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Fr Thomas Keating was born in New York in 1923 and entered the Cistercian Order in Valley Falls, Rhode Island, in 1944. Fouteen years later he was appointed superior of St Benedict's Monastery, Snowmass, Colorado, and in 1961 was elected Abbot of St Joseph's Abbey, a large Cistercian monastery in Spencer, Massachusetts. After two decades he retired as Abbot and returned to Snowmass in 1981.

He founded Contemplative Outreach in 1984 to bring the ancient practice of silent prayer to those in contemporary society and to provide a support system to sustain it. Contemplative Outreach is a world-wide spiritual network committed to teaching the practice of Centering Prayer and providing programmes giving spiritual formation, in an updated and accessible format for the 21st century. Contemplative Outreach is ecumenical and seeks to dialogue with the contemplative dimension of other religions and sacred traditions.

It was at Snowmass that Thomas Keating established a programme of 10-Day Centering Prayer retreats, which are now held world-wide.

He is the author of several best-selling books on the spiritual life including Open Mind Open Heart, Invitation to Love, The Mystery of Christ, Intimacy with God, and many more. All his books are available through the head office of Contemplative Outreach UK.