2020/09/26

Quaker Theology Group | Manifesting GOD By Thomas Keating

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Elliott Robertson

2 h  ·

I'm interspiritual. And I'm always interested in going deep into the mysticis within each religion. Thomas Keating goes deep. And my sense is that George Fox and Keating understand Divinity is very similar ways. Do you think so? If you see differences, I'm interested.



Manifesting  GOD

By Thomas Keating

CHAPTER Eight

The Divine Indwelling

Pp. 54



The skillful expression of our dance with Divine Love is rooted in the practice of Contemplative Prayer.

Contemplative Prayer in turn is rooted in the grace of Baptism.  It is the growth of the faith received in Baptism.  The doctrine of the Divine Indwelling affirms that the Trinity (Father, Son and Holy Spirit) is present in us all the time – morning, noon, and night – and present in everywhere else in the universe in virtue of the fact that other things exist.  Wherever anything is, God who is “Is-ness” must be present; otherwise, there is nothing to hold any particular expression of “Is-ness” in existence.



Through the practice of Contemplative Prayer, faith keeps growing.  The sense of the divine presence becomes a kind of second nature or fourth dimension to the time/space continuum.  It also manifests itself in everyone else and in every creature. What is important about us is not us, therefore, but the divine presence in us; in other words, God in us relating to God in everything else. 





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Manifesting God: Keating, Thomas: 9781590560853: Amazon.com: Books

Manifesting God Paperback – April 1, 2005
by Thomas Keating  (Author)
4.7 out of 5 stars    52 ratings
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Manifesting God is about the principles of contemplative prayer―the retreat into the "inner room" mentioned by Jesus in Matthew 6:6, where the individual is able to meet God. In the inner room, the silent space in which God unloads the burdens and false selves that govern our individuality and our daily lives, God acts as a divine therapist, healing us and forcing us to recognize how many barriers we put up between ourselves and an authentic relationship with God. The process whereby this happens is the foundation of centering prayer―a technique of prayer that Keating and other contemporary mystics have revived out of the ancient mystical traditions of the Desert Fathers and the medieval mystics.

Abbot Keating explores in this book what it means to enter the inner room and the transformation that takes place there. It explains the guidelines of centering prayer and offers advice on how to develop the relationship more deeply.

Editorial Reviews
About the Author
Thomas Keating is a founding member and the spiritual guide of Contemplative Outreach. 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. He is the author of many books, including Open Mind, Open Heart; Fruits and Gifts of the Spirit; Manifesting God; and Invitation to Love. He lives at St. Benedict’s Monastery, Snowmass, Colorado.
Product details
Item Weight : 6.2 ounces
Paperback : 144 pages
ISBN-10 : 159056085X
ISBN-13 : 978-1590560853
Product Dimensions : 5 x 0.5 x 8 inches
Publisher : Lantern Publishing & Media (April 1, 2005)
Language: : English
Best Sellers Rank: #872,259 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
#1,144 in Ritual Religious Practices
#1,523 in Spiritual Meditations (Books)
#2,058 in Prayer (Books)
Customer Reviews: 4.7 out of 5 stars    52 ratings
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Biography
Thomas Keating, founder of the centering prayer movement, is an author, teacher, and monk who has worked for many years to foster understanding among the world's religions. A member of the Cistercian Order in the Benedictine tradition, Father Keating has served at monasteries in Colorado and Massachusetts. He currently directs retreats in the practice of Centering Prayer, a cornerstone of contemporary Christian contemplative practice. He is the author of the best-selling Open Mind, Open Heart, Fruits and Gifts of the Spirit, St. Therese of Lisieux, Manifesting God, and The Transformation of Suffering, Divine Therapy and Addiction, among many other books. He lives at St. Benedict's Monastery in Snowmass, Colorado.

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Rich Lewis
5.0 out of 5 stars What happens in our inner room?
Reviewed in the United States on August 19, 2018
Verified Purchase
I have been a practitioner of centering prayer for just over 4 years. Let me share 5 key insights that I gained as I read this wonderful book.

Present Moment

“Part of the discipline of Centering Prayer is that, at least during the time of our prayer, we stay in the present moment.”

Centering Prayer teaches us to be present to life. We enjoy our meals and our discussion with friends, family or co workers. We are present and fully focused on our daily tasks. We actually listen to the person who talks to us and not plan what we will say next.

We watch and listen to our child show us how proud they are when they ride a bike for the first time. We notice when someone needs help and we stop what we do to assist them. We read a book or watch a movie, not plan our day or ruminate on the past.

We drink a cup of coffee on our deck and look out at the trees and blue sky. We feel the ground on the base of our feet as we stroll through the neighborhood, smell the barbecue aromas from the neighbors’ grills, look at the new shrubs and flowers in the neighbor’s front beds or listen to the children laugh and play. To be present is a wonderful gift. Don’t let it pass by you unnoticed!

God As Abba

“This is one of the precious gifts that the discipline of Contemplative Prayer communicates. It transmits Christ’s experience of God as Abba. The Aramaic word Abba roughly means “daddy”—an affectionate and intimate term of endearment that a child invents for a tenderly loving father.”

My Centering Prayer practice is a silent sit with God who unconditionally loves me. It is a love that I will spend a life time to grasp and understand its great depths and riches. Twice a day I sit silently with God who simply wishes to refresh and rejuvenate me to the depths of my innermost soul.

It is like a reverse prayer. No words are exchanged. I am silently prayed in by God. Yes, God prays in me, silently beyond words, thoughts and emotions.

Attachment

“Attachment to our roles in life hinders us actually fulfilling them.”

It is when we let go that we open ourselves to fulfillment. What? Yes you heard that right! We need to let go of our preconceived notions of how things aught to be. When we open to the myriad of possibilities that is when true fulfillment begins. We become more open to a new path that God wishes to journey upon with us.

True Self

“The tyranny of over-identification with what is going on at the surface of our awareness prevents us from experiencing the intuitive level that of its very nature tends to be more peaceful, calm, and open to the presence and guidance of the Divine Indwelling.”

Silent prayer is powerful! We connect to ourselves at a deep level. Deep within us is our true self: the person God intends us to be. A daily silent prayer practice connects us to our true self. A daily silent prayer practice helps us remove the many masks we wear: our false selves.

Our false self is who we think we need to be as told by family, friends, other people, our culture, our societies or our places of employment. We arise from our silent sit ready to let the world see our true self. Our silent sit is the place from which our true self spawns. That is why we return each day to our silent sits.

Inner Room

“Two things take place in the inner room. The first is the affirmation of our basic goodness; the second is the purification of the unconscious.”

God loves me. The deeper my interior silence and rest during centering prayer the greater becomes my ability to affirm my basic goodness. I am made in the image of God. God is within me. I come from original blessing. I think we often forget this or do not believe it but it is true.

The purification of the unconsciousness is what Keating refers to as “unloading”. Our repressed emotional material of a lifetime that has been stored in the body is slowly evacuated. All of this negative material has influenced our behavior and decisions.

“God’s desire to heal the depths of our unconscious motivation that is the chief obstacle to divine love.” As I continue to sit in the silence of centering prayer, I am healed and God will rush in to fill the space left empty by the evacuation of my emotional baggage. That is exciting!

I encourage you to read Manifesting God by Thomas Keating. This was my third read of this wonderful book. I am sure I will continue to peek back into this powerful book.

Rich Lewis
SilenceTeaches.com
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Antony Dayal
5.0 out of 5 stars Closer to God
Reviewed in the United States on June 16, 2019
Verified Purchase
Thomas Keating has a highly readable way of writing. The book is aimed at contemplative prayer. Something that has been lost to us in the west for sometime. He gives a history of this type of prayer then easy steps for you to start using it in your own life and practice.

Thomas Keating sadly recently passed away. All thoughts and love with you Thomas.
One person found this helpful
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Gratia Lee
5.0 out of 5 stars No other book like this
Reviewed in the United States on August 15, 2019
Verified Purchase
It speaks to my heart, so I just know that he is telling the truth. It resets my mind set up, and everything in my life is made sense in a way. Every knots that is weaved in my lfe seems to fade away. Reading this book itself is a healing process. I strongly recommend this book to anyone who wants to reach out to Catholic beliefs.
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Maya
5.0 out of 5 stars A Master Present-Day Contempletive
Reviewed in the United States on October 11, 2014
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Thomas Keating is a wise man; any of his books are worth reading. He gets to truth, love, even intimacy with God. He uses scripture. He uses great analogies, sometimes with dry humor to make his point. He's a master who inspires us to slow down for just a few minutes a day to be with he/she who lives within us. This small book is heavy with inspiration, light on words.
4 people found this helpful
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Sarah R. W.
5.0 out of 5 stars Life Changing
Reviewed in the United States on April 5, 2019
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Thomas Keatings views of the gospel and what it means to have intimacy with God have been life changing and this book puts complicated ideas in accessible language. I have to keep extra copies because I recommend it to anyone and everyone looking to experience God on a deeply personal level.
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5.0 out of 5 stars Father Keating is Amazing!
Reviewed in the United States on September 4, 2019
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Father Keating is amazing at getting right to the heart of the matter and therefore into our hearts too. His works are life-changing and you will enjoy this book so very much. You will want to read it over and over again!
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James Cremin, Jr.
5.0 out of 5 stars Finding GOD Within
Reviewed in the United States on March 5, 2006
Verified Purchase
Thomas Keating's Mainfesting God became a "Lectio Divina" for me. It was being at prayer. As he so beautifully writes, "We believe that God is already present. Hence, there is no place to go to find him and no need to run away from ourselves."

Keating helps with the translation of the word Jesus uses for Father, ABBA, meaning "daddy". That helped confirm what has always been in my heart, God loves me and everyone UNCONDITIONALLY. All we have to do is sit in silence to hear his voice.
36 people found this helpful
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5.0 out of 5 stars Want God? Read this!
Reviewed in the United States on June 28, 2018
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Revelatory for those of us who want to experience God. Keating breaks down the how and the why of "be still and know that I am God" in practical ways, and brilliantly shows the psychological benefits of centering prayer.
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Maria
5.0 out of 5 stars BRILLIANT
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on March 6, 2020
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BRILLIANT
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Marianne
5.0 out of 5 stars An inspiring book.
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on July 1, 2016
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Thomas Keating is an inspired writer of spiritual books and always a joy to read.
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LUCIA VITO
4.0 out of 5 stars SOUL ENRICHING
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on September 23, 2017
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as much as expected in physical presentation as priced.tis the content that counts, no doubt rev keating is admired for his spiritual joiurney experience sharing.
thank you for prompt serivce.
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Raymondo
5.0 out of 5 stars A Theological book
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on March 11, 2013
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This book is a good read for all Christians who wants to think about meditation. More importantly it helped me to think about how and when I pray.
4 people found this helpful
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Chris
5.0 out of 5 stars Five Stars
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on June 11, 2015
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Profound and filled with Spirit
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 4.44  ·   Rating details ·  137 ratings  ·  13 reviews
Manifesting God is about the principles of contemplative prayer—the retreat into the "inner room" mentioned by Jesus in Matthew 6:6, where the individual is able to meet God. In the inner room, the silent space in which God unloads the burdens and false selves that govern our individuality and our daily lives, God acts as a divine therapist, healing us and forcing us to recognize how many barriers we put up between ourselves and an authentic relationship with God. The process whereby this happens is the foundation of centering prayer—a technique of prayer that Keating and other contemporary mystics have revived out of the ancient mystical traditions of the Desert Fathers and the medieval mystics.
Abbot Keating explores in this book what it means to enter the inner room and the transformation that takes place there. It explains the guidelines of centering prayer and offers advice on how to develop the relationship more deeply. (less)
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Published October 1st 2005 by Lantern Publishing Media (first published 2005)
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ISBN159056085X (ISBN13: 9781590560853)
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Sean
Dec 03, 2017Sean rated it really liked it
Shelves: theology, prayer
I was a bit reluctant to read it, since the term "centering prayer" leaves a bit of a taste in my mouth, but I am very glad I opened this book. It is actually one of the better presentations of what the Good News is all about. I want to give a copy to all my friends, Christian or otherwise. Keating understands the mind-blowing bigness of God's mercy.
flag1 like · Like  · comment · see review
Rich Lewis
Aug 19, 2018Rich Lewis rated it really liked it
I have been a practitioner of centering prayer for just over 4 years. Let me share 5 key insights that I gained as I read this wonderful book.

Present Moment

“Part of the discipline of Centering Prayer is that, at least during the time of our prayer, we stay in the present moment.”

Centering Prayer teaches us to be present to life. We enjoy our meals and our discussion with friends, family or co workers. We are present and fully focused on our daily tasks. We actually listen to the person who talks to us and not plan what we will say next.

We watch and listen to our child show us how proud they are when they ride a bike for the first time. We notice when someone needs help and we stop what we do to assist them. We read a book or watch a movie, not plan our day or ruminate on the past.

We drink a cup of coffee on our deck and look out at the trees and blue sky. We feel the ground on the base of our feet as we stroll through the neighborhood, smell the barbecue aromas from the neighbors’ grills, look at the new shrubs and flowers in the neighbor’s front beds or listen to the children laugh and play. To be present is a wonderful gift. Don’t let it pass by you unnoticed!

God As Abba

“This is one of the precious gifts that the discipline of Contemplative Prayer communicates. It transmits Christ’s experience of God as Abba. The Aramaic word Abba roughly means “daddy”—an affectionate and intimate term of endearment that a child invents for a tenderly loving father.”

My Centering Prayer practice is a silent sit with God who unconditionally loves me. It is a love that I will spend a life time to grasp and understand its great depths and riches. Twice a day I sit silently with God who simply wishes to refresh and rejuvenate me to the depths of my innermost soul.

It is like a reverse prayer. No words are exchanged. I am silently prayed in by God. Yes, God prays in me, silently beyond words, thoughts and emotions.

Attachment

“Attachment to our roles in life hinders us actually fulfilling them.”

It is when we let go that we open ourselves to fulfillment. What? Yes you heard that right! We need to let go of our preconceived notions of how things aught to be. When we open to the myriad of possibilities that is when true fulfillment begins. We become more open to a new path that God wishes to journey upon with us.

True Self

“The tyranny of over-identification with what is going on at the surface of our awareness prevents us from experiencing the intuitive level that of its very nature tends to be more peaceful, calm, and open to the presence and guidance of the Divine Indwelling.”

Silent prayer is powerful! We connect to ourselves at a deep level. Deep within us is our true self: the person God intends us to be. A daily silent prayer practice connects us to our true self. A daily silent prayer practice helps us remove the many masks we wear: our false selves.

Our false self is who we think we need to be as told by family, friends, other people, our culture, our societies or our places of employment. We arise from our silent sit ready to let the world see our true self. Our silent sit is the place from which our true self spawns. That is why we return each day to our silent sits.

Inner Room

“Two things take place in the inner room. The first is the affirmation of our basic goodness; the second is the purification of the unconscious.”

God loves me. The deeper my interior silence and rest during centering prayer the greater becomes my ability to affirm my basic goodness. I am made in the image of God. God is within me. I come from original blessing. I think we often forget this or do not believe it but it is true.

The purification of the unconsciousness is what Keating refers to as “unloading”. Our repressed emotional material of a lifetime that has been stored in the body is slowly evacuated. All of this negative material has influenced our behavior and decisions.

“God’s desire to heal the depths of our unconscious motivation that is the chief obstacle to divine love.” As I continue to sit in the silence of centering prayer, I am healed and God will rush in to fill the space left empty by the evacuation of my emotional baggage. That is exciting!

I encourage you to read Manifesting God by Thomas Keating. This was my third read of this wonderful book. I am sure I will continue to peek back into this powerful book.

Rich Lewis
www.SilenceTeaches.com (less)
flagLike  · comment · see review
Antony Dayal
Jun 16, 2019Antony Dayal rated it it was amazing  ·  review of another edition
Closer to God

Thomas Keating has a highly readable way of writing. The book is aimed at contemplative prayer. Something that has been lost to us in the west for sometime. He gives a history of this type of prayer then easy steps for you to start using it in your own life and practice.

Thomas Keating sadly recently passed away. All thoughts and love with you Thomas.
flagLike  · comment · see review
Johnny Ortiz
Mar 28, 2019Johnny Ortiz rated it it was amazing  ·  review of another edition
After 43 years of searching for that intimate relationship and oneness with God, I have finally found the way to find that fullness of grace and rest .
flagLike  · comment · see review
Peter
Jan 01, 2020Peter rated it it was amazing
Shelves: spirituality, 2020
Thomas Keating, to me, is unsurpassed in leading one to a deeper union with God. It is challenging and gentle at the same time.
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Wylie
Jun 12, 2020Wylie rated it it was amazing
The second Keating book of six I’m going through on the Contemplative life. This one is full of hope and clear suggestions to deepen ones practice
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Kindra
Sep 15, 2012Kindra rated it really liked it
Shelves: christian-motivational
Gives a great introduction to contemplative prayer in historical, practical, and theological terms. Got to be fairly repetitive by the end, but I supposed I do remember a lot of it as a result of that. Not amazing-I prefer Basking in His Presence-but an excellent foundation for the practice.

I would recommend it to someone generally interested in contemplative prayer and what it's about, not looking for deeper applications and experiences of it.
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T R
Nov 29, 2009T R rated it liked it
Shelves: just-curious
This would my first time to read a book written by a modern day monk. Thomas Keating had been actively teaching people the value of contemplative prayer which was started by the desert Christians in the 4th century AD. This method of contemplation was practiced even before the more formalized religion had emerged.
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Ron Willoughby
Aug 11, 2012Ron Willoughby rated it it was amazing
Shelves: spiritual-formation
Excellent book. Classic Keating. Great exegesis and hermeneutic in the early chapters. As always, helpful, practical instruction for Contemplative prayer. Especially liked the Divine Therapist metaphor and the elaboration of it.

Recommend not plowing through it, but taking your time and giving space for engagement.
flagLike  · comment · see review
Tricia Culp
Sep 14, 2016Tricia Culp rated it really liked it
The title sounds very "woo-woo" but this is simply a book on the contemplative prayer tradition. I found it very helpful. I would recommend it to anyone who is interested in Christian teachings on meditation.