We Share One Life, We Are One Life
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*Tom Carter, Arati Evening Worship (Kumbh Mela), Flickr
*Mystical Rose [Mary, Mother of Jesus], Katherine Aka "Kat", Flickr
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1About this time the disciples came to Jesus and asked him who would be the greatest in the kingdom of heaven. 2Jesus called a child over and had the child stand near him. 3Then he said:
I promise you this. If you don't change and become like a child, you will never get into the kingdom of heaven.
*Matthew 18.1-3, CEV
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Jesus speaks of the way to enter the kingdom of heaven here-and-now. What is this kingdom?
All written Scriptures, inspired by Truth, refer to an inner Reality. The words arise from the already-and-always-present intuition of these inner-spiritual realities. In the words of Scriptures, spirit makes possible the letter (written), the letter arises from the spirit (Divine Presence, Inspiration).
Contemplation is another of the words referring to this sacred, inner Reality that Jesus called kingdom of heaven. The Christ spoke words deeply, spiritually mysterious, but persons have pulled them down into a mental understanding only.
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Contemplation implies observing something in the temple. The word originally signified a space marked out by augurs, or priests in ancient Rome who interpreted omens, or signs, for making observations. So, the original meaning meant "observe omens carefully" (John Ayto. Dictionary of Word Origins). The word became generalized to any act of intentional, focused observation.
In spiritual theology, "contemplation" retains a religious use but has been transferred to refer to the state of quiet being in Prayer, or open-loving awareness of Divine Being. The area now marked out is Spirit, beyond matter, body, mind, and soul. The area marked out for loving union with Grace is "spirit" or "Spirit."
What does one experience in contemplation? Christians have defined this state in many but similar ways. Thomas Traherne (b. 1652) was a priest, chaplain, and mystical poet. He wrote regarding contemplation, defining it as, "The pure, virgin awareness of a little child in the state of innocence."
Traherne's definition of contemplation reminds us of Jesus' words that we each must become a child to enter the kingdom of heaven. Contemplation is practicing just this childlikeness, this entering into the sacred space of faith, hope, and love. Contemplation is the most pure expression on earth of this loving union with God.
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One might say: But is not loving others the most pure expression of the kingdom of heaven? Yes and no. The most pure expressions of love on earth are those that arise from that Inner Temple where we are all already one. From the Inner Temple we serve from the graces of Grace already within us and where we are within all and all within us.
You could say: But this does not make sense? No one said it is meant to make sense. Making sense as most of us speak of sense arises from the mind, not Spirit. The most sublime, mystical Truth is most true, for to the ungraced intellect it can never be comprehended, and only in the Spirit can it be consistently and truly intuited: even then, we cannot speak of any rational understanding. Our celebration of the not-knowing is itself an expression of our being willing to become like a child in faith, love, and hope.
Contemplation is the expression of childlike innocence, or that being beyond, or outside, any admixture of other than Divine Benevolence. Innocence in the most sublime sense is, then, not a moral term but a spiritual purity of being. Jesus says: "Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God" (Matthew 5.8, ESV).
And this purity of contemplation is an undivided, singular-focused heart, content on all things revolving around the Light Within, the Center, Divine Presence.
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We are each a lovely, pure Rose, in the Garden of Grace.
*White Rose, Pyogenes..., Flickr
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*You can contact Brian at briankwilcox@yahoo.com. Please keep in mind, when reading from this site, that teachings cover an extended period of years and, therefore, reflect changes over that time.
