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One question that is frequently
asked relative to meditation is what is the different between
contemplation, concentration and meditation. The answer is actually
the same comment on the
Meditation Concepts and Principles for Creativity homepage about
to meditation. The difference between contemplation, concentration
and meditation is a lot like love. You can look in the dictionary
and find a definition but their use will vary widely as there are
individuals. On this point there is the way the dictionary defines
the words and then there is the way they are applied in this
material.
Concentration as defined is the act of concentrating or the state of
being concentrated. To concentrate has three primary meanings. One
is to draw or direct to a common point or converge towards a center
both of which can be seen as focusing. A second definition is to
intensify or purify by removing certain unwanted constituents or
impurities. In doing so, one condenses or compacts whatever it is
one is concentrating. The third is to direct one’s entire attention,
which is really an application of the previous two definitions. That
is, one draws their attention to a common point and in doing so they
remove from their attention any unwanted distractions that would
otherwise make their attention “less” pure and focused onto whatever
one is directing their attention.
Contemplation is of course the act of contemplating. The typical
definition of contemplation also gives three related uses of the
word. One is that contemplation is the act of contemplating,
meditating or musing or to give consideration. This definition of
course quickly brings one into a circular definition if one is
trying to compare it to meditation. To look at the definition of
musing doesn’t really help because musing is defined as to consider
thoughtfully or at length, ponder or to meditate. The other two
definitions of contemplation don’t really clarify the word relative
to meditation. The second use of contemplation is that it is an
expectation or an intention as to contemplate doing something or
other. The third definition of contemplation is given as religious
or spiritual reflection or meditation.
If you look at the dictionary definition of meditation you will see
there is really little difference between contemplation and
mediation as defined. To meditate according to the typical
dictionary definition has a variety of closely related meanings. To
meditate is: to engage in continuous and contemplative thought; it
is to look attentively or gaze; to consider thoughtfully or to
intend or plan; it is to consider thoughtfully, or at length,
ponder, cogitate; to think about doing, plan. Meditation is the act
of meditating and can be seen as a reflection upon a subject or
contemplation.
There are nuances that make the two words meditation and
contemplation different but the real difference is in the colloquial
use of the words. We refer to meditative practices and ways to
meditate but rarely talk about contemplation practices and ways to
contemplate. There are contemplative practices in some of the
Western mystical traditions that parallel Eastern practices but the
popularity of Eastern meditation practices overshadow any of the
differences or similarity between these two mystical traditions.
In any case, there is an important distinction between concentration
and meditation as defined by the dictionary. If you look carefully
at meditation and contemplation, there is little discussion of
focusing, intensifying or purifying one’s attention. Although if you
talk to anyone who meditates they will talk about “purifying” their
attention by removing unwanted distractions from their life
including those that arise from the body sensations. To sit and
meditation is a conscious attempt at removing the body movements. To
focus on one’s breathing without distraction is to concentrate one’s
attention. Yet in the dictionary definitions these points are
missed.
From a creative view point, this is extremely important. As was said
in the discussions on “Background
concept on how we create our experiences” that energy goes where
consciousness focuses its attention and awareness. As such, the fact
that one concentrates their attention in a meditative or
contemplative process is a point that is often under emphasized. It
is essential to what an individual experiences in their meditative
or contemplative practice. It is the concentration of one’s
attention and awareness that is the essence of the creative process.
One of the major points of this material is that the way you focus
your attention and awareness is key to what you experience. It is
primary for this reasons that the working definition of meditation
used in this material is slightly different than the way it is
normally defined and/or used elsewhere. Here, again, meditation as
defined for use in this material is the conscious focusing and
directing of one’s mental attention and awareness in a particular
way such as in a practice or process to achieve a particular defined
end and to become mindful and aware of the thoughts and the actions
one should take that do and do not sever that end. It is to
focus our attention and awareness in a practice or process of
becoming aware to discover and explore our true nature at every
level of our being; spiritually, mentally, emotionally and
physically to intimately know our self on each of these levels.
For the purposes of this material and
navigating from and/or creating from what is
symbolized in the heart, if you want to make a distinction
between these words, it is suggested you use the following
distinctions for contemplation, concentration and meditation with
the understanding they are all essentially the same thing, only
slightly different. Contemplation is to use our consciousness to
reflect and ponder at topic. More like playing with a topic and
looking at “what if’s” and options. As such, contemplation is about
exploring who others think we are. That is, exploring the options
and variations available to us as to how we can define ourselves. It
is about exploring who we could become or how we could define
ourselves. Contemplation is about options and variations.
Concentration is about focusing. It is to create and intense and
directed focus of our attention and awareness. It is like looking at
a light bulb that shines its light in all directions. It is to take
that same energy and focusing it in a very narrow direction . It is
to concentrated the light like in a laser. Concentration is about
taking the light from a light bulb and focusing that same energy
into a laser beam directed as a specific object to illuminate that
object to gain greater clarity. In this regard, concentration is
about concentrating our attention and awareness into who we think we
are (I am ...) for the purpose of creating and becoming that
identity. Here we focus into an identity that we define as our self
or the self.
Meditation is more about becoming an observer. Here our attention
and awareness is not necessarily intensely focused on an identity
but we are very aware and mindful of all that is occurring.
Meditation is about observing who we are and who we think we are. It
is about observing how we have defined our consciousness by the
identity we have or the identity we are creating. It is about
observing what options and variations we have embraced or discarded
and what options are still open to us. More importantly, meditation
is about observing who we really are. That is identifying who or
what is the “stuff” that chooses an options that molds itself to
become it.
It needs to be emphasized this differences between these words
really doesn’t matter. It is all determined by how we choose to uses
these terms in our life. We will only need to realize whomever we
talk to may use the terms differently. This material only uses the
term meditation in the realization there are different types and
kinds of meditations. Some of which lean more to the definitions of
contemplation and/or concentration. Here again, the recommendations
is that you use what is effective in your life for what you desire
to create.
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