[FairfieldLife] Re: Buddha at the Gas Pump - 158. Fr. Thomas Keating
Yeah, I got to go up to Spencer Mass and be part of checking the brothers meditations and giving advanced lectures on meditation and TM back in the days. Was an exciting time in American spirituality. Those were heady times in TM and also watching the start of the whole centering prayer movement. Church Monasticism was pretty stuck up and barbaric in its ways but changing then because of openings in the larger church waged by Merton and others earlier. There was an extraordinary group of particular brothers around Fr. Keating within the monastery there who were highly knowledgeable and excited from looking at writings of Mysticism within and then outside of their own traditions. They could see the descriptions and that they did not have the practices needed to achieve the experiences so they went specifically looking surveying what was out there in the spiritual practice parketplace. It was a heady time.TM itself was evidently too proprietary and confined for them to be helpful working with inside their church. But the training and the effortless aspect of TM became central to what they picked up with, co-opted and went on with in to something that could be taught to parishioners more universally. They've had a huge and successful impact on American spirituality even spilling over in to Protestant faiths with their instruction. That is history and Fr. Keating was one of the men of it. He and the guys he was with took the ball and really ran with it. As a team they've played a good game. -Buck in the Dome --- In FairfieldLife@yahoogroups.com, Ann wrote: What an extraordinary man. How wonderful that you interviewed him. He was a huge part in the healing process for many of my friends when they moved forward from their time in the context with Robin back in the mid 1980's. I spent time at the monastery as well, a stunning place in Snowmass Colorado. Father Keating was a vital part in the transition for these people from pain and suffering to becoming productive and healthy individuals again. I will watch this interview with great interest. I have not seen Keating for 26 years. --- In FairfieldLife@yahoogroups.com, Rick Archer wrote: New post on Buddha at the Gas Pump 158. Fr. Thomas Keating by Rick Fr. Thomas Keating is a founding member and the spiritual guide of Contemplative Outreach, LTD. He has served on Contemplative Outreach's Board of Trustees since the organization's beginning and is currently serving as the Chairman of the Board. Fr. Keating is one of the principal architects and teachers of the Christian contemplative prayer movement and, in many ways, Contemplative Outreach is a manifestation of his longtime desire to contribute to the recovery of the contemplative dimension of Christianity. Fr. Keating's interest in contemplative prayer began during his freshman year at Yale University in 1940 when he became aware of the Church's history and of the writings of Christian mystics. Prompted by these studies and time spent in prayer and meditation, he experienced a profound realization that, on a spiritual level, the Scriptures call people to a personal relationship with God. Fr. Keating took this call to heart. He transferred to Fordham University in New York and, while waiting to be drafted for service in World War II, he received a deferment to enter seminary. Shortly after graduating from an accelerated program at Fordham, Fr. Keating entered an austere monastic community of the Trappist Order in Valley Falls, Rhode Island in January of 1944, at the age of 20. He was ordained a priest in June of 1949. In March of 1950 the monastery in Valley Falls burned down and, as a result, the community moved to Spencer, Massachusetts. Shortly after the move, Fr. Keating became ill with a lung condition and was put into isolation in the city hospital of Worcester, Massachusetts for nine weeks. After returning to the monastery, he stayed in the infirmary for two years. Fr. Keating was sent to Snowmass, Colorado in April of 1958 to help start a new monastic community called St. Benedict's. He remained in Snowmass until 1961, when he was elected abbot of St. Joseph's in Spencer, prompting his move back to Massachusetts. He served as abbot of St. Joseph's for twenty years until he retired in 1981 and returned to Snowmass, where he still resides today. During Fr. Keating's term as abbot at St. Joseph's and in response to the reforms of Vatican II, he invited teachers from the East to the monastery. As a result of this exposure to Eastern spiritual traditions, Fr. Keating and several of the monks at St. Joseph's were led to develop the modern form of Christian contemplative prayer called Centering Prayer. Fr. Keating was a central
[FairfieldLife] Re: Buddha at the Gas Pump - 158. Fr. Thomas Keating
--- In FairfieldLife@yahoogroups.com, navashok wrote: I just finished reading Bill Howell's CULT, I know it took me long time, but I did not read it continuously, it wasn't on the top of my agenda. I must say that I was very touched by the last chapter, before the epilogue, called 'Desert' (p. 308), I was touched by the reunion of Caitlin and Matthew especially, the story how they came back to life from believing to be 'evil' or without human soul is heartbreaking. From all of what I have read, Bill Howell seems to be sincerely narrating things as they were happening, his motivation does not in any way seem to be revenge or anger, but to help people get out of similar desperate situations. I also believe that the conclusions he draws make sense. The book has its lengths, for somebody not being part of it, it goes a bit too much into details, telling every bodies story more or less, but that last chapter before the epilogue, 'UNGRASPING THE LIGHT THAT CASTS SHADOWS Chapter 19 Desert' is just superb, it brought me to tears. It is just amazing what kind of drama is revealed in the book, going much beyond what we knew here, but I won't get into it, I don't want to stir up all the mud here once again. I hope everybody gets his peace about it finally, and of course Ann, you have been part of it, so you know the story much better than I do. --- In FairfieldLife@yahoogroups.com, Ann wrote: What an extraordinary man. How wonderful that you interviewed him. He was a huge part in the healing process for many of my friends when they moved forward from their time in the context with Robin back in the mid 1980's. I spent time at the monastery as well, a stunning place in Snowmass Colorado. Father Keating was a vital part in the transition for these people from pain and suffering to becoming productive and healthy individuals again. I will watch this interview with great interest. I have not seen Keating for 26 years. --- In FairfieldLife@yahoogroups.com, Rick Archer wrote: New post on Buddha at the Gas Pump 158. Fr. Thomas Keating by Rick Fr. Thomas Keating is a founding member and the spiritual guide of Contemplative Outreach, LTD. He has served on Contemplative Outreach's Board of Trustees since the organization's beginning and is currently serving as the Chairman of the Board. Fr. Keating is one of the principal architects and teachers of the Christian contemplative prayer movement and, in many ways, Contemplative Outreach is a manifestation of his longtime desire to contribute to the recovery of the contemplative dimension of Christianity. Fr. Keating's interest in contemplative prayer began during his freshman year at Yale University in 1940 when he became aware of the Church's history and of the writings of Christian mystics. Prompted by these studies and time spent in prayer and meditation, he experienced a profound realization that, on a spiritual level, the Scriptures call people to a personal relationship with God. Fr. Keating took this call to heart. He transferred to Fordham University in New York and, while waiting to be drafted for service in World War II, he received a deferment to enter seminary. Shortly after graduating from an accelerated program at Fordham, Fr. Keating entered an austere monastic community of the Trappist Order in Valley Falls, Rhode Island in January of 1944, at the age of 20. He was ordained a priest in June of 1949. In March of 1950 the monastery in Valley Falls burned down and, as a result, the community moved to Spencer, Massachusetts. Shortly after the move, Fr. Keating became ill with a lung condition and was put into isolation in the city hospital of Worcester, Massachusetts for nine weeks. After returning to the monastery, he stayed in the infirmary for two years. Fr. Keating was sent to Snowmass, Colorado in April of 1958 to help start a new monastic community called St. Benedict's. He remained in Snowmass until 1961, when he was elected abbot of St. Joseph's in Spencer, prompting his move back to Massachusetts. He served as abbot of St. Joseph's for twenty years until he retired in 1981 and returned to Snowmass, where he still resides today. During Fr. Keating's term as abbot at St. Joseph's and in response to the reforms of Vatican II, he invited teachers from the East to the monastery. As a result of this exposure to Eastern spiritual traditions, Fr. Keating and several of the monks at St. Joseph's were led to develop the modern form of Christian contemplative prayer called Centering Prayer. Fr. Keating was a central figure in the initiation of the Centering Prayer movement. He offered Centering Prayer workshops and retreats to clergy and laypeople and authored articles and books on the method and fruits of Centering Prayer. In 1983, he presented a two-week intensive Centering Prayer retreat at the Lama Foundation in San Cristabol, New
[FairfieldLife] Re: Buddha at the Gas Pump - 158. Fr. Thomas Keating
--- In FairfieldLife@yahoogroups.com, seventhray27 wrote: --- In FairfieldLife@yahoogroups.com, navashok wrote: I just finished reading Bill Howell's CULT, I know it took me long time, but I did not read it continuously, it wasn't on the top of my agenda. I must say that I was very touched by the last chapter, before the epilogue, called 'Desert' (p. 308), I was touched by the reunion of Caitlin and Matthew especially, the story how they came back to life from believing to be 'evil' or without human soul is heartbreaking. Now THAT is funny. :-) The Twilight series as cult. I always thought it was a polemic on abstinence. Then again, many cults go in for that, too.
[FairfieldLife] Re: Buddha at the Gas Pump - 158. Fr. Thomas Keating
--- In FairfieldLife@yahoogroups.com, Buck wrote: Yeah, I got to go up to Spencer Mass and be part of checking the brothers meditations and giving advanced lectures on meditation and TM back in the days. Was an exciting time in American spirituality. Those were heady times in TM and also watching the start of the whole centering prayer movement. Church Monasticism was pretty stuck up and barbaric in its ways but changing then because of openings in the larger church waged by Merton and others earlier. There was an extraordinary group of particular brothers around Fr. Keating within the monastery there who were highly knowledgeable and excited from looking at writings of Mysticism within and then outside of their own traditions. They could see the descriptions and that they did not have the practices needed to achieve the experiences so they went specifically looking surveying what was out there in the spiritual practice parketplace. It was a heady time.TM itself was evidently too proprietary and confined for them to be helpful working with inside their church. But the training and the effortless aspect of TM became central to what they picked up with, co-opted and went on with in to something that could be taught to parishioners more universally. They've had a huge and successful impact on American spirituality even spilling over in to Protestant faiths with their instruction. That is history and Fr. Keating was one of the men of it. He and the guys he was with took the ball and really ran with it. As a team they've played a good game. Yes, they did. The monastery out in Snowmass was sublime. The monks working the farm and tending the sheep by day in their jeans and flannel shirts and then attending services/mass in their monastic garb was wonderful to see. Witnessing the devotions and chanting in the little chapel were some of the most spiritual and deep experiences I have ever had. They seemed to have combined something sacredly ancient with something very relevant to the present for me back in 1987-88. And the sense of community and brotherhood was very strong there along with the depth of commitment to God, to spiritual and personal growth and to deep inner and outer devotion to Him and to his creation. -Buck in the Dome --- In FairfieldLife@yahoogroups.com, Ann wrote: What an extraordinary man. How wonderful that you interviewed him. He was a huge part in the healing process for many of my friends when they moved forward from their time in the context with Robin back in the mid 1980's. I spent time at the monastery as well, a stunning place in Snowmass Colorado. Father Keating was a vital part in the transition for these people from pain and suffering to becoming productive and healthy individuals again. I will watch this interview with great interest. I have not seen Keating for 26 years. --- In FairfieldLife@yahoogroups.com, Rick Archer wrote: New post on Buddha at the Gas Pump 158. Fr. Thomas Keating by Rick Fr. Thomas Keating is a founding member and the spiritual guide of Contemplative Outreach, LTD. He has served on Contemplative Outreach's Board of Trustees since the organization's beginning and is currently serving as the Chairman of the Board. Fr. Keating is one of the principal architects and teachers of the Christian contemplative prayer movement and, in many ways, Contemplative Outreach is a manifestation of his longtime desire to contribute to the recovery of the contemplative dimension of Christianity. Fr. Keating's interest in contemplative prayer began during his freshman year at Yale University in 1940 when he became aware of the Church's history and of the writings of Christian mystics. Prompted by these studies and time spent in prayer and meditation, he experienced a profound realization that, on a spiritual level, the Scriptures call people to a personal relationship with God. Fr. Keating took this call to heart. He transferred to Fordham University in New York and, while waiting to be drafted for service in World War II, he received a deferment to enter seminary. Shortly after graduating from an accelerated program at Fordham, Fr. Keating entered an austere monastic community of the Trappist Order in Valley Falls, Rhode Island in January of 1944, at the age of 20. He was ordained a priest in June of 1949. In March of 1950 the monastery in Valley Falls burned down and, as a result, the community moved to Spencer, Massachusetts. Shortly after the move, Fr. Keating became ill with a lung condition and was put into isolation in the city hospital of Worcester, Massachusetts for nine weeks. After returning to the monastery, he stayed in the
[FairfieldLife] Re: Buddha at the Gas Pump - 158. Fr. Thomas Keating
What an extraordinary man. How wonderful that you interviewed him. He was a huge part in the healing process for many of my friends when they moved forward from their time in the context with Robin back in the mid 1980's. I spent time at the monastery as well, a stunning place in Snowmass Colorado. Father Keating was a vital part in the transition for these people from pain and suffering to becoming productive and healthy individuals again. I will watch this interview with great interest. I have not seen Keating for 26 years. --- In FairfieldLife@yahoogroups.com, Rick Archer wrote: New post on Buddha at the Gas Pump 158. Fr. Thomas Keating by Rick Fr. Thomas Keating is a founding member and the spiritual guide of Contemplative Outreach, LTD. He has served on Contemplative Outreach's Board of Trustees since the organization's beginning and is currently serving as the Chairman of the Board. Fr. Keating is one of the principal architects and teachers of the Christian contemplative prayer movement and, in many ways, Contemplative Outreach is a manifestation of his longtime desire to contribute to the recovery of the contemplative dimension of Christianity. Fr. Keating's interest in contemplative prayer began during his freshman year at Yale University in 1940 when he became aware of the Church's history and of the writings of Christian mystics. Prompted by these studies and time spent in prayer and meditation, he experienced a profound realization that, on a spiritual level, the Scriptures call people to a personal relationship with God. Fr. Keating took this call to heart. He transferred to Fordham University in New York and, while waiting to be drafted for service in World War II, he received a deferment to enter seminary. Shortly after graduating from an accelerated program at Fordham, Fr. Keating entered an austere monastic community of the Trappist Order in Valley Falls, Rhode Island in January of 1944, at the age of 20. He was ordained a priest in June of 1949. In March of 1950 the monastery in Valley Falls burned down and, as a result, the community moved to Spencer, Massachusetts. Shortly after the move, Fr. Keating became ill with a lung condition and was put into isolation in the city hospital of Worcester, Massachusetts for nine weeks. After returning to the monastery, he stayed in the infirmary for two years. Fr. Keating was sent to Snowmass, Colorado in April of 1958 to help start a new monastic community called St. Benedict's. He remained in Snowmass until 1961, when he was elected abbot of St. Joseph's in Spencer, prompting his move back to Massachusetts. He served as abbot of St. Joseph's for twenty years until he retired in 1981 and returned to Snowmass, where he still resides today. During Fr. Keating's term as abbot at St. Joseph's and in response to the reforms of Vatican II, he invited teachers from the East to the monastery. As a result of this exposure to Eastern spiritual traditions, Fr. Keating and several of the monks at St. Joseph's were led to develop the modern form of Christian contemplative prayer called Centering Prayer. Fr. Keating was a central figure in the initiation of the Centering Prayer movement. He offered Centering Prayer workshops and retreats to clergy and laypeople and authored articles and books on the method and fruits of Centering Prayer. In 1983, he presented a two-week intensive Centering Prayer retreat at the Lama Foundation in San Cristabol, New Mexico, which proved to be a watershed event. Many of the people prominent in the Centering Prayer movement today attended this retreat. Contemplative Outreach was created in 1984 to support the growing spiritual network of Centering Prayer practitioners. Fr. Keating became the community's president in 1985, a position he held until 1999. Fr. Keating is an internationally renowned theologian and an accomplished author. He has traveled the world to speak with laypeople and communities about contemplative Christian practices and the psychology of the spiritual journey, which is the subject of his Spiritual Journey video and DVD series. Since the reforms of Vatican II, Fr. Keating has been a core participant in and supporter of interreligious dialogue. He helped found the Snowmass Interreligious Conference, which had its first meeting in the fall of 1983 and continues to meet each spring. Fr. Keating also is a past president of the Temple of Understanding and of the Monastic Interreligious Dialogue. Perhaps the biggest testament to Fr. Keating's dedication to reviving Christian contemplative practices is his choice to live a busy, public life instead of the quiet, monastic life for which he entered the monastery. Fr. Keating's life is lived in the service of sharing the gifts God gave him with others. Publications:
