May

Contemplative Prayer

Article by Michael Christ | Filed Under Prayer

Awareness Shining As You

To contemplate is to open the mind. To open the mind is to release bondage.

The awareness shining as you this moment is a light that illuminates that which you are aware of. You can only see that which you are aware of. That which you do not see is that which you are not aware of.

In the act of contemplating you shine awareness on whatever it is you are contemplating. All experiences of limitation, indeed, all experiences offer kernels of light in which your choice to contemplate can shine awareness into that kernel to illuminate deeper realization so as to transcend into full illumination.

You cannot conclude an answer something and be in contemplation. Contemplation is a function in which conclusions cease the function of contemplating. Conclusions that you conclude to be true for your self are conclusions that are based on a limited contextual framework.

Light Streams

Seeing realizations through the act of contemplating is not the same as making conclusions. Seeing realizations through contemplation occurs as light streams into your mind and it becomes illuminated wherein that illumination illuminates your awareness to see a deeper realization of that which you are contemplating.

In seeing the realization you make no choice towards concluding what you think to be true. Concluding what you think to be true is something that you only agree to in and of yourself where there is no validity to that actuality of it. Illuminating your mind in contemplation occurs as you release the mind from the conclusions you have concluded to be true in and are of your own making.

Observation is required in contemplation. To maintain an active observation in which you make no conclusion involves detaching your mind from seeking to be right. If you seek to be right you are simply looking to make a conclusion that seems logical.

Stream Of Awareness’s Light

The logic that you are looking for in a conclusion only holds validity to the perspective that conclusion was made from. The perspective in which logical assumptions seems to be right do not assume a wide scope view, as conclusions in logical assumptions closes itself off from anything outside its own logical assumption.

Contemplation does not seek to make assumptions. Contemplation only observes, and through the observation a mind is then able to open up to the fundamental stream of awareness’s light in which that light then illuminates the mind’s contemplative function through which realizations can radiate to transcend previous attachments to limiting agreements and conclusions in order to see with an illuminated vision.

Prayer:

Ask yourself a question.

To begin contemplation you must begin to operate your mental function of awareness. A question always works to direct awareness into the area the question is directing it.

For example, close your eyes and ask yourself this question, "Who am I?"

Remember, do not seek to answer it, simply observe what it is your mind is showing you.

In asking yourself that question you moved your mind’s awareness into that direction.

In order to contemplate and open up to guidance beyond what your mind knows you must involve your heart.

For example, close your eyes and ask this question in your heart, "Who am I?"

Now feel your heart and pay attention to the visions that feel most loving. Do not conclude the details of the vision to be true or false, possible or not possible. Simply feel in your heart what is most loving in response to the question.

Asking a question in your heart simply involves shifting your focus to your heart center and allowing the thought to emanate from your awareness.

The question itself is key in what it is you are attempting to illuminate. The question itself moves your awareness to look in the specific direction that the question is directing it. As such, the more appropriate the question is in coming to see whatever it is you are contemplating about will determine the clarity through which you see the realization.

Giving contemplation completely over to your awakened heart will ensure that your awareness is guided appropriately towards love, as it is your heart’s function to love.

In contemplative prayer it is also beneficial to practice with a prayer journal .

Above all else, being an observer is fundamental to contemplation. The more you attempt to control the outcome of things the more you step out of observation. There is no result that you must seek in order to come to know Self. The result already is, you simply must see it. Contemplation allows you this.

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Prayer Journal : A log of insights, visions, realizations, etc. for allowing clarity and further understanding to the activities of conscious thought to illuminate the mind.
Daily Prayer : Central to the liberation of the mind is a daily commitment to being a conduit for the expression of Universal Harmony.
Healing Prayer : Illuminating the mind, awakening the heart and realizing the soul to rise into the conscious activity of Light and Love’s healing touch.
Serenity Prayer : Bestowing the benevolent grace of serenity to every thought, every word and every deed for the release of Peace’s reign in the realm of daily interaction.
Forgiveness Prayer : Embracing unified sight to release the bondage of separation.

Tags: contemplative prayer, Prayer, Spirituality