Into the Silent Land: A Guide to the Christian Practice of Comtemplation: Amazon.co.uk: Martin Laird: 9780195307603: Books

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13 of 13 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Buy 2 copies, 4 April 2008

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David Wells (Norwich, UK) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)

This review is from: Into the Silent Land: A Guide to the Christian Practice of Comtemplation (Hardcover)

You'll need two copies - one to keep and re-read, one to lend to your friends. An astonishingly grounded and wise guide to contemplative prayer. Not a "how to" book on techniques,but something much deeper, unpacking the nature and goal of contemplative practice as a way of uncovering the stillness deep within us, the place where we meet God. Although entirely rooted in Christian faith, the book makes some connections with other perspectives, particularly from cognitive psychology. If you have any experience of contemplative prayer, this is the book to encourage you further along the path to "the silent land".

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11 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A treasure of a book, 26 Jan 2008

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Yen (South, UK) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Into the Silent Land: A Guide to the Christian Practice of Comtemplation (Hardcover)

Having spent the past few years reading one book after another on Christian meditation/contemplation to accompany my ongoing exploration/practice/teaching of this way of prayer, reading this book was an absolute delight. No waffle, no new-age hype, just brilliant 'puts his finger right on it' accuracy and a number of extremely useful case-studies which could be applied to many situations. I have lent this book to several people, all experienced meditators, and each one has raved about it and ended up buying their own copies. If I were to recommend just three books to people embarking on the Christian contemplative path, this would definitely be one of them. It offers a rare and refreshing combination of genuine depth, brilliant clarity and wonderful readability. A real treasure and the best book I came across in 2007.

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Amazon.com: 4.7 out of 5 stars (21 customer reviews)

60 of 60 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars a spiritual treasure, 26 Jun 2006

By M. VanEtten "nose-in-a-book" - Published on Amazon.com

This review is from: Into the Silent Land: A Guide to the Christian Practice of Comtemplation (Hardcover)

This book is a true gem. It is a wonderful guide for anyone seriously interested in contemplative prayer. Laird draws on the spiritual traditions of both Eastern and Western Christianity to produce a true classic, filled with practical guidance about the method of contemplative prayer, the difficulties and distractions (and how they can become gifts), and the way contemplation can teach us to deal with afflictive emotions and situations. Laird writes for the experienced person as well as (perhaps even more than) the beginner. He draws primarily upon the Jesus Prayer as his method, with nods to Centering Prayer as an alternative approach. He includes passages from some of the greatest writers on (and practitioners of) contemplative prayer in the Western Church and the Estern Orthodox tradition which may be less familiar to readers but has much to offer us. This book has real depth, and is obviously written by someone who knows the silent land well himself. It is a treasure!

61 of 62 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Helpful insights for the contemplative path, 5 Aug 2006

By Barbara B. Hemphill - Published on Amazon.com

This review is from: Into the Silent Land: A Guide to the Christian Practice of Comtemplation (Hardcover)

In this book Laird explains passages on the contemplative journey in ways that were new to me. (Perhaps I should admit here that I didn't even know there were identifiable stages of silence.) He names the doorway into each stage, the treasure one finds there, and what is entailed in opening the door - the riddle that must be solved before entering. As a student and practitioner of centering prayer for 15 years, I found these insights fascinating as well as wonderfully presented. But Laird doesn't just leave us with theories; he offers practical applications of his lessons. Here are real people struggling with real difficulties, practicing contemplative methods, solving the riddles, moving through the stages, gaining new freedom and joy. Laird offers not only mysteries and metaphors, but tools and tips! I would recommend this book to anyone on the contemplative journey.

48 of 48 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Authentic Presentation of Contemplative Prayer Practice, 24 Jan 2007

By Sharon K. Cooper - Published on Amazon.com

This review is from: Into the Silent Land: A Guide to the Christian Practice of Comtemplation (Hardcover)

Martin Laird gives an authentic presentation of Contemplative Prayer Practice within the Christian tradition. This presentation portrays a deep openness of heart and mind from the inside out. Laird offers a wealth of knowledge related to Christian contemplative practice. His own interiority and experience shines throughout the book. The book offers the rich insights of other contemplative traditions (Eastern) but it is clearly rooted in the heart of the vast landscape of the Christian contemplative lineage where the divine/human relationship soaks in silence, nature, and Word. The mingling together of these contemplative nuances form a language of ancient wisdom that can be understood and accessible today. Each chapter in Laird's book has an invitational and creative title which often is not found in books of this nature: 1) Parting the Veil: The Illusion of Separation from God, 2) The Wild Hawk of the Mind, 3) The Body's Call to Prayer, 4) The Three Doorways of the Present Moment; the Way of the Prayer Word, 5) The Riddles of Distration, 6) From Victim to Witness: Practicing with Affliction, 7) The Liturgy of Our Wounds, and his Epilogue: Who Am I? A Tale of Monastic Failure. The book brings to life the teachings of the desert abbas and ammas. Laird quotes Meister Eckhart on p. 23 of the book: "Meister Eckhart says, "The noblest entertainment in this life is to be silent and let God work and speak within." Many would probably disagree with that statement in today's world. The book is for the beginner, the intermediate, and advanced practitioners alike. *Into the Silent Land* takes the reader into the landscape of the Psalmist's heart: "Let us live every moment in "applying our hearts to wisdom." (Psalm 90:12)

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