"Contemplation must be possible if man is to remain human.”

Posted by $ Olduglycarl 7 years, 11 months ago to Ask the Gulch
46 comments | Share | Flag

Contemplation is good for all but especially for the Conscious Human, it perhaps, connects us to existence itself. It seem likely that Quantum Physicist might prove this eventually but all we need to observe is the "Insights" we might come to, insights we have no knowable right to have. Many have had them, Tesla, comes to mind and perhaps Ayn Rand herself. All that these folks and many, many others created could not have come from the brain alone.

We here, seem to listen and read news articles a lot. Write a lot, but probably don't engage in Facebook or Twitter a lot. It doesn't take much to find time for contemplation, reflection or self introspection. Sometimes all it takes is a short "Walk about" or quite times while driving to and from work or performing your daily routine. That's the advantage of being Conscious and having a mind...you can contemplate while performing physical tasks at the same time, things the automatic brain is good at while whiling away in your mind.

Excerpts from the Article: Rest and Quiet Contemplation: We Need More.

"It’s very easy to be sucked into the world of the chattering class, to believe that you must always be engaged, reading, watching, commenting, tweeting, messaging, sharing pictures, and on and on and on. And if you’re not? Well, then you're uninformed and a disengaged citizen." "Then there is, of course, the sense that if we’re personally not sharing every thought or detail of our life and commenting on everyone else’s updates that we’re somehow not connected, don't have friends, or we’re missing out on opportunities." "But, again, what do we really gain by being plugged-in and oversharing other than elevated blood pressure and a bad case of paranoia, narcissism, or both?" "No, life is already far too busy with plenty of distractions and stresses. Perhaps we would do better to use our time to focus on those things we can impact personally. To do so, though, requires time for rest and quiet contemplation. In On Christian Contemplation, Thomas Merton argues, “… contemplation must be possible if man is to remain human.”"

What do you do to gain the time to contemplate..?


All Comments


Previous comments...   You are currently on page 2.
  • Posted by $ 7 years, 11 months ago in reply to this comment.
    A human, or a living entity that appears to be human, that is not conscious, (no mind, no introspection, no conscience)...is what I call: Humanoid...just a brain in a body like a robot.

    The idea of connecting to existence is perhaps our use of Quantum Entanglements. (the wave exchange between entangled particles is the exchange of information)
    It would seem at this point that the quantum laws, as we observe them, are perhaps what enables existence to exist...like the electrical and magnetic nature of positive electricity flowing to ground (-) and Norths attraction to south magnetics.
    I know it's a stretch for you to consider...but I still predict it will be proven one day. It's an insight that could not have come from the limited compartmentalized information stored in my head.
    I know you think that everything is in the head but that too, one day, will be proved wrong.

    Just remember my little phrase...It's Not Mystical...It's quantum physical.
    Reply | Permalink  
  • Posted by $ blarman 7 years, 11 months ago in reply to this comment.
    Lol. Yup. In many cases they are ruled by their passions as much as any animal. Their self-awareness and Consciousness only condemn them the more for it.
    Reply | Permalink  
  • Posted by ewv 7 years, 11 months ago in reply to this comment.
    No it isn't profound or deep. You got it right the first time. It's mysticism. "Muddy waters look deep".
    Reply | Permalink  
  • Posted by ewv 7 years, 11 months ago
    What does it mean to say that "Contemplation is good for all but especially for the Conscious Human, it perhaps, connects us to existence itself"? What is a human who is not conscious? What does it mean to say that non-humans, which have no conceptual faculty, contemplate, which you claim is "good" for them? Contemplation is conceptual thinking based on prior perception of reality. What other "connection to existence" are you talking about? What does "Quantum Physicist proving" a "connection" have to do with it? "Prove" mysticism? If people did not already think then there would be no quantum physics, which is not required to prove that we think and does not prove mysticism. What is an "insight we have no knowable right to have"? You have a moral right to whatever thought you engage in. Where else do you think ideas come from other than the "brain alone", based on perception of reality? People either think and create, based on their conscious awareness of reality or they don't.

    You don't "gain the time to contemplate". You choose how to use the time available to you.
    Reply | Permalink  
  • Posted by $ 7 years, 11 months ago in reply to this comment.
    Ah, but most if not all, human looking, "nonhumans" on earth are just Humanoids, which is just an entity and not a "being"..."subhuman" would be a better description...as you already know, they mostly hang out in governments.
    Reply | Permalink  
  • Posted by $ 7 years, 11 months ago in reply to this comment.
    Hmm, just adding or completing with the intent to empower those I respond to with a bit of knowledge, sharing an insight, something I "See" that just might be likely or just sharing our mutuality, sometimes in a joking way that causes your Metaphor to live!

    Not trying to be top dog.

    I know, I just spend too much time in the ether.

    PS...never heard the radio show but I have heard about it.
    Reply | Permalink  
  • Posted by 1musictime 7 years, 11 months ago
    A requirement is to be an am preceding, and a requirement, to think...It's above and identifies...It's a level above. It includes noting. One may ask if there are in-betweens? Various processes may imitate...
    Reply | Permalink  
  • Posted by 1musictime 7 years, 11 months ago
    It's okay to be nonhuman since it includes superhuman, or above human, including the next person's belief of who and what is human.
    Reply | Permalink  
  • Posted by Herb7734 7 years, 11 months ago in reply to this comment.
    Hi, Carl: Do you remember an old radio show called Can You Top This? You keep topping my replies. I don't mind, though, always a learning experience.
    Reply | Permalink  
  • Posted by $ blarman 7 years, 11 months ago
    Thinking is what separates man from beast. It is what overcomes and bridles raw emotion. It is what separates the great from the mediocre. Thought is the essence of man.
    Reply | Permalink  
  • Posted by $ 7 years, 11 months ago in reply to this comment.
    Now that's interesting...Contemplation while watching foot ball...
    Whether you realize it or not, engaging the mind in contemplation often does...overcome the speed of light once you come to some insight, realization or an understanding of something you previously did not.
    Reply | Permalink  
  • Posted by Herb7734 7 years, 11 months ago
    Carl, if you weren't a great contributor to this site, I'd call you a mystic.But I have learned to look beyond my first impression and look deeper. You are usually more profound than most. I realize that you have described what I do over at a friend's house, watching a football game. I've done so much contemplation that I should have been able to figure out how to overcome the speed of light by now. You are right contemplation goes deeper and further when done as an end in itself.
    Reply | Permalink  
  • Posted by Dobrien 7 years, 11 months ago in reply to this comment.
    I have completed 5 projects in the last 3 weeks
    I will email you the images if you would like to see.
    Reply | Permalink  
  • Posted by $ 7 years, 11 months ago in reply to this comment.
    The great thing about creating via "Artwork, sketching and painting" is the "downline focus" needed to see your project through to completion; seeing that final vision come to life and working each part into a whole.
    Reply | Permalink  
  • Posted by Dobrien 7 years, 11 months ago
    Hi Carl,
    Artwork, sketching and painting are great for time to contemplate.
    Fishing may be the best, alas not a lot of time devoted to it anymore.
    Golf also is good.
    Meditation of course.
    Reply | Permalink  
  • Posted by mminnick 7 years, 11 months ago
    "Cogito Ergo Sum" - Rene Descartes and as stated by Ayn Rand - “I am, therefore I'll think”. ― Atlas Shrugged. Read
    Reply | Permalink  

  • Comment hidden. Undo