Contemplation

What is Contemplation?

Ignorance is the activity of the ordinary mind that arises and operates as a result of unrefined karmic patterns. When ignorance, in the form of the conceptual thinking mind is dissolved, then what remains is truth and its expansive movement into infinite frontierless light. Now, it is not possible to refine and, finally, dissolve our storehouse of karmic patterns overnight, because such patterns carry within them a certain level of momentum that requires fulfillment. In other words, there are simply some desires that we will have to fulfill in this life, and we will have to use our minds to fulfill them. Therefore, at least for now, even if we have found a genuine path and guru, then we can take the presence of the mind for granted.

Bearing in mind that we can’t dissolve our minds instantly, the question then becomes: ‘How do we use this mind in such a way that our ignorant patterns of thinking and perceiving do not proliferate and increase in density?‘ This is where the practice of contemplation comes into play. To contemplate is to use thought in such a way that actually disarms or disables forms of thought that lead to the proliferation of denser, harsher patterns of thinking. Whereas ordinary thinking, if left unattended, unobserved and unchecked, usually becomes increasingly complex and dispersed, contemplative thinking, on the other hand, if utilised properly, actually leads to the gradual dissolution of thought and its underlying karmic root structure.

Thus, contemplation is not something that we necessarily need to sit down and practise for an allocated amount of time each day. Rather, we should use contemplation as a tool when certain heavy or negative patterns of thinking seem to get better of us and leave us unable to remain in a peaceful and content state of being. We should connect to different streams of contemplative of thought and then use them as an armour when we feel overcome by patterns of thinking that partially or completely imbalance us.

Contemplation Within the Dattatreya Tradition

In order to evolve within the Datta Tradition, we must come out of the modes of controlled conceptual thinking and into the flow of pure feeling and intuition. There are certain points on the path where the conditioned mind will try and create a barrier to progression. This is because the mind knows that forward evolutionary movement on the Datta path, and the necessary connection with a Datta guru, spells total destruction for the continuity of its own activity.

What we call our ‘mind’ is not an independently operating entity; it is actually more of a ‘cloud’ of patterns that anchors us within a specific frequency of consciousness. Thus, within the sphere of that frequency, there may be many elements that wish to hold us within that cloud of patterns. On an external level, this could even be our own friends or acquaintances who are accustomed to interacting and expressing themselves in a certain way. On an inner level, this could be various connections that we have within subtler dimensions, such as with, for example, our entire ancestral lineage. By looking at all of these points, it is easy to see why remaining firmly and consistently connected within the Datta Tradition is so important. The words, presence and the entire mandala of activity that surrounds a Datta master are designed to be things that we can hold onto to to pull ourselves up. Thus, if our awareness has not reached the level of maturity where we can use it to simply cut through the flow of thinking, and we remain more or less bound to the pre-patterned, conditioned activity of mind, then we must take refuge in wiser forms of thinking, in contemplation.

How to Practise Contemplation?

If we are capable of remaining in a peaceful, content and still state at all times, then there is no need to practise contemplation. The need to practise contemplation arises when we are faced with flows of thought that destabilise and render us unable to be simply neutrally aware of the activity within our minds.

So, contemplation, or wise thinking, always arises in response to less wise forms of thinking. For instance, we may have lost somebody or something in our lives; maybe we lost our job or an intimate relationship dissolved. If we were to attached to this object, person or experience that we separated from – if our sense of happiness and fulfillment was somehow connected to it any way – then we will certainly suffer to some degree or another. Many different kinds of negative thoughts may start flowing through our minds. In this case, we could contemplate like this:

Everything ends at some point. Even my own embodied existence will end at some point. If I am totally honest with myself, I actually have no real idea when that will be. I could die at any moment. My family, friends, spouse, children, all of these beings could die at any time. Tomorrow is never guaranteed. The sustenance of relationships is never guaranteed. The sustenance of certain experiences is never guaranteed. Thus, the suffering that I am experiencing now is the same suffering that is always waiting to meet me when the objects of my attachment die, dissolve, transform, or even separate from me.

As long as I my sense of fulfillment remains connected with things that change, then my sense fulfillment, my happiness, is always, ultimately, out of my control. If my own sense of fulfillment is not under my control, then what is in my control? Everything comes and goes. I, as a body, as a collection of thoughts, am also just a passing appearance within this whirl of created existence. Thus, it would make sense for me, for these few short years that I am here, to abide in a state of peace that is immovable and unchanging. To do this, I must find this peace within myself. I must find this peace through acceptance, inner tranquility and silence.

Now, technically, this contemplation takes place within the realm of thought, and as earlier mentioned, thought is always to be seen, ultimately, as an expression of ignorance. However, such a contemplation as this is actually a type of thought that points away from modes of ignorant thinking. Such contemplations actually help to break down and dissolve our enfeebled, attached approaches to existence. If we really allow some of these statements that have been included in the above contemplation to sink in, then we quickly see that there is no use in worrying about anything in life. When we see how truly limited our control is, then we are pushed to a state of inner surrender. This does not mean that we become ineffectual, passive beings. It means that we do what we can in our lives, we live naturally, and then we accept what live gives us with a smile on our face – knowing full well that this entire game that we call as ‘life’ passes by in the flicker of a eye like an evanescent dream.

Written by Jack Barratt