Cynthia Bourgeault presents “Oneness: The Secret Embrace,” Thomas Keating’s final gift to the world, as expressed through the poetry of his later years. This is the first of three Zoom calls held April 30 – May 2, 2020 during the COVID-19 pandemic, sponsored by Contemplative Outreach of South Africa and Contemplative Outreach International, with support from The Trust for the Meditation Process. Cynthia deftly and gracefully presents an evolved view of the being and theology of Fr. Thomas through a review of eight poems from the book, The Secret Embrace. These profound and personal poems capture some of Fr. Thomas’ emerging and final vision — a state of consciousness/selfhood, oneness among the religions and oneness in our fragile and embattled world.
This video has a pause for Centering Prayer, where more than 2,000 people prayed in silence together from over 59 countries, the largest gathering of the worldwide Contemplative Outreach community to date.
The video recordings of these sessions, held on April 30, May 1, and May 2 2020, can be found here:
Session 1 includes a six-minute version of the introductory slide show set to Samuel Barber’s “Adagio for Strings,” which is well-worth revisiting as a powerful vestibule to the teachings and being of Cynthia.
Our gratitude to Contemplative Outreach for now making these recorded sessions widely available.
All is possible for the Creator of all,
Who loves to manifest the impossible
In endless configurations…The silence of the Creator is thunderous,
Drowning out everything else,
And hiding in endless creativity.– Thomas Keating, excerpted from “Out of A Stone,” The Secret Embrace
