Discover Christianity's own unique tradition for experiencing God directly through meditation with The Beginner's Guide to Contemplative Prayer. Author James Finley, who as a young monk lived and prayed with Thomas Merton for six years at the Abbey of Gethsemani, shares the fruit of this authentic approach to prayer and its role at the center of Christian life.

Beginning with a look at its meaning and origins, including the Christian mystics who first explored it, and concluding with step-by-step instructions for getting started with a contemplative practice of your own, here is the perfect introduction to the fundamental meditations and teachings of this cherished tradition.

Highlights:
• Contemplative prayer—what it is and how to practice it
• How contemplative experience relates to Christian faith
• Awakening to the mystery of oneness
• Intuition and prayer
• Step-by-step guided prayers, and much more

Note: Excerpted from the full-length audio course Christian Meditation.