Practitioners of Centering Prayer are known for the great enthusiasm they bring to the practice of this ancient discipline. Centering Prayer and Inner Awakening is a complete guidebook for all who wish to know the practice of Centering Prayer. Cynthia Bourgeault goes further than offering an introduction, however. She examines how the practice is related to the classic tradition of Christian contemplation, looks at the distinct nuances of its method, and explores its revolutionary potential to transform Christian life. The book encourages dialogue between Centering Prayer enthusiasts and those classic institutions of Christian nurture--churches, seminaries, and schools of theology--that have yet to accept real ownership of the practice and its potential. "[Bourgeault's] focus in this book is the contribution she perceives that Centering Prayer can make to the renewal and appropriate adaptation of the Christian contemplative heritage to the circumstances of our time...My special and heartfelt thanks to Cynthia for her monumental contribution to the better understanding of the Centering Prayer practice..." --from the foreword by Thomas Keating