"Choose a sacred word as a symbol of your intention to consent to God's presence and action within. Choose your word during a brief period of prayer asking the Holy Spirit to inspire you with one especially suitable for you. (Examples: Lord, Abba, Father, Mother, Amen, Love, Peace.)
Sitting comfortably and with eyes closed, settle briefly and silently introduce the sacred word as the symbol of your consent to God's presence and action within.
When you become aware of thoughts, return, ever-so-gently, to the sacred word.
At the end of the prayer period, remain in silence with eyes closed for a couple of minutes. Two periods of 20 minutes each are recommended each day - one first thing in the morning and one in the afternoon or early evening."
Source - Sprituality and Health Magazine
"A certain amount of silence is almost like food and bread and drink. It's part of human life. It's a place in which one reflects on the day and sorts through one's motivation and lays aside that which is harmful to others and to oneself, and, above all - put it this way, silence is God's first language. So to know God, we need to learn how to be silent."
FR. THOMAS KEATING, Trappist Monk
Source - PBS News Hour Online: Power of Prayer
