About
This retreat was recorded live in February 2013 at Vaughan Park Anglican Retreat Centre, Long Bay, Auckland, New Zealand, and released in 2015. This purchase includes an MP3 audio download with a total running time of approximately 11 hours. Written in the 14th century by an anonymous English mystic, The Cloud of Unknowing has long been a cornerstone text of Christian contemplative practice and is the foundational source for Centering Prayer. Its central teaching is that the apparent “cloud” separating us from God cannot be penetrated by thought or intellect, but only by love. In this retreat, Cynthia Bourgeault introduces and unpacks the core teachings of this classic work, showing how its wisdom is as relevant today as when it was first written. Key themes include the relationship between the active and contemplative life, the role of apophatic (non-conceptual) prayer, the practice of naked intent, the “cloud of forgetting,” humility and self-emptying, the nature of sorrow of being, and the training of consciousness. Cynthia also situates The Cloud in its historical and theological context, highlights its resonance with non-dual traditions, and explores its practical application through Centering Prayer. Cynthia Bourgeault is a modern-day mystic, Episcopal priest, and internationally known retreat leader. She is the author of numerous books, including Centering Prayer and Inner Awakening and The Wisdom Jesus, and is recognized for her pioneering work in integrating the Christian contemplative path with other global streams of wisdom.