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| Contemplation |
- III, 1. "Concentration is the binding of the mind to one place."
III, 2. "Meditation is continued mental effort there."
III, 3. "Contemplation is the same when there is the shining of the mere object alone,
- as if devoid of one's own form."
The dictionary's definition of Contemplate includes:
1. transitive verb have something as possible intention: to think about something as a
possible course of action
- contemplating a move to a new location
- 2. transitive verb consider something: to think about something seriously and at length,
especially in order to understand it more fully
- I sat there, contemplating what she'd said.
- 3. intransitive verb think about spiritual matters: to think calmly and at length, especially as
a religious or spiritual exercise
4. transitive verb look at something thoughtfully: to look at something thoughtfully and
steadily
- tourists contemplating the restored frescoes
[Late 16th century. < Latin contemplat-, past participle of contemplari "observe carefully" <
templum "space for observing omens"]
subsided to a dull roar. I have focused on something, perhaps the rose, perhaps the sound of the
wind in the tree leaves, maybe just the warmth of the sun and the ultraviolet waves, or maybe the
fragrance of nectar or pollen.
The concentration becomes meditation. Meditation becomes contemplation. Patanjali speaks of
a "seedless" stage at which the subject becomes one with the object. If I become a part of you,
then you become a part of me.
I find each of the above dictionary definitions for contemplate to be useful. "To think about as a
possible course of action." The engine on the car, boat or plane has been started, it's running on
its own, and it's time to take the wheel, the tiller or the stick. It is time to go somewhere. It is as
though all the preparations of physical, mental and spiritual resources have led to this level,
neutral, passive state called meditation. From this vantage the yogi contemplates whatever.
"To think about something seriously and at length, especially in order to understand it more
fully." It's hard to argue with the virtue of long, serious thought. In order to receive
understanding, one must concede a certain lack of the same.
"To think about spiritual matters: to think calmly and at length, especially as a religious or
spiritual exercise." This sounds like what we are talking about in terms of meditation. It's very
true that none of us can tell you what it is that you will find to be true. The words "religious"
and "spiritual" try to be non-specific, neutral, innocent, yet still convey an idea variously
described as esoteric, profound, eccentric, inspired, cosmic and divine, all of those in lower case.
There are holy men in every cult. There are a number of techniques that work. To use
applications that work is one of the axioms of pragmatism.
"Look at something thoughtfully: to look at something thoughtfully and steadily."
The example given of tourists contemplating ancient art conjures a picture for me of each of us
wandering in wonder through reality.
At any level, existence can be defined as falling and going with the flow, finding through stillness
the direction of thrust and gravity. I might say that everything else is turbulence and friction.
However, that would be a smug remark. My own greatest aspirations might be nothing more
than flecks of foam in the cosmic waterfall. When in deep meditation, we have the opportunity to
contemplate the flecks of foam, or we can travel with the flow of millions of gallons. We can
sense the breezy brine blown from the lips of thundering breakers, or we can join with the deep
swell. Any or all of it might be what it's all about.
The concept "be, do, have" is found widely. Those three little words are associated in reverse
order with the words "want, will, am." I want to have something; I will do what it takes to get it;
I am the being.
Two things happen when you dare to combine meditation with ambition:
- You get what you want;
- What you want starts to change.
The reason for the change in what you want is partly due to the practice of body conditioning,
self-study and attentiveness to God. We can even imagine that although the objectives remain
essentially the same, our perception of the direction that we must take to arrive in possession
thereof can change dramatically.
When we pursue something, be it health, wealth, love, success, prosperity, money or happiness, we
project ourselves along the vector towards our goals. Unless we have only one goal, these vectors
lead to some dispersion of our will. From each point of projection, the directions toward our
other goals are skewed.
In the following diagram, we can see the true vectors from the self to the various goals. These
represent the force and direction that the self must apply to achieve each goal. When focused on
a primary goal, the tendency is for the self to be projected onto the goal. While the primary
vector remains true, a set of false directions arise which lead, not from the true self but from the
projected self to the secondary goals. These skewed vectors are shown in red.
What happens when someone is strongly focused on a particular goal, job satisfaction, money,
romance or whatever, is that everything else gets distorted. The primary goal, let's say a career,
remains in focus, but everything else, marriage, family, health and so on, appear to lie in a
different direction than they really do. The result can be misplaced effort, neglect and failure to
achieve important objectives.
The diagram below illustrates this reality:
romance or whatever, is that everything else gets distorted. The primary goal, let's say a career,
remains in focus, but everything else, marriage, family, health and so on, appear to lie in a
different direction than they really do. The result can be misplaced effort, neglect and failure to
achieve important objectives.
The diagram below illustrates this reality:
In this picture, the vectors that originate from the projected self are shown to lead to false goals
when applied to the real self.
When one regularly retreats in contemplation, awareness of the real location of the self is
reinforced, and thus also are the true directions to all of one's goals kept in accurate focus. This
allows one to continue to make progress, not only toward the primary goal, but the others as well.
This ideal situation is illustrated below:
when applied to the real self.
When one regularly retreats in contemplation, awareness of the real location of the self is
reinforced, and thus also are the true directions to all of one's goals kept in accurate focus. This
allows one to continue to make progress, not only toward the primary goal, but the others as well.
This ideal situation is illustrated below:
Although it is good to have goals, it is important to retain an awareness of the difference between
oneself and one's objectives. Many people's lives are tragic sacrifices. You name it: love,
devotion, loyalty, security, pleasure, power... any of these important qualities can be left by the
wayside as a result of losing one's focus. Regular concentration, meditation and contemplation
will allow you to remain centered. Being centered will make it obvious what directions you need to
apply to your pursuit of all of the things that you want from life.
oneself and one's objectives. Many people's lives are tragic sacrifices. You name it: love,
devotion, loyalty, security, pleasure, power... any of these important qualities can be left by the
wayside as a result of losing one's focus. Regular concentration, meditation and contemplation
will allow you to remain centered. Being centered will make it obvious what directions you need to
apply to your pursuit of all of the things that you want from life.
| Yoga for Carnivores by Jay Dyck |