The word “contemplation” means different things to different people. In the truest sense (as several posters have mentioned) contemplation is “passive” prayer; a gift from God and not something we can practice of our own effort.
Much of what has been mentioned in this thread is actually “active” prayer . . . rosary, meditation, lectio, mental prayer and so on. By active I mean we are applying our minds and hearts . . . using the faculties of our soul (intellect, will and memory) . . . to reach out to God. This is not contemplative prayer in the sense of how the mystical Doctors present it . . . precisely because these methods are all active. Each method, however, can
predispose us for contemplation . . . should God wish to give it.
There is also a way of prayer that some theologians call “acquired contemplation.” This is when a soul . . . through the fruit of his own effort and aided by grace . . . becomes habitually recollected to God. Prayer becomes very simplified and non-discursive . . . perhaps nothing more than simple aspirations. However, the soul is continually aware of God’s presence in all that he does. The prayer tends toward the wordless and formless as an expression of the unitive presence the soul continually tastes. So active ways of prayer aren’t necessarily helpful anymore as the soul has arrived at the “end” those “means” are meant to lead us. Good examples of this way of prayer would be Brother Lawrence’s “Practice of the Presence of God” and “The Cloud of Unknowing.”
“Infused contemplation” is what the mystics typically speak of. These are brief moments when God stills the faculties of the soul. The prayer is dark and obscure . . . not based in thoughts, words or feelings. It is more of a simple gazing on Truth without reflection, analysis or introspection. We aren’t doing (active) . . . we are be-ing (passive). So, in a sense, it is the “opposite” of meditation which is discursive by nature. Again, this is not something we can do . . . it is His gift . . . and it can (and often does) flow from the active ways of prayer previously mentioned.
If we were to look at St. Teresa’s mansions in “Interior Castle” we’d see that the active ways of prayer tend to dominate the first two mansions; acquired contemplation is typically of the third mansion and infused contemplation is what she describes in the fourth-seventh mansions.
These varying definitions can be very confusing . . . and conversation on this subject can be very difficult sometimes when people are coming from different perspectives . . . yet using the same words to describe what they mean.
Hope this helps!
Dave
But I am learning bit by bit and it is interesting when I have tried it. Please know that your posts are helping someone here a lot.
