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by Rev. Peter Traben Haas   

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Misperception #3: Centering Prayer is dangerous.    

Centering Prayer is not dangerous, but it can be disruptive. Centering Prayer is disruptive to the parts of us that wish to resist God’s love and grace. These parts, psychologically speaking, might be called the unconscious programs for happiness that co-opt the ego and personality for their own, self-directed purposes. God in Christ wishes to heal and transform us and this often requires, what Dallas Willard calls, a “renovation of the heart.”   

In the language of St. Paul, Centering Prayer is a practice that helps us daily “die to self” (Romans 6.6-8) and “put on the mind of Christ” (Philippians 2.5).” Such intentions will ultimately be disruptive to the hidden and subtle dimensions of our self that do not acknowledge God as God. Such dimensions are often not detected in the normal light of our day-to-day activity because they remain embedded in the unconscious. One of the side effects of the practice of Centering Prayer is that such dimensions are revealed in the healing light of God’s love, dynamics that are purged, unloaded and reintegrated into our being by the presence and praxis of the Holy Spirit in the silence. Can God do this without Centering Prayer? Of course, but in our era of psychological awareness and intensified lifestyles, God has blessed us with a renewal of the contemplative prayer practices that have been a part of the Christian tradition from its earliest beginnings. For example, St. Basil taught of the need for a continual mindfulness of God, remembering God in the silence of the heart. Basis represents just one morsel from an expansive and diverse tradition (For a great overview, read Tomas Spidlik, Prayer: Spirituality of the Christian East).   

While in Christ we are freed to flourish into the fullness of our God intended destiny as “co-heirs with Christ” (Romans 8.17) and “participants of the divine nature” (2 Peter 1.4), in Centering Prayer God continues the process.  God is uses Centering Prayer as one way for us to experience all the riches of Christ so “to be renewed in the spirit of our minds, and to clothe ourselves with the new self, created according to the likeness of God in true righteousness and holiness” (Ephesians 4.23-24). If scripture and sacrament are the hands of sanctification, then silent prayer practices (such as Centering Prayer) are at least its servant feet, bearing us along step by step on our spiritual journey.   

When considering the misperception that Centering Prayer is dangerous, it’s also important to remember that Christianity is dangerous. Recall what happened to Jesus. Or Stephen. Or countless saints in the communion of faith.  So, why might some think that Centering Prayer is dangerous? Why would some be fearful of this beautiful spiritual practice?   

First, there is a fear that in the process of Centering Prayer we might “open our minds up” to harmful spiritual entities/energies. In my experience, I don’t need any help with this. There are already enough harmful, unloving, critical, judgmental, depressive, etc.,  thoughts in me. I begin to increasingly recognize this during the silence of Centering Prayer. Thus, it is perfectly normal to begin to be uncomfortable with the random and sometimes unbelievable thoughts that rise up in the silence. Most likely, these are not coming from a harmful spirit outside of you, but from the unconscious, or what St. Paul called “the flesh.” That the thoughts are occurring does not make you bad. It makes you human. Thoughts are an invitation to rest with God and recognize that you don’t know yourself as thoroughly as you thought, and that you are not in control either!   

Second, when we begin to observe the clatter of thoughts occurring in us, from time to time, we might think we are hearing voices, suggestions, and inner promptings. The best thing to do is to ignore them and gently return to the sacred word. Even if the thoughts are of a beautiful spiritual quality, the purpose of Centering Prayer is not to think about them; you can do that another time. If they are important God will remind you of them when you are finished praying. In my experience, most of the time, I end up forgetting about them; especially the thoughts that at the time seemed to be great insights. On other occasions, the impression remained after the prayer time and bore spiritual fruit.   

Sometimes our thoughts are disturbing or of a negative nature. When this occurs, simply return to the sacred word and to your intention to consent to God. During these times, there may also be various physical or emotional feelings and manifestations, such as tears, tensions or uneasiness. In these moments, please know that there is nowhere safer than in the stillness and silence with God. The name of Jesus Christ is always your shield in the silence. Remember, you are guarded by the power of Grace through baptism, sacrament and, most of all, in your union with Christ by the Spirit through faith. Do not fear, in Christ nothing can separate you from the love of God – including the silence or any experiences in that silence, even if they are of a spiritual, emotional or disturbing nature. If something is disturbing you it is probably rising up from your unconscious because you need to be freed from it. In that case, simply know that the light of Christ shines in the darkness and brings freedom. As you observe that which disturbs, give it to God by simply returning in faith to the sacred word, letting God take care of the rest. Cry if you need to. Feel if you need to. Be with it; be still and know that God is the God who is here with you.   

Third, Centering Prayer can lead us to encounter difficult periods on the spiritual journey. Historically, these periods are called the time of “purgation,” or the spiritual nights of the soul and senses. These have been classically described in the writings of St. John of the Cross, and do not need to be repeated here. The point of reminding us of this fact is that one should not interpret the process of interior purgation, transformation, sanctification or healing as dangerous, despite their difficulties. They are disruptive, yet integral to our spiritual growth and meant to further raise us up into the life of Christ (Romans 6.6-14).   

Fourth, we do live in a spiritual world and prayer is the language of that world. Centering Prayer is a practice that speaks the language of silence. It is only one form of prayer on the spectrum of prayer. It is no more dangerous than any other kind of prayer. Keep in mind, prayer is not limited to Christians. Most of the world’s religions have some sort of prayer modality, including a meditative, silent expression. Prayer is one of the most universal and common manifestations of our humanity. It is not the modality of prayer that is dangerous, rather the intention and attention of that prayer. Why we are praying and to whom we are praying are key questions to address in any discussion on prayer. In the case of Centering Prayer, we pray to the Triune, Creator God and Abba of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ because we wish to consent further to God’s loving presence and action in our lives to the praise of God’s holy name. Generally speaking, hearing voices or seeing images on the screen of the mind’s imagination are of no concern. I say “generally” because there are exceptions to the rule, such as in the case of a diagnosable mental illness or a chemically induced altered state of reality.   

In summary, children, youth and adults who are taught the practice of Centering Prayer should be assured that they are most safe in the silence with God. One reason this is so is because only God’s Spirit searches the depth of our being and knows us beyond our own knowing when we are not thinking. The demons can only know what we are thinking. They cannot know what we are not thinking in the silence. Under the shield of the name of Jesus Christ, rest in the deep silence with God, with the certainty that all things work together to the good for those who love the Lord Jesus Christ, our good shepherd who calls us by name, in spoken word and silence.