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Renew your Life in God through a fresh approach to prayer & Meditation

CONTEMPLATIVE

prayer Summit

Online Summit

September 23 - 24, 2023

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Join the Contemplative Prayer Summit, dedicated to deepening your spiritual practice. Unite with others in exploring the interplay of prayer and meditation, as we embark on a shared journey of spiritual growth and personal discovery.

Join us as we explore:

Lessons from spiritual teachers who offer fresh perspectives on prayer & contemplation

The lives and teachings of people like Thomas Merton, Ilia Delio, Thich Nhat Hanh and more

The intersection of activism & the spiritual life through engaged contemplation

Practical ways of enhancing your daily prayer and meditation practice

How to weave mindfulness into your everyday life, cultivating peace & resilience amidst life's challenges

Prayer from an interspiritual approach with contemplative teachers from variious world traditions, embracing the shared wisdom of different contemplative practices

The body's sacred role in your contemplative life & practice

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Get a fresh perspective on contemplative prayer & the spiritual journey.

Keynote


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Author, Teacher of Nonduality, Retreat Leader

Rupert Spira

Nonduality & the Heart of Prayer

The belief that we are a separate person, a tiny part of a vast world, leads us to project the idea of God beyond the world, at an infinite distance from ourself.

As this person, we enter into a devotional relationship with God; we surrender to God. This is the highest state of the individual, placing it in the right relationship to the whole. However, when the individual is divested of all the qualities that it derives from the content of experience, it stands revealed as infinite being, God’s being, the only being there is. As such, the individual does not pray; it is dissolved in prayer.

This event is live and includes

real-time interaction with our presenters!


SCHEDULE OF EVENTS

Presentation Descriptions Further Down Page

*Times below in Eastern Time.

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Each day includes 3 contemplative practice sessions

Come Live - or - Watch the Recordings

You Won't Miss a Thing!

*ALL PRESENTATIONS ARE RECORDED*

An Interspiritual Approach

Rooted in the Christian Contemplative Tradition, this event offers an interspiritual approach to prayer!

Fr. Thomas Keating said, "God is too big to be contained in one religion.” This summit offers a fresh approach to prayer & contemplation as we learn from teachers from these contemplative traditions:

The Christian Contemplative Tradition

Advaita Vedanta

Buddhism

Sufism

Explore life with God through a truly universal approach, getting to the very heart of contemplation.

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2

Days

8

Contemplative Teachings

6

Contemplative Practice Sessions

Testimonials

from past summits

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Robert Currie

The 2022 Centering Prayer Summit was a gift. It increased my knowledge about centering prayer and offered new insights into our practice. The variety of speakers and their topics generated curiosity and enthusiasm. The impact of this will reverberate out to my personal practice, to my own centering prayer group, to the centering prayer group I help co-facilitate in a local prison, and out into the small corner of the world where I live. I feel deeply grateful for all and to all.

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Annelle Tanner

As a "newbie" to Centering Prayer, this summit GREATLY kindled my desire to delve deeper into the practice. AND I learned many ways to do that!! The speakers were authentic and inspirational and encouraging. I appreciate the availability of recordings of all sessions; I foresee spending time exploring more deeply many of the topics - actually ALL of the topics- discussed. THANK YOU! THANK YOU! THANK YOU!!

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Brian Russell

I found the Centering Prayer Summit to be both informative and transformational. I enjoyed learning from both long established contemplative teachers as well as new voices. All of the speakers were well prepared and helpful. Two of the sessions: Mary Dwyer's and Rev. Nhiên's in particular impacted me personally as they spoke into areas in which I needed to open myself to even more growth in grace. I also benefited from the actual group centering prayer sessions. It was a blessing knowing I was sitting in silence along with several hundred other like-minded souls.

Author of, Centering Prayer: Sitting Quietly in God's Presence Can Change Your Life

Join this 2-day Virtual Summit

to Learn and Practice with

Leading Contemplative Teachers.

Presentation Descriptions


Colleen Mae

James Woods

Author; Doctor of Ministry from SMU’s Perkins School of Theology

“This-ness”: The Franciscan Spirituality of John Duns Scotus and Ilia Delio

This segment features two Franciscans separated by eight centuries: the medieval John Duns Scotus and the contemporary scientist-turned-religious Ilia Delio, OSF. Participants will explore this spirituality in three movements: by encountering the Scotist concepts of univocity of ‘being’ and haecceitas; via appreciating the extension of these principles in Delio’s notions of “catholicity” and “incarnation;” and through engaging in a brief mindfulness practice that holds unity and multiplicity in tension.


Jana Rentzel

Ruben Habito

Meditation Teacher, Author, Professor

Be Still and Know: YOU ARE BELOVED!

This presentation will offer practical guidelines for taking a posture conducive to stillness, breathing with awareness, and letting the heart come home to its innermost core in the HERE and NOW, allowing one to listen in the depths of stillness. In that stillness, our heart may be opened to an infinite and boundless realm of Unconditional Love.


Jana Rentzel

Cassidy Hall

Filmmaker, Podcaster, Speaker

Queering Contemplation: Exploring Thomas Merton & Contemplation through a Queer Lens

Beginning with sharing her award-winning short film Day of a Stranger (30 min), featuring the voice of Thomas Merton from his hermitage space, Cassidy will take us on a journey to queer the contemplative tradition––and see the ways its innate queerness has existed for time immemorial. Her exploration will include notes on queering the deserts of our lives to queering the liminal spaces, which will be featured in her forthcoming book, Queering Contemplation: Finding Queerness in the Roots and Future of Contemplative Spirituality.


Jana Rentzel

Matthew Wright

Episcopal Priest, Student of Mevlevi Sufi Path

The Way of Remembrance: Sufi Practices to Awaken the Heart

Sufi teaching tells us that the awakened human heart is, in fact, an organ of spiritual perception, an "eye" by which we can see and increasingly live from Oneness, finding our balanced place in the Wholeness of things. Together we will explore Islamic Sufi cosmology and practices, drawing on the universal wisdom of Sufi saints such as Rumi, Rabia, and Ibn Arabi.


David Frenette

Margaret benefiel

Author, Executive Director at the Shalem Institute

Resilience for Activists

Do you yearn for deep groundedness so that you can persevere in your work for justice with resilience and joy?  This seminar will help you find deep springs of life-giving water to keep your thirsty soul thriving and to help you avoid burnout.


Nhien Voung

Heather Ruce

Spiritual Director, Retreat Leader

This Sacred Body: The Body’s Essential Role in Contemplative Prayer

Our Contemplative Prayer and encounter with the Holy One can only take place in our incarnate whole being. We are not separate from our bodies, thus Contemplative Prayer must include them along with our thoughts and feelings. Within all Wisdom and Contemplative Traditions, people have known this to be true and still our bodies have been viewed as leading us astray from our spiritual path. Our bodies want to be included in our spirituality, through gesture, posture, and the wisdom of sensation, they understand things that our mind and emotion cannot. Join me in exploring what it looks like to listen to our bodies intelligence and allow them to bring their offering, reclaiming what Wisdom Traditions have known for thousands of years.


Jana Rentzel

Kaira Jewel Lingo

Author, Dharma Teacher

For a Future to be Possible: Lessons in Engaged Contemplation from Thich Nhat Hanh

Learn more about the Zen Master Thich Nhat Hanh’s powerful teachings on Engaged Contemplation through the experiences of a devoted student, who lived and practiced with him for 15 years as a nun, Kaira Jewel Lingo. In this interactive presentation, Kaira Jewel will share personal stories of practicing Zen teachings of personal and collective transformation in her own life and how she and many others learned to touch true happiness and heal suffering because of them. We will also practice Touching the Earth, the Plum Village contemplative practice for connecting with our ancestors and all of life in order to touch our interdependence and interbeing, and have time for questions and conversation.


David Frenette

Rupert Spira

Author, Nondual Teacher

Nonduality & the Heart of Prayer

The belief that we are a separate person, a tiny part of a vast world, leads us to project the idea of God beyond the world, at an infinite distance from ourself. As this person, we enter into a devotional relationship with God; we surrender to God. This is the highest state of the individual, placing it in the right relationship to the whole. However, when the individual is divested of all the qualities that it derives from the content of experience, it stands revealed as infinite being, God’s being, the only being there is. As such, the individual does not pray; it is dissolved in prayer.

Hosted By

Closer Than Breath


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Keith Kristich

Founder of Closer Than Breath

Jana Rentzel

Jana Rentzel

Director of Contemplative Experience

Learn from Contemplative Teachers &

Practice with a Global Community!

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How it Works:

1. Register below

2. Join live on September 23 and 24, 2023

3. Watch recordings when released after the event!

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Keynote by Rupert Spira

Sunday, September 24th, 2:00-3:30PM ET.

Nonduality & the Heart of Prayer

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Rupert Spira came across the poetry of Rumi at the age of fifteen, in 1975, and soon after this met his first teacher, Dr. Francis Roles, at Colet House in London. Dr. Roles was himself a student of Shantananda Saraswati, the Shankaracharya of the North of India.

Under his guidance Rupert learnt mantra meditation and was introduced to the classical system of Advaita, or non-duality, which formed the foundation of his interest and practice for the next twenty-five years. At the same time he also learnt the Mevlevi Turning, a sacred Sufi dance of movement, prayer and meditation.

Bonuses

As a gift for joining the Summit, you're welcome to join two upcoming events, live or recorded.

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Explore contemplation as a "return to the original religious experience," held in common by all seekers of Truth. We'll explore the practice of Centering Prayer as a path to the Ground of Being.

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Join live or watch the recording of Dr. Lerita Coleman Brown as she explores the power of Silence, Stillness, and Solitude through the teachings of the Prophetic-Mystic-Preacher, Dr. Howard Thurman.

Ready to register?

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At Closer Than Breath we firmly believe that:

*There should be no financial barrier to spiritual formation.*

Scholarships are Available

To inquire about scholarships, just email

events@closerthanbreath.com

FAQ

What if I can’t attend the whole Summit?

That's completely fine. We actually suggest you DO NOT stare at your screen all day long! All workshops are recorded and shared with those who register for the event. You will have lifetime access to the talks!

What if I don't have the resources to pay?

No big deal- we are avid believers that *there should be no financial barrier to spiritual formation.* Simply email events@closerthanbreath.com with the subject line "scholarship" and we'll be in touch!

Read more testimonials from previous Summits

I was glad to learn there is a new generation of contemplatives coming up behind the older generation and by sharing we learn from each other.
- Carole Buckingham

The depth and breadth of the teachings at this inaugural summit far exceeded my expectations. I am excited to apply what I learned to my daily practice and explore new practices that were offered. The history, theology, and mysticism of centering prayer were served with healthy portions of practical advice and guidelines for enriching one’s inner and outer experiences. I look forward to the CP 2023 Summit!
- Joe Oster

The summit greatly exceeded my expectations both in the quality of the talks and sense of community it was able to achieve via zoom. I learned something from every presentation. They were obviously carefully chosen. A full, rich, immersive experience.
- Clare Stober

I really can’t find the words for now. Humbling, uplifting, exciting, deep, still - all of it.
- Irina

Every presentation in its own way and for what it was, was presented expertly by all of the presenters. Younger presenters, quite naturally, talked about Centering Prayer from the perspective of their own state of life and in relation to their own everyday concerns, duties and responsibilities. This reminds me of the 'householder' stage in Hindu thinking. It was, to my mind, very important that the Summit included people from a full range of ages, and backgrounds, so that people from every group benefited. By this I don't mean simply old for old and young for young, but that all ages were able to find something of value, as I did, in the full range of teaching perspectives.
- Hugh Reid

To hear familiar, beloved voices from the early years of Contemplative Outreach and a new generation that is carrying on and enriching the original vision - all in one summit - was satisfying and invigorating. To the old-timer, it was touching to see the passing of the torch and to realize that things will continue to be in good hands even as the original crew is still very much alive and growing!
- Sukey Ryan

It was wonderful to see so many excellent speakers in one virtual place! There were topics I’d never encountered before, and refreshers on subjects I’d heard before. Each speaker brought something different. A very worthwhile experience.
- Jeffrey Grills

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We are deeply committed to the transformative power of the Contemplative Prayer Summit.

We understand that everyone's journey is unique.

Therefore, if after one week of accessing the recorded sessions you feel the summit didn't provide the value or insights you were seeking, please reach out to our team. We'll thoughtfully discuss your experience and offer a refund as needed. We truly value your spiritual journey and are devoted to ensuring this event uplifts and supports you.

Testimonials

from past summits

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Greg Hubbard

The summit brought together people from all over the globe who are practicing centering prayer and exposed us all to some of the most helpful teachers of this path. But perhaps more importantly, it made us aware that something significant is happening in the spiritual development of humanity, and it is now crossing lines to emerging generations, right at a time when the world is in desperate need of a transforming humanity.

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Dee Beggarly

It is such JOY to be with like-minded contemplatives! We shared a beautiful "focus." It was healing to be "present" with people who actually care about the Divine and "neighbors." The Spirit was readily available and genuinely present. These 2 days were like a "balm" or "Oasis."

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Jeri Lee

It was so inspiring hearing from speakers who were with Fr. Thomas from the very beginning of Contemplative Outreach and also the current generation of speakers who are continuing the legacy. I felt strengthened by this community and so appreciative of the experience. The Summit was all I expected and hoped for. Thank you!

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