The Better Part
Stages of Contemplative Living
Published on 15. July 2007
Book
Paperback/Softback
128 pages
978-0-8264-2820-2 (ISBN)
Description
The talks on which this book was based were given at the John Main Seminar in 1998, the annual international event of the World Community for Christian Meditaion. Previous presenters have included the Dalai Lama, Jean Vanier, Bede Griffi ths, and William Johnston. Father Keating's enlightening commentary on the contemplative meaning of the gospel, particularly the story of the siblings from Bethany, Martha, Mary, and Lazarus, fi ts into the great monstic tradition of Christian teaching. A monk refl ects on Scripture in the light of experience. He or she utters a word that startles his listeners into realizing that tradition is not a matter of secondhand experience but the living and human self-transmission of Christ to his disciples.
Reviews / Votes
"'The Better Part is a modest volume in size but capacious in its wisdom and common (spiritual) sense. [...] It would be wonderful for someone to interview Keating at length and publish the results as a book. His capacity to say profound things in a relatively brief space is pure gift. The final 27 pages of Q&A are worth the price of the book. I wished only for more.' Lawrence S. Cunningham, Commonweal, November 9, 2001 'Any meditator using any method of wordless, imageless prayer will find this book a rich source of wisdom and very practical advice.' Betty Fricke, Monos, 2001 'The "better part," of course, is that chosen by the introspective Mary of Bethany in the New Testament story, whose experience has long been taken by the contemplative religious. Father Keating, leader of the Centering Prayer movement, understands the contemplative and prayerful life as a form of participation in the suffering, death, and resurrection of Jesus, and his book is both a graceful description of that life and a how-to. For most collections.' Library Journal"More details
Language
English
Place of publication
London
United Kingdom
Publishing group
Bloomsbury Publishing PLC
Product notice
Paperback (trade)
Unsewn / adhesive bound
Dimensions
Height: 197 mm
Width: 134 mm
Thickness: 10 mm
Weight
145 gr
ISBN-13
978-0-8264-2820-2 (9780826428202)
Copyright in bibliographic data and cover images is held by Nielsen Book Services Limited or by the publishers or by their respective licensors: all rights reserved.
Schweitzer Classification
Other editions
Additional editions
E-Book
01/2023
1st Edition
Bloomsbury Continuum
€13.99
Available for download
E-Book
01/2023
1st Edition
Bloomsbury Continuum
€13.99
Available for download
Person
Father Thomas Keating is known throughout the world as an exponent, teacher, and writer on contemplative prayer. A Cistercian (Trappist) monk of St. Benedict's Monastery, Snowmass, Colorado, he is a founder of the Centering Prayer Movement and of Contemplative Outreach. He is the author of numerous books, particularly of the trilogy Open Mind, Open Heart; Invitation to Love; and The Mystery of Christ. Among his most recent books is The Daily Reader for Contemplative Living, compiled by S. Stephanie Iachetta.
Content
1. The Household of Bethany; 2. Lectio Divina; 3. The Eucharist; 4. The Contemplative Dimension of the Gospel; 5. The Psychological Experience of Centering Prayer; 6. Questions and Answers; 7. A Look at the Future.