Sunday Stream (9) ~ 12 Contemplations

[mtmynd]

con•tem•pla•tion [noun]
1. The act or state of contemplating.
2. Thoughtful observation or study.
3. Meditation on spiritual matters, especially as a form of devotion.
4. Intention or expectation: sought further information in contemplation of a career change.

I excel at contemplating. It is my strong point. It doesn’t pay worth a damn but it is something that I enjoy doing and have enjoyed doing for a long time. Despite my joy in contemplating I have been unable to find out through my contemplations why it is that I have taken to contemplating. It remains a mystery to me and that is, as I have come to realize, a good thing. Mysteries for me are fuel... fuel to keep my imagination rolling and going, to where I never know, but that is the process of mystery.

But it is not ‘mystery’ that is on my mind at this moment. Contemplation is. Contemplation may be viewed as the act of unraveling mysteries, although it is much more than that. I wrote a list of Twelve Contemplations -

(1) War serves no purpose other than to kill.
(2) Peace has no purpose other than to quell the nervous system.
(3) Man has no predators other than themselves.
(4) Matter cannot exist without opposition.
(5) Energy is the force of opposition.
(6) Fear is the refusal to accept Now.
(7) Love is the acceptance of Now.
(7+1) Ignorance is denial of change.
(9) Death is transformation of matter.
(10) Time is the accumulation of moments.
(11) Life is only for living.
(12) Consciousness is the womb of eternity.

This list may very well be called “Meditations”, but I chose “Contemplations” because I have not simply let these things pass by ‘the stream’, but yet have focused upon these 12 areas before allowing them to move on. I found it rewarding in a spiritual sense. Unfortunately a contemplative life goes against the grain of today’s modern life.

Being a “yin/yang person” I also find myself captivated by the current trend of modernism, for it hints of spareness but yet includes the ‘now-ness’ of today. I am intrigued by many of today’s design trends and the high tech of our modern life – the design of everyday accouterments: plasma television, the new apple computer, the latest cell phone technology, the latest designs in home furnishings from chairs and sofas, tables and lighting, kitchen appliances, flooring... the “modern architecture” that reduces heating and cooling requirements and goes beyond what we are accustomed to in family dwellings - the list goes on and on. I find myself a bit fixated on these new things that have come about since the new millennium has begun, and yet...

The “Twelve Contemplations,” I feel, are beyond any trends, beyond what is then or now. This list applies to all humans, regardless of the race, creed, color, nationality... or wealth status. They simply are Contemplations that may lead to a further discovery of Self, the reuniting with our very Being. Who can say what the world would be like thru that rebirth?

Peace and Ease,
Cecil
28 November 2004


Beneath the Pomegranate Tree

[Lightning Rod]

According to the recommendations of The Buddha:

Things to contemplate that make life richer:

1. Death
2. Disease
3. Injustice
4. Poverty
5. Cruelty and War
6. Innocent Suffering
7. Old age
8. Fleetingness of Life
9. Weakness
10. Pain
11. Longing or Sadness
12. Hate

[judih]

as for me,
i contemplate that which intrigues me

since it's all a mystery - i'm almost always open-mouthed in astonishment or awe (for better or for worse)

good one, cecil
and great photo

judih

[knip]

Not having a lot of spare time right now, but wanting to contribute nonetheless, I focused on #1, given its applicability to my profession. As I was getting ready to decry its oversimplicity I realized it was a starting point for contemplation, and not a statement of universal truth.

So yes, I agree it is a good starting point. War must be contemplated on all levels, though. Does the individual need to kill? If war is an extension of policy, as Clausewitz says, do the politicians need to kill? Or does society need to kill? Or is it something else (my vote, obviously)?

Furthermore, was WW II a means to killing? I doubt it, but relatively speaking, maybe WW I was? The horrific air bombing campaign of the 2nd 'Great' war was a horrific use of new technology previously untested in battle, but the doctrine for its use was laid out years before by Douhet. Was this because Douhet needed a way to kill more? What are the parallels with what is going on today in Iraq?

Ahhhhhhh...very contemplatitive, this process. Doesn't solve my shortness of time issue, though.



Thanks, Cecil.

[mnaz]

Well, Cecil....

One could get lost within these contemplations; they are simply stated, yet beyond cursory rational thought....

War serves no purpose but to kill. Yet death is simply transformation of matter. It can also be said that war represents violent change. Yet ignorance is the denial of change. And by "love is the acceptance of now", this must be unconditional acceptance, as I read it. So if your peaceful family and neighborhood is destroyed by bombs, the only things that give your life real meaning are unjustly destroyed. Yet you cannot have "love" unless you unconditionally accept this destruction.

These contemplations seem more the beginnings of a path toward inner peace, independent of ever-changing reality in the field of time.

But taken as literal truths-- as points to justify real actions in a "rational" sense, they can be spun in all kinds of directions. For example, they could be used to explain any war, no matter how devastating or unjust, as a normal state of human existence, or they could be used to explain war as an unnecessary restriction of consciousness. Opponents of war might be "ignorant" in denial of the changes which "necessitate" the war, or warmongers might be "ignorant" in denial of a need to change to accomodate a changing world without destroying it....

Anyway.... thanks for the read, Cec. Thought-provoking, as always.....

[Artguy]

After much contemplation .....rather than discussing my more recent contemplations....(the 4 noble truths among them...)....from where does contemplation come? Is it a thought process or is it what happens between thoughts.....and carried on the breath????

[Doreen Peri]

Hi Cecil..

Thanks for the interesting stream!

I was going to contemplate #2
"(2) Peace has no purpose other than to quell the nervous system."

but I only needed to think about it for a second and realized I disagreed with it. I wonder if you'd mind expanding on this thought. If #1 is true (which it is in a lot of respects, but there's more to it, as you know), then how could #2 be true? There are many purposes for peace. I understand that these are "contemplations" and you're not saying each one is cut and dry. But I disagree with #2 completely. Could you explain?

Also, what's wrong with the number 8? You can say 8 at Studio 8! heh

Why the 7 + 1? hmmmmm?

Thanks for your insights!

-d

[WIREMAN]

.....Yes....1...2...3...4....5...6...7.....7+1.....8.....9....10...11....12..........somebody tore the words right outta Buddha's mouth.......peace be with you and yours my friend......in the "NOW!" and ....wired

[hester_prynne]

Contemplate! contemplate! dance to the music!

Cont em plates!

cont em! 12 plates to start from!

It was contemplation, I know........

I too am a contemplater Cec.

a singsongy contemplatress.....

bee flat 12 bar blues, sycopated contemplations.

killing me softly with yere song....you are.....

thanks Cec
Hest

[Arcadia]

thanks for the stream cecil!.
See you,

Arcadia

[mtmynd]

L'Rod- That Buddha was some kinda guy, wasn't he? Cool. Perhaps the King of Kontemplation... what ya think?

Judih - yes, contemplate the intrigue, but never lose the mystery. Thank you for stopping by! ((hug))

knipper - seems as though this gave you something to comtemplate, eh? WWII wouldn't have been if it wasn't for defense, but even defense requires killing, no? I wasn't putting a qualitative slant to my statement... just the fact. Thanx for the reply!

mnaz - questions, questions... to contemplate? this wasn't meant to be a definitive list, only something that popped in some time back and I was elaborating a bit on the contemplative. As always, Mark, enjoyed hearing from you. Gracias!

artguy - "from where does contemplation come?" excellent question... perhaps thru some contemplation... maybe...? Nice seeing you about, Kurt. Thanks!

Dor' - Yes, I think that is the basis of peace... to de-stress, relax... enjoy the peacefulness of being without the mind affecting the nervous system, but I'd like to hear your thought(s) on the purpose of peace. I'm always open to other's ideas... 8 when used with ( ) comes out (8) on my monitor... how about yours? Thank you for the reply!

wired - I appreciate your comments, amigo... always brings me a smile! Muchas gracias, Cap'n Morgan... keep a leg up!

Ahh, Hes - music is a definite jumpstart for a good session of contemplation, isn't it? I appreciate your reply and very happy to "kill you softly"...

Arcadia - otro vez, Gracias! I appreciate seeing you here... it always brings me a smile. Con paz, mi amiga...

[stilltrucking]

...

[mtmynd]

Truck - upon reading your 'bell curve' dealy, I was struck by the idea that a bell curve, when seen reflecting off a mirror resembles an empty cup... always a good thing to begin a new journey - free of expectations and clear of directions. Contemplate the space within the curve and not the curve itself.

It is indeed, peculiar that voice regulates music, eh? Instrumentals have no such bondage, so to speak... or is that 'so to hear'?

"...having no luck with getting a practice going," may indicate giving up on luck and seeing what happens without it. Just another idea, you understand.

Thank you for your replies... I do appreciate them.

[jimboloco]

no luck in getting a practice goingggg???dude, the dude abides!
we are sanga, man!