Contemplation is the art of radical presence - showing up with whole heart, mind, and embodied awareness to exactly what is arising in this moment. Not to analyze or judge, but to receive reality's raw disclosure with an undefended, accepting gaze.
For some, this sustained beholding takes form as prayer or meditation - a daily consecration to deep listening. A choosing to remain anchored in the Truth that great love and great suffering reveal, even after the intensity of those initiations subsides into ordinary days.
Contemplation is how we metabolize and integrate the experiences that outstrip language. A courageous willingness to be transformed by what unfurls beyond our mental grasping. Each time we falter, each distraction, becomes another portal for grace's humble schooling.
It is a lifelong practice, never perfected yet always enough as is. An ongoing tuning of our awareness to the holistic, heart-centered ways of knowing that transcend the dissecting intellect. A settling into recepto attentiveness until the entire field of this present moment can be beheld and embraced as one seamless tapestry.
The contemplative mind does not eliminate or divide the challenging from the cherished aspects of what arises. It holds all phenomena in a spacious, allowing embrace - refusing to banish any part into an alienated "other." Here, we learn to love the world exactly as it shows itself, without grasping or aversion.
Contemplation trains us in the stunning art of non-separation until we can freely dwell in undivided intimacy with reality's endless unfolding. So that our full bodily presence becomes a living "Yes" to what is, even as it flowers into a creatively-engaged responsiveness to what could be.
An awakening into integration so complete that our seeing, being, and serving become one hologrammic rite of reverent participation in the transfiguration of the Whole.
Find a comfortable position, sitting or lying down. Close your eyes gently and take a few deep breaths. Inhale slowly and deeply, feeling your breath fill your body. Exhale completely, releasing any tension.
Imagine yourself standing in a vast field bathed in soft light. This field represents the entirety of your present moment – everything you can sense, feel, and experience.
Notice your initial reaction. Are there parts of the field that seem pleasant, and others that seem unpleasant? This is natural. Now, let go of the urge to analyze or judge.
Instead, cultivate a sense of "radical presence." Be fully present with every detail of the field – the sights, sounds, smells, and even the emotions you feel.
Don't try to force a particular experience. Simply allow yourself to receive this moment with an open and accepting heart.
Think of contemplation as a practice of "deep listening." It's a way to connect with the deeper truths that lie beneath the surface of our daily lives.
These truths can be revealed through intense experiences like love or suffering, but they are also present in the quiet moments.
Contemplation is about integrating all of our experiences, even the ones that are difficult. It's a willingness to be transformed by life, even when it takes us outside our comfort zone.
Remember, this is a lifelong practice. There's no such thing as a perfect state of contemplation. Just keep coming back to the present moment with an open mind and heart.
As you become more present, you'll start to see the world in a new light. You'll develop a more holistic understanding of reality, one that goes beyond the limitations of the intellect.
The contemplative mind doesn't reject any part of the field. It embraces both the joys and sorrows, the challenges and the blessings.
Gradually, you'll cultivate the art of "non-separation." You'll see how everything in the field is interconnected, a single tapestry woven from countless threads.
This allows you to truly love the world as it is, without trying to change it or clinging to what you desire.
Through contemplation, you learn to dwell in "undivided intimacy" with reality. You are present in the here and now, while also holding a vision for a better future.
Your entire being becomes a living "Yes" to life, a complete integration of seeing, being, and serving.
Take a few more deep breaths, integrating this sense of wholeness and acceptance. When you're ready, gently open your eyes, carrying the awareness of the undivided field with you throughout your day.
