Is centering prayer part of the Carmelite tradition?

[His_Servant_1]

I am a member of the secular Discalced Carmelites and our formation director gave us copies of an article by Ernest Larkin, O. Carm., that basically says that centering prayer as taught by Fr. Thomas Keating “relate positively to the Carmelite tradition.” I have found other articles to provide to our formation director. Do you have any other suggestions?

 

[Michelle_Arnold]

Yes. I recommend politely and gently suggesting that your group focus on the writings of St. Teresa of Avila, co-founder of the Discalced Carmelites, in preparation for the 500th anniversary of her birth that will be celebrated in 2015. As for centering prayer, no, it is not a Carmelite method of prayer. It is a non-Christian Easternesque technique that is intended to empty a person of all thought as preparation for contemplation. That some Christians have tried to adapt it for use as a Christian spirituality is an unfortunate misunderstanding of the nature of Christian prayer. Generally speaking, non-Christian Eastern prayer is focused on the self. Christian prayer is interpersonal (between persons). And Christian spirituality positively affirms that contemplation is a gift given by God at his own initiative; it cannot be attained through human technique.