Contemplation. How is it for you?

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Contemplation.

I am reading up on it and trying to understand it. Looked at the catechism etc.

How is it for you?

How does it work for you?

Is it silence with thoughts entering the mind and then saying a small prayer to keep in focus with God?

How do you contemplate?
 
It has been the difference between certifiable terminal madness, and complete healing and renewal by the Lord. And let me tell you, being fixed by the Lord is better than never being broken at all. 😃

It is silent, and yes when you start thinking of thoughts, many say a short word. You said “prayer,” but it is more of a word to signal consent to return to the quiet and continue to invite the Holy Spirit to have free access to our minds and hearts without our mental shield in the way. (The bushel basket over our lights work both ways – block and modify light coming in, and block and modify light going out. – the two edge sword of love can cut both ways.)

Sorry I digress. Anyway I’ve heard it called a “sacred word,” but it is only sacred in that you use it to indicate consent like I said. I like to say “use the sacred word to distract you from your thought,” but some think that’s overly simplistic, and maybe they’re right. It doesn’t matter what the word is, some use “Jesus,” some actually use “sin” or some use a thought of an image instead of a verbal word. Either way, we use these to gently return to the loving gaze fixed on God.

So you don’t consciously “pray” except to allow yourself to rest in God. The sacred word is a prayer of intent of the heart, but not any communication of the mind and thoughts … but a way to let go of interesting thoughts… I used to use my sacred word almost constantly, but now sometimes I can go 10 minutes or more without it.

Alan
 
It’s my way of life.

Different forms from sitting surrounded by nature hearing the song of God from the birds to
living mindfully and slowly, washing up, cooking, cleaning, etc, fully aware of my part in creation.

Live, breathe, silence and the silent awareness of the love of God will fill the space like smoke in a room.

Of course it takes some practice on our part!

Ora et labora informally.

To summarise, silence, silence, silence, peace.

God be with you & grant you the gift of peace in your contemplation

Pax vobiscum+
 
It’s not being silent or creating silence; it’s a recognition of a silence that is already here, has always been here. It just got overlooked cuz it’s so obvious and simple; it’s not DOING anything, it just IS. When that great silence isn’t being overlooked, that to me is contemplation.
 
ajecphotos said:
Contemplation.

I am reading up on it and trying to understand it. Looked at the catechism etc.

How is it for you?

How does it work for you?

Is it silence with thoughts entering the mind and then saying a small prayer to keep in focus with God?

How do you contemplate?
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I often find that I am able to contemplate while working on my computer. It’s as if a part of my attention is on my work, while another part of my mind is focused on God and contemplation.
 
Forkfoot said:
It’s not being silent or creating silence; it’s a recognition of a silence that is already here, has always been here. It just got overlooked cuz it’s so obvious and simple; it’s not DOING anything, it just IS. When that great silence isn’t being overlooked, that to me is contemplation.
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I like this description, too. 👍

Alan
 
Through contemplation we are able to pray unceasingly as St Paul said.

Jim
 
ajecphotos said:
Contemplation.

I am reading up on it and trying to understand it. Looked at the catechism etc.

How is it for you?

How does it work for you?

Is it silence with thoughts entering the mind and then saying a small prayer to keep in focus with God?

How do you contemplate?
Click to expand...
For me it is silencing the inner thinking voice and relaxing in God’s presence.
This goes in very short cycles with other thoughts and images that come of themselves as inner verbal thoughts or images.

But inner attentive silence waiting for God is basically it for me.
 
For me acquired or active contemplation (as opposed to pure divinely given infused contemplation) is watching.

It is to simply watch my normal psychological state, with my interior impulse focused upon God in a non-discursive manner, that is, without conjuring any image of Him or His attributes, or speaking to Him in any respect. By watching, I see thoughts, feelings and emotions come and go like birds flitting around. I do not try to stop these distractions, I merely watch them and let them go, gently returning to my thoughtless attention towards God without any particular thought or idea about who or what God is.

I do this in silence, both within and without. I sit still and watch, wait and focus in this way.

Sometimes, I become aware of something that is not my normal psychological state. There is something deeper, an emptiness or bare space in my soul where thoughts, feelings and forms don’t “peek” in, even for a second. I find a certain somewhere within me that is neither this nor * that * and cannot really be understood rationally, where the thoughts that make up my everyday psychology become like ripples that I am aware of but which have no impact upon this still, inner region of my awareness.

Its as if I am at the bottom of the lake, gazing up detached-like at all these thoughts and mental images rippling around on the surface. I am aware of them yet they don’t bother me or move me in any way from these depths.

This part of my mind does not use discursive thought but is concerned only with intuitive knowledge of God not influenced by sense perceptions. It requires me to become observant of the story going on in my head, the myth I tell about my self for self-assurance, such as, “I am such and such and I deserve such-and such” or “I need” this, or “I want” this from God or other people. I need to realize that in God I will find my rest, not in these desires. Contemplation helps me to cease identifying with the story in my head and just “be”.

Contemplation grounds me in the beauty of the present moment, with all of its potential for meeting God in the here and now.

And I wait for God to “do His thing” in this empty space which is my deepest, inmost self 😃

Sometimes God will fill this emptiness with awareness of his Presence.

The mind is like a screen, upon which various images are played. In its natural state of simplicity, the mind is free from perceptions, images, distracting thoughts and concepts of reality like a clear image perfectly transparent enough to let God shine through without anything covering it. The goal then is to simple “let go” and allow the mind to ease back into its primal state of simplicity. And there we have intuitive knowing, in which God can reveal Himself to us, if He so chooses, spirit to spirit, and even penetrate the empty mirror of our soul with his Divine Light.
 
ajecphotos said:
Is it silence with thoughts entering the mind and then saying a small prayer to keep in focus with God?
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You have had some very, very good responses so far!

Putting my own personal slant on what others have said: It is the silencing of the “inner thinking voice” so that the mind is no longer “DOing … but BEing.” It is intuitive, spontaneous, in union and harmony … like the wise virgins of the Gospel who are always watching and waiting. As the Psalmist says: the watchmen on vigil.

To me it is the utmost of simplicity: Pray … Listen … Act.

And in the contemplative sense, our prayer need not be “wordy.” In fact the less words the better. A simple gaze upon Truth … “for God to look is to love” captures the spirit of this way the best. Or another expression, an inward smile toward He whom we know is always present.

There is no more contemplative “moment” for me than spending my lunch hours in some secluded place simply watching the tree branches gently sway in the breeze. Wonder and awe … no words or thoughts are necessary. In fact, they hinder.

Dave 🙂
 
Contemplation is not about “emptying ones self”. It is about “filling ones self” with God. In “the attempt” to engage in contemplative prayer, one usually goes about entering into such prayer via vocal pray and discursive meditation. True contemplative prayer is not the purview of the Soul attempting to engage in the act. True contemplative prayer is a lifting up of the Soul to God by God. If one seeks to obtain this level of prayer they can never do it on their own. Begin, with the Rosary, and adoration of the Blessed Sacrament. Trust that God will lead you to higher forms of prayer in his time and place.

Humans can not achieve contemplative prayer on their own. They can NEVER do this on their own. It is only God that lifts a Soul to such heights.

There are many threads on this. I would “search” the forums and the resources offered by Catholic Answers ( the sponsors of this site ) for more clarification. In addition, consult your priest/confessor/spiritual director and the works of St. Teresa of Avila and St. John of the Cross ( additionally Fr. Thomas Dubay’s book “Fire within”).
 
Vouthon said:
The mind is like a screen, upon which various images are played. In its natural state of simplicity, the mind is free from perceptions, images, distracting thoughts and concepts of reality like a clear image perfectly transparent enough to let God shine through without anything covering it. The goal then is to simple “let go” and allow the mind to ease back into its primal state of simplicity. And there we have intuitive knowing, in which God can reveal Himself to us, if He so chooses, spirit to spirit, and even penetrate the empty mirror of our soul with his Divine Light.
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I think centuries ago they came up with the mirror analogy. The soul is like a mirror that reflects God all the better when it is not obscured by so much of our business. I am reminded also of St. Bonaventure saying first: God is Being, pure and simple.
 
Cadian said:
Contemplation is not about “emptying ones self”. It is about “filling ones self” with God. In “the attempt” to engage in contemplative prayer, one usually goes about entering into such prayer via vocal pray and discursive meditation. True contemplative prayer is not the purview of the Soul attempting to engage in the act. True contemplative prayer is a lifting up of the Soul to God by God. If one seeks to obtain this level of prayer they can never do it on their own. Begin, with the Rosary, and adoration of the Blessed Sacrament. Trust that God will lead you to higher forms of prayer in his time and place.

Humans can not achieve contemplative prayer on their own. They can NEVER do this on their own. It is only God that lifts a Soul to such heights.

There are many threads on this. I would “search” the forums and the resources offered by Catholic Answers ( the sponsors of this site ) for more clarification. In addition, consult your priest/confessor/spiritual director and the works of St. Teresa of Avila and St. John of the Cross ( additionally Fr. Thomas Dubay’s book “Fire within”).
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Cadian, what you say is largely true if one limits the defininition of contemplation to the infused. There is also the acquired type that is equally “true” … it’s in that spirit that posters write their reflections.

You cite the Carmelites and that’s great! And while they’re especially known for their descriptions of the infused they also describe the acquired, although they don’t use that term. I’ll point you to a few important places in their writings where you can find this other understanding of contemplation:
  • Chapters 28-31 of Way of Perfection. Here St. Teresa writes about recollection in the manner posters in this thread do. A way of prayer she time and time says to “enter into often.” The simplicity of this way lies just “this side” of the passive prayer state of quiet … in which recollection is the shortest, surest path to the infused as she so clearly says.
  • Third Spiritual Alphabet of Fransisco de Osuna. Perhaps no writer had greater influence on St. Teresa than de Osuna. He writes extensively of recollection … the Prayer of Heart and Prayer of Simplicity to use more modern terms. Osuna, like most writers before the Carmelites who focused on distinctions, simply referred to all this as … contemplation.
  • Ch 1-15 of Book 3 of St. John of the Cross’ The Ascent of Mount Carmel. This describes how the soul is to learn to gather itself and “still” the roamings of the mind in preparation for the contemplation I describe as acquired … as well as the infused.
  • The “3 signs” of St. John of the Cross from both Dark Night and The Ascent. I maintain that experience will show that these signs can be equally understood from an acquired and infused point of view.
  • The Practice of the Presence of God. Brother Lawrence is the “everyman’s mystic.” Nobody, imo, captures the essence of acquired contemplation as simply and in as easy to understand manner as he.
  • St. Teresa’s 7th mansion from Interior Castle. It might be suprising to realize what she describes as “intellectual vision” is really just another way of talking about the Practice of the Presence of God!!! Many people don’t grasp this meaning of “intellectual vision” thinking it must lie in the extraordinary way. It does not.
So contemplation can be understood in different ways … even in the Carmelite school (I know, I am one!!).

And I sure hope you’re not trying to negate the wonderful experience of those who posted here. We should never stiffle the Spirit in that way.

Many blessings,
Dave 🙂
 
Thanks all.

I am reading “Fire within” but not got to the chapter on contemplation yet.

I tried last night when in bed. I said my prayers as normal then tried to clear my mind. I did think of God and then when anything drifted into my thoughts i just said a word or 2. Like ‘Jesus i love you’, trying to have nothing in my mind but blackness.

Am i on the right track?
 
OP, thank you for starting this thread. 👍

I am also slowly learning about contemplation, but most of the time I feel like I am stumbling in the dark.

I have a couple of questions for those who have posted so far.

Would you say that acquired contemplation is the first significant step one makes in this type of prayer? And that maybe, if God wills it and grants it, it is followed by infused contemplation. I understand that one might never reach the stage of infused contemplation, but that acquired contemplation is something we can achieve by our own efforts and discipline. Is this correct?

Several posters have mentioned the silencing of their inner thinking voice. How do you silence it? I have such a busy mind that I can’t make still. It is not just an impediment to prayer, but it leads me to feeling stressed and even anxious.
 
Contra_Mundum said:
OP, thank you for starting this thread. 👍

I am also slowly learning about contemplation, but most of the time I feel like I am stumbling in the dark.

I have a couple of questions for those who have posted so far.

Would you say that acquired contemplation is the first significant step one makes in this type of prayer? And that maybe, if God wills it and grants it, it is followed by infused contemplation. I understand that one might never reach the stage of infused contemplation, but that acquired contemplation is something we can achieve by our own efforts and discipline. Is this correct?

Several posters have mentioned the silencing of their inner thinking voice. How do you silence it? I have such a busy mind that I can’t make still. It is not just an impediment to prayer, but it leads me to feeling stressed and even anxious.
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I think you have got it. Silencing the inner voice involves listening. Like it is difficult to listen to someone and talk at the same moment. But notice how you can, for example, write your name without thinking in words, “I am writing my name.” That menatl activitity needed to write is still operating but you do not need the inner voice.

The easiest way to still the inner voice is to listen carefuly to something else, like instrumental music. That is a good way to practice. Eventually you will not need music. Listen to silence.

But the most important thing about that inner voice silencing is that it need not last for more than a few seconds at a time. But you can get better at it. In those moments, brief at first, of inner silence we rest our bigger mental activity. But we are still awake, alert and our minds are still active and withon our control. As we notice we are inner talking again we redirect with a call to Christ, the Our Father, or whatever helps us open our heart to the Lord’s presence and to that inner stillness again where we wait. It is a restful waiting for whatever God wants to do with us. Usually it is just a dark silence until dreamy inages come in.

I find it cyclical. For the first 15 minutes there is more inner voice so I just redirect with traditional prayers and psalms and take a few stabs at the inner silence. Back and forth. After 15 minues I have more inner silence and less inner voice, less need for wordy prayer, more silent lifitng of heart. If I am tired dreamy images will start to come. If so, a little deep breathing and traditional wordy prayer until I am ready to try inner silence again.

All of this is in the context of desire for God, waiting for God, being availible for God and open to God without an agenda or petition. When I am about to finish I then pray regarding certain people or issues.

You mention “stumbling in the dark”. Yes, it is a walk of faith. It takes time patience and faith. Most people who say their minds are too busy do not really sit there for 30 minutes and let it run its course. During that time just try to observe without being emotionallly invovled or attached to the thinking.

With Lectio Divina one finds a verse or word that resonates with the soul and ponders it.
“Most High”
“Father”
“Christ”
“My soul in stillness waits”
“Thy will be done”
“Jesus I trust in you”

and let the moment between repetitions be a true inner silence even if only a few seconds.
:blessyou:

:harp:
 
I am reminded of the last chapter of Bonaventure’s Itinerarium
  1. Moreover if you seek, in what manner these things occur, interrogate grace, not doctrine, desire, not understanding; the groan of praying, not the study of reading; the spouse, not the teacher; God, not man, darkness, not brightness; not light, but the Fire totally inflaming, transferring one into God both by its excessive unctions and by its most ardent affections. Which Fire indeed is God, and His forge is in Jerusalem, and Christ ignites this in the fervor, of His most ardent Passion, which He alone truly perceived, who said: My soul has chosen suspense, and my bones death. He who loves this death can see God, because it is indubitably true: No man will see Me and live. — Therefore let us die and step into the darkness, let us impose silence upon our cares, and concupiscences and phantasms; let us pass-over together with Christ Crucified from this world to the Father, that, by showing us the Father, we may say with Phillip: It suffices for us; let us hear with Paul: My grace is sufficient for you; let us exult with David6 saying: My flesh and my heart failed, God of my heart and my portion: God forever. Blessed be the Lord forever, and every people shall say: Fiat, Fiat. Amen.
 
Sigh.
Cadian said:
Contemplation is not about “emptying ones self”. It is about “filling ones self” with God. In “the attempt” to engage in contemplative prayer, one usually goes about entering into such prayer via vocal pray and discursive meditation.
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2717 Contemplative prayer is silence, the “symbol of the world to come” or “silent love.” Words in this kind of prayer are not speeches; they are like kindling that feeds the fire of love. In this silence, unbearable to the “outer” man, the Father speaks to us his incarnate Word, who suffered, died, and rose; in this silence the Spirit of adoption enables us to share in the prayer of Jesus.

2708 Meditation engages thought, imagination, emotion, and desire. This mobilization of faculties is necessary in order to deepen our convictions of faith, prompt the conversion of our heart, and strengthen our will to follow Christ. Christian prayer tries above all to meditate on the mysteries of Christ, as in lectio divina or** the rosary. This form of prayerful reflection is of great value, but Christian prayer should go further:** to the knowledge of the love of the Lord Jesus, to union with him.
True contemplative prayer is not the purview of the Soul attempting to engage in the act. True contemplative prayer is a lifting up of the Soul to God by God. If one seeks to obtain this level of prayer they can never do it on their own.
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2710 The choice of the time and duration of the prayer arises from a determined will, revealing the secrets of the heart. One does not undertake contemplative prayer only when one has the time: one makes time for the Lord, with the firm determination not to give up, no matter what trials and dryness one may encounter. One cannot always meditate, but one can always enter into inner prayer, independently of the conditions of health, work, or emotional state. The heart is the place of this quest and encounter, in poverty and in faith.

As you can see, the CCC says we can always enter into this form of prayer, and that even though the Rosary is valuable, prayer SHOULD go further.

We have been through all this on another thread. Please understand that your limited definition of “contemplation” continues to make it sound like it is nothing we “should” undertake without any action on our part. During the prayer one rests in God, but one makes time for the prayer and the conscious decision to enter into it.

Alan
 
Contra_Mundum said:
OP, thank you for starting this thread. 👍

I am also slowly learning about contemplation, but most of the time I feel like I am stumbling in the dark.

I have a couple of questions for those who have posted so far.

Would you say that acquired contemplation is the first significant step one makes in this type of prayer? And that maybe, if God wills it and grants it, it is followed by infused contemplation. I understand that one might never reach the stage of infused contemplation, but that acquired contemplation is something we can achieve by our own efforts and discipline. Is this correct?

Several posters have mentioned the silencing of their inner thinking voice. How do you silence it? I have such a busy mind that I can’t make still. It is not just an impediment to prayer, but it leads me to feeling stressed and even anxious.
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Contra Mundum -

Michael Mayo had some wonderful comments!

Not much more I can add so I’ll simply provide this link to some formation talks I gave to Carmelites specifically on the questions you ask … the interplay between acquired and infused contemplation.

meditationsfromcarmel.com/content/formation-talks

Under the talks listed as “Our Carmelite Promises” these 3 talks might be particularly helpful:

3 - Acquired and infused contemplation from the perspective of Osuna and St. Teresa​

4 - Acquired and infused contemplation from the perspective of St. John of the Cross and Brother Lawrence​

7 - A very personal reflection that ties it all together.​

Hope something in there helps! It sounds like you’re on a good track!

Dave:)
 
I hope question is not out-of-line, but what’s the basic difference between contemplation and meditation (in the Catholic sense)? Thanks for your help.

God bless,
Dan
 
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