2b. Four Levels of Scriptural Experience, Part 2, with Thomas Keating

Drawing on experiences and stories, Fr. Thomas Keating reflects on the four levels at which a person can experience Scripture: the literal level where one studies the teaching of Christ, the moral level where one puts the teachings into practice, the allegorical level where one sees one’s own story in the writings of Scripture, and the unitive level where one is freed of burdens and able to rest in God’s presence. The capacity to resonate with Scripture at deepening levels is, according to Fr. Keating, an organic process. This is one video in a series of 31 hour-long talks by Thomas Keating that make up his foundational video teachings, “The Spiritual Journey with Fr. Thomas Keating.” All of these talks are now available on YouTube, and are listed below with links. Fr. Thomas was an internationally renowned theologian, speaker and author of dozens of books including “Open Mind, Open Heart.” To access condensed highlights of this video series plus more recent series by Fr. Thomas as part of a free online course, go to https://www.contemplativeoutreach.org... for the complete course, or to    • The Spiritual Journey - Formation in the C...   for just the videos. Fr. Thomas co-founded Contemplative Outreach, which offers this series and supports Centering Prayer. Along with Fr. William Meninger and Fr. Basil Pennington, Fr. Thomas began the Centering Prayer movement in the 1970’s to renew the Christian tradition of contemplation. An overview of Contemplative Outreach is at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0Jhng.... Go to http://www.contemplativeoutreach.org for more information on Centering Prayer, including retreats and local chapters that offer support to practitioners at all levels in the U.S. and around the world. An online store offers books, streaming and downloadable videos and mp3 audios, DVDs, and CDs. An online course, “The Spiritual Journey – Formation in the Christian Contemplative Life,” draws upon the series of talks offered here and also includes newer teachings of Fr. Thomas, within a year-long curriculum. “The Spiritual Journey with Fr. Thomas Keating” consists of a Prologue and five parts. Each part has up to six talks in it. Each talk has a separate video for the first half (a) and the second half (b). Prologue https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list... (A basic introduction to Centering Prayer) • The Method of Centering Prayer (2 videos) • The Psychological Experience of Centering Prayer (3 videos) Part One: Developing Centering Prayer https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list... (Centering Prayer grows out of a prayerful relationship with God that ideally includes prayerful reading of Scripture - the practice of Lectio Divina) 0a & 0b. Introduction 1a & 1b. Prayer as Relating to God 2a & 2b. Four Levels of Scriptural Experience 3a & 3b. Toward Resting in God 4a & 4b. Centering Prayer as Method 5a & 5b. Progress in Centering Prayer Part Two: Model of the Human Condition https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list... (The heart of the teaching on the practice of Centering Prayer) 6a & 6b. The Human Condition: The Evolutionary Model 7a & 7b. Formation of the Homemade Self: The Existential Model 8a & 8b. The Pre-Rational Energy Centers 9a & 9b. Frustrations Caused by the Emotional Programs 10a & 10b. Dismantling the Emotional Programs 11a & 11b. The False Self in Action Part Three: Paradigms of the Spiritual Journey https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list... (Practical examples of Centering Prayer in daily life) 12a & 12b. The Four Consents 13a & 13b. The Human Condition: The Philosophical Model 14a & 14b. Anthony as a Paradigm of the Spiritual Journey 15a & 15b. Liberation from the False Self System 16a & 16b. Liberation from Cultural Conditioning 17a & 17b. Spirituality in Everyday Life Part Four: Contemplation: The Divine Therapy https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list... (The Christian contemplative roots for Centering Prayer) 18a & 18b. Night of Sense: The Biblical Desert 19a & 19b. Night of Spirit: Toward Transformation 20a & 20b. The Beatitudes: Healing the Emotional Programs 21a & 21b. The Spiritual Senses 22a & 22b. What Contemplation is Not 23a & 23b. From Contemplation to Action Part Five: Divine Love: The Heart of the Christian Spiritual Journey https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list... (The fruits of the Centering Prayer practice) 24a & 24b. The Most Excellent Path 25a & 25b. The Divine Banquet an Dance 26a & 26b. Prayer in Secret: Matthew 6:6 27a & 27b. What is the Divine Therapy? 28a & 28b. Contemplative Outreach: A Response to the Divine Invitation