Vernon & Mary Joyce Dixon
CENTERING PRAYER AND THE PATH TO INNER PEACE: Living in the World without Being of the World
May 2-4
(May 5 optional extra day)
2 Nights
$130 ($65 deposit) Dana
Acquisition of material goods and the fulfillment of desires are frequently proclaimed as the supreme values in today’s world, but experience proves that they only end in frustration, anxiety, and inner turmoil. Centering Prayer and its related contemplative practices offer a much more satisfying alternative by teaching a method of self-surrender which leads to the realization of the True Self-- the only sure path to peace.
Teaching no religious dogma, and affirming its solidarity with contemplative practices throughout the world, Centering Prayer provides a means of arriving at the direct experience of God through a method of meditation based upon ancient Christian monastic mysticism and enriched by eastern meditative practices. People of all spiritual practices are welcome. Christians who may have been alienated from the religion of their birth will find that this open, non-judgmental, self-surrendering approach to relating to the Divine offers them a new and more inclusive place within their own spiritual heritage.
This silent weekend retreat will include brief instructive talks on the method of Centering Prayer, Lectio Divina (awakening to the Divine Word through sacred scripture), the practice of Presence, the Welcoming Prayer, and various other contemplative practices, as well as extended periods of meditation using the method of Centering Prayer. The retreat is open to beginners as well as veteran meditators. [For those who wish more silence and prayer, the retreat directors will remain for an extra day of meditation on Monday. (Add this if you want us to stay an extra day.)]
A. Vernon Dixon, M.D., and Mary Joyce Dixon, M.Ed., are a husband and wife who were in the private practice of psychiatry and psychometry for over 23 years. After studying the mystical practices of many spiritual traditions, their practice became Centering Prayer. The Dixons are trained and certified by Contemplative Outreach, Ltd. They have presented introductory workshops in LA, NC, and GA, as well as at the Omega Institute in Rhinebeck, NY. They lead Centering Prayer intensive and post-intensive retreats at the Monastery of the Holy Spirit in Conyers, GA. Vernon and Mary Joyce are also third-degree Reiki practitioners who are active in their church and in various peace, social justice, and environmental causes.
Here is the daily schedule of the Dixons 2007 Southern Dharma retreat. The 2008 schedule may be different.
6:00 Rise
6:45 Two 20-minute Centering Prayer Periods
8:00 Breakfast in Silence
9:00 Fr. Thomas Keating video - Discussion
10:30 Break
11:00 Three 20-minute Centering Prayer Periods
12:30 Lunch in Silence
1:30 Individual Meetings with Leaders/Free Time
4:30 Three 20-minute Centering Prayer Periods
6:00 Dinner in Silence
7:30 Conference/Discussion
8:30 Retire