\/online-courses?configure%5Bfilters%5D=%28NOT%20tags%3ASearchspring-Exclusions%29%20AND%20collections%3Aonline-courses&amp;configure%5BfacetingAfterDistinct%5D=true&amp;configure%5BclickAnalytics%5D=true&amp;refinementList%5Bnamed_tags.data--parent-category%5D%5B0%5D=Meditation\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-26771\" src=\"https:\/\/resources2.soundstrue.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/Center-Yourself-With-Meditative-Teachings-by-Sounds-True.png\" alt=\"Center Yourself With Meditative Teachings by Sounds True\" width=\"1920\" height=\"1080\" srcset=\"https:\/\/resources2.soundstrue.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/Center-Yourself-With-Meditative-Teachings-by-Sounds-True.png 1920w, https:\/\/resources2.soundstrue.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/Center-Yourself-With-Meditative-Teachings-by-Sounds-True-300x169.png 300w, https:\/\/resources2.soundstrue.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/Center-Yourself-With-Meditative-Teachings-by-Sounds-True-1024x576.png 1024w, https:\/\/resources2.soundstrue.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/Center-Yourself-With-Meditative-Teachings-by-Sounds-True-768x432.png 768w, https:\/\/resources2.soundstrue.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/Center-Yourself-With-Meditative-Teachings-by-Sounds-True-1536x864.png 1536w, https:\/\/resources2.soundstrue.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/Center-Yourself-With-Meditative-Teachings-by-Sounds-True-800x450.png 800w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1920px) 100vw, 1920px\" \/><\/a><\/p><h2><strong>Final Thoughts<\/strong><\/h2><p>Father Thomas Keating&#8217;s teachings continue to inspire those seeking a deeper relationship with God through silence and contemplation. His reflections on centering prayer offer a timeless invitation to slow down, become receptive to God, and discover the transformative wisdom at the heart of contemplative Christianity.<\/p><h2><strong>Frequently Asked Questions About Father Thomas Keating on Centering Prayer and Inviting the Divine<\/strong><\/h2><h3><strong>What is Thomas Keating best known for?<\/strong><\/h3><p>Thomas Keating is best known for helping revive the practice of Centering Prayer and making the Christian contemplative tradition more accessible to modern audiences through his writings, teachings, and retreats.<\/p><h3><strong>Did Thomas Keating write any books on spirituality?<\/strong><\/h3><p>Yes. Thomas Keating authored numerous books on prayer, contemplation, and spiritual growth, including works that explain the principles and practice of Centering Prayer in greater depth.<\/p><h3><strong>Is Centering Prayer connected to a specific Christian denomination?<\/strong><\/h3><p>Centering Prayer originated within the Christian contemplative tradition and is widely practiced by people from various Christian denominations. Regardless of church affiliation, many also appreciate it as a personal spiritual discipline.<\/p><h3><strong>How long should someone practice Centering Prayer?<\/strong><\/h3><p>A common recommendation is to practice for about 20 minutes twice a day. Beginners may start with shorter sessions and gradually increase the duration as they become comfortable with the practice.<\/p><h3><strong>What is the difference between Centering Prayer and meditation?<\/strong><\/h3><p>Centering Prayer is a Christian contemplative practice centered on consenting to God&#8217;s presence and action within. While it shares the use of silence with many forms of meditation, its intention is rooted in Christian faith and relationship with God.<\/p><h3><strong>Why is silence important in contemplative spirituality?<\/strong><\/h3><p>Silence creates an environment where distractions can settle, allowing individuals to become more attentive to God&#8217;s presence and cultivate a deeper sense of spiritual awareness.<\/p><h3><strong>Is Centering Prayer practiced individually or in groups?<\/strong><\/h3><p>Both. Many people practice alone as part of their daily routine, while others join local or online groups for shared periods of silent prayer and discussion.<\/p><h3><strong>Who may benefit from learning about Thomas Keating?<\/strong><\/h3><p>Anyone interested in Christian spirituality, contemplative prayer, or developing a quieter, more reflective spiritual life may find Thomas Keating&#8217;s teachings meaningful and accessible.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-fbf9e6f elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"fbf9e6f\" data-element_type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-row\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-3804c85\" data-id=\"3804c85\" data-element_type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-61188d5 elementor-widget-divider--view-line elementor-widget elementor-widget-divider\" data-id=\"61188d5\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"divider.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-divider\">\n\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-divider-separator\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-f9151ba elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"f9151ba\" data-element_type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-row\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-89ec855\" data-id=\"89ec855\" data-element_type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-71685d0 elementor-position-left elementor-vertical-align-top elementor-widget elementor-widget-image-box\" data-id=\"71685d0\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"image-box.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-image-box-wrapper\"><figure class=\"elementor-image-box-img\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"898\" height=\"1306\" src=\"https:\/\/resources2.soundstrue.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/Amy-Michelle-Photo.png\" class=\"attachment-full size-full\" alt=\"\" \/><\/figure><div class=\"elementor-image-box-content\"><p class=\"elementor-image-box-description\"><b>Michelle Cassandra Johnson<\/b> is an author, activist, spiritual teacher, racial equity consultant, and intuitive healer. She is the author of six books, including <i>Skill in Action<\/i> and <i>Finding Refuge<\/i>. <b>Amy Burtaine<\/b> is a leadership coach and racial equity trainer. With Robin DiAngelo, she is the coauthor of <i>The Facilitator's Guide for White Affinity Groups<\/i>. For more, visit <a href=\"https:\/\/www.michellecjohnson.com\/wisdom-of-the-hive\" target=_blank\">https:\/\/www.michellecjohnson.com\/wisdom-of-the-hive<\/a>.<\/p><\/div><\/div>\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-6f9afa6 elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"6f9afa6\" data-element_type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-row\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-d86bded\" data-id=\"d86bded\" data-element_type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-fd6acfc elementor-widget elementor-widget-html\" data-id=\"fd6acfc\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"html.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t<script>\r\ndocument.addEventListener(\"DOMContentLoaded\", function() {\r\ndocument.querySelectorAll('.progression-studios-blog-excerpt')\r\n.forEach(el => el.remove());\r\n});\r\n<\/script>\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>What would it mean to stop filling the silence and simply rest in it? That question sat at the heart of Father Thomas Keating&#8217;s lifetime of teaching, and his reflections continue to resonate with everyone seeking a more direct, personal relationship with God. At Sounds True, we have spent over 40 years preserving the living [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":31,"featured_media":27053,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_expiration-date-status":"","_expiration-date":0,"_expiration-date-type":"","_expiration-date-categories":[],"_expiration-date-options":[],"footnotes":""},"categories":[381,386],"tags":[],"contributor":[1157,1156],"class_list":["post-27052","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-self-compassion","category-spirituality","contributor-amy-burtaine","contributor-michelle-cassandra-johnson","slider-tags-blog"],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v26.5 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/wordpress\/plugins\/seo\/ -->\n<title>Thomas Keating on Centering Prayer and the Divine<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Thomas Keating taught centering prayer and contemplative 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