Difference between revisions of "Contemplation"
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| − | We take time to consider the meaning and merit of our own impulses and actions and the actions of others. This enables us to penetrate the seeming appearance of things. | + | |
| − | [[ | + | [[File:Follow-TWK-Practice.jpg|left|Spiritual Practice]] |
| − | == | + | We take time to consider the meaning and merit of our own impulses and actions and the actions of others. This enables us to penetrate the seeming appearance of things. |
| − | "You were not trained to concentrate in your education in the world. | + | |
| + | "'''[[Steps to Knowledge]]''' teaches you how to think about things in a very constructive way. We call this contemplation. It is different from meditation. It is contemplation. You are going to contemplate a question about life. You are going to contemplate something, not simply to come up with exciting answers, but really to try to penetrate it. Going deeper than the surface where everyone is so caught up. And your stillness practice is really your meditation because it enables your awareness to go deeper and to connect with Knowledge, which knows." | ||
| + | <ref>Taking the Steps to Knowledge (April 21, 2000)</ref> | ||
| + | |||
| + | ==Concentration== | ||
| + | "You were not trained to concentrate in your [[education]] in the world. | ||
You were trained to memorize information for brief periods of time in | You were trained to memorize information for brief periods of time in | ||
order to meet certain educational requirements, and then most of these | order to meet certain educational requirements, and then most of these | ||
things were forgotten.You were taught to pass tests to meet temporary or | things were forgotten.You were taught to pass tests to meet temporary or | ||
| − | expedient needs. You were not taught patience or concentration. You were | + | expedient needs. You were not taught [[patience]] or [[concentration]]. You were |
| − | not taught contemplation or how to abide with greater problems for | + | not taught [[contemplation]] or how to abide with greater [[problems]] for |
longer periods of time. You were not taught how to be single minded." | longer periods of time. You were not taught how to be single minded." | ||
<ref name="wgcII31">[[Wisdom from the Greater Community]] Volume Two, Chapter 31</ref> | <ref name="wgcII31">[[Wisdom from the Greater Community]] Volume Two, Chapter 31</ref> | ||
| − | "How will you understand a Greater Community intelligence? How | + | "How will you understand a Greater Community [[intelligence]]? How |
| − | will you understand what each Greater Community group is doing here | + | will you understand what each [[The Greater Community|Greater Community]] group is doing here |
and what their purpose is? You will have no possibility of success in finding | and what their purpose is? You will have no possibility of success in finding | ||
an answer here if you approach these questions in a casual manner or | an answer here if you approach these questions in a casual manner or | ||
| Line 28: | Line 33: | ||
how to think about something in a gradual and penetrating way." | how to think about something in a gradual and penetrating way." | ||
<ref name="wgcII31"/> | <ref name="wgcII31"/> | ||
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| + | ==Action and Contemplation== | ||
"You are learning | "You are learning | ||
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action." | action." | ||
<ref>[[The Great Waves of Change]], Chapter 14</ref> | <ref>[[The Great Waves of Change]], Chapter 14</ref> | ||
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==References== | ==References== | ||
Revision as of 02:24, 26 March 2014
We take time to consider the meaning and merit of our own impulses and actions and the actions of others. This enables us to penetrate the seeming appearance of things.
"Steps to Knowledge teaches you how to think about things in a very constructive way. We call this contemplation. It is different from meditation. It is contemplation. You are going to contemplate a question about life. You are going to contemplate something, not simply to come up with exciting answers, but really to try to penetrate it. Going deeper than the surface where everyone is so caught up. And your stillness practice is really your meditation because it enables your awareness to go deeper and to connect with Knowledge, which knows." [1]
Concentration
"You were not trained to concentrate in your education in the world. You were trained to memorize information for brief periods of time in order to meet certain educational requirements, and then most of these things were forgotten.You were taught to pass tests to meet temporary or expedient needs. You were not taught patience or concentration. You were not taught contemplation or how to abide with greater problems for longer periods of time. You were not taught how to be single minded." [2]
"How will you understand a Greater Community intelligence? How will you understand what each Greater Community group is doing here and what their purpose is? You will have no possibility of success in finding an answer here if you approach these questions in a casual manner or if you merely attach yourself to pleasing or comforting ideas. You will have to concentrate on, contemplate and live with these questions without an immediate answer." [2]
"The Greater Community Way of Knowledge focuses upon a larger context of life where concentration has increasing value and merit. It is a unique preparation. It teaches concentration because it teaches you how to focus your mind. It teaches concentration because it teaches you to still your mind, which takes great concentration. It teaches you to think constructively, and it teaches you the art of contemplation, where you learn how to think about something in a gradual and penetrating way." [2]
Action and Contemplation
"You are learning now, how to distinguish between action and contemplation. There is a time to act. And there is a time to not act but to be alert, like a hunter who must wait oh so long for the right moment to act. This ability to stalk your prey, whether it be an animal on the hunt or Knowledge within yourself, is something that has been lost in your society to a great extent. People are so over-stimulated that they have no sense of proportion." [3]
"Thus it is that you will learn with Knowledge to be at peace in the world, and yet when you act, you will act with true efficacy and with great result. In this way, you may be a person of action and contemplation all at once, for your contemplation will be deep and meaningful, and your action will be deep and meaningful as well." [4]
"Action is necessary to fulfill what one is seeing and knowing. Action does not have to be immediate, however, for there should be a period of contemplation. There are, in fact, three stages in the process of seeing, knowing and acting. There is seeing a sign. Something stimulates you. You recognize something must be done. There is a time to contemplate, a time of knowing what this is, feeling the need to take it into your mind and your heart. Then there is a time of action." [5]
References
- ↑ Taking the Steps to Knowledge (April 21, 2000)
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 Wisdom from the Greater Community Volume Two, Chapter 31
- ↑ Wisdom from the Greater Community Volume One, Chapter 26
- ↑ Steps to Knowledge, Step 236
- ↑ The Great Waves of Change, Chapter 14