About
This retreat was recorded over a series of gatherings between 1999 and 2003, edited, and released in 2022. It is the first of a three-part series. This purchase includes both the MP3 audio recording (approximately 8 hours and 53 minutes) and the complete 119-page PDF transcript. In this teaching, Cynthia Bourgeault explores the central theme of Presence as the missing piece within the Christian tradition. Working closely with Kabir Helminski’s book Living Presence: A Sufi Way to Mindfulness & the Essential Self, she highlights the deep resonance between Sufi teaching and the original call of Jesus to Being. Accompanied by a group of fellow Christian contemplatives, she also draws on exercises from Lynn C. Bauman’s Living the Presence: A Manual for Contemplative Christian Practice to guide listeners into a direct encounter with Presence in their own lives. Cynthia describes how Jesus called people into an encounter with divinity both within themselves and in the world around them, opening the possibility of transformation from the inside out. She affirms that the Wisdom principle is imperishable, built into the very blueprint of who we are, and continually re-emerges across traditions. Through dialogue, practical exercises, and reflection, she shows how the Christian contemplative path can be renewed through engagement with Presence as a universal and deeply transformative reality. Cynthia Bourgeault is a modern-day mystic, Episcopal priest, and internationally known retreat leader. She is the author of numerous books, including The Wisdom Jesus and Centering Prayer and Inner Awakening, and is recognized for her pioneering work in integrating the Christian contemplative path with other global streams of wisdom.