| People sometimes ask me why they are having | | | | many of us would like to achieve, "a state of |
| trouble calming themselves and meditating. "How | | | | awareness of God's being." Isn't that what many |
| do I stop my mind from going a million miles an | | | | people try to achieve when they meditate? How |
| hour or the incessant chatter in my mind when I | | | | do you reach that wonderful state of mind? The |
| try to meditate? How do I find that stillness and | | | | answer, beautifully put in a few words, is in the |
| peace?" | | | | definition... |
| It takes practice and comes more easily for | | | | "An act of considering with intention: study... the |
| some people than it does for others. While you | | | | act of regarding steadily." |
| are practicing meditation, however, there is | | | | And finally... |
| another way to grow spiritually, sometimes by | | | | "intention, expectation" |
| leaps and bounds. There is a proactive alternative | | | | Therefore, to reach a higher state of awareness, |
| to passive meditation. | | | | an awareness of God's being, use contemplation |
| There is no doubt that meditation is beneficial, but | | | | by considering any aspect of life or divine being |
| don't forget, it isn't the only form of spiritual | | | | with attention and do so steadily with intention |
| communication with the Higher Self. Believe it or | | | | and expectation. What can you expect? How |
| not, contemplation, an often over looked journey | | | | about joy, happiness, a greater understanding, and |
| inward, is a good way to communicate with the | | | | yes, even a stillness within and peace. Because |
| inner world. Contemplation stills the mind in | | | | once one has felt that realization of and |
| another way by focusing it on one subject. If you | | | | awareness of God or a Higher Self, joy and |
| can't still your thoughts and reach a deep state of | | | | peace soon follow. |
| meditation, don't despair. | | | | Sit or lie down in as quiet and private a place as |
| Just like giving a small child a task to keep it busy | | | | you can find and simply think about, contemplate, |
| and out of mischief, giving the mind a subject to | | | | the wonder of nature, or any other aspect of life. |
| contemplate is a good way to reach a higher | | | | Use your imagination and consider how it must |
| state of understanding. | | | | feel to be in all things and to be all things. Each |
| According to the Merriam-Webster Online | | | | beautiful creation on earth is a direct result of the |
| Dictionary, Contemplation is... | | | | movement of consciousness, the same |
| 1 a: concentration on spiritual things as a form of | | | | consciousness you are using to consider its |
| private devotion b: a state of mystical awareness | | | | creation. |
| of God's being | | | | Let your heart and senses fill, because we think |
| 2: an act of considering with attention : study | | | | the thoughts with our mind, but we feel the |
| 3: the act of regarding steadily | | | | thoughts in our hearts. Our intention is within our |
| 4: intention, expectation | | | | mind, but the expectation is within our hearts. |
| What a wonderful description of a state of mind | | | | |