All of us will awaken in our own way, in our own time.
There are many paths to Awakening and all the contemplative traditions have important similarities in how to practice. Prior to religion was the human spirit of Inquiry, the seeking mind that wants to know Truth, to understand the nature of Life and everything in it. All the spiritual traditions offer us a piece of the Truth of who we are if we’re willing to seek it, the means to do so is contemplative practice. Contemplative, to contemplate, study, think, reflect, and meditate. Contemplation; deep reflective thought, meditation… to investigate or seek the Truth of deeper questions about who we are, why we do, say, or act the way we do, and how to more fully realize the person we know ourselves to be. Contemplation is the basis for mystical/spiritual practice, scientific inquiry, the skillful means of Awareness and Insight in working with suffering and the Wisdom Life is offering us.
The extraordinary gift of Life cannot be taken for granted if we’re to mature into the full potential of our humanity. We mature physically, intellectually, emotionally, and spiritually in order of difficulty. Maturity is our life’s work to be free of delusion and the suffering it causes. Spiritual teachings, philosophy, art, science, literature, and poetry are the storehouses of spiritual Insights that realize everyday experiences are the True Source of Liberation. Life is difficult, we suffer and seek to find relief free from troubling thoughts and emotions, challenging situations, and difficult relationships. We study, learn skills, develop relationships, gain wealth, even become famous and yet the key for deep Happiness and Wellbeing seems illusive. Contemplative practices train us to turn Awareness inward, to observe, reflect, and allow any state of mind without attachment or aversion. With practice we recognize everything experienced is Wisdom, arising and dissolving in the space of Awareness. Nothing is fixed or permanent, Emptiness is the nature of everything in universe. Contemplative practices are the skillful means to know ourselves, to work with difficulties that offer us insights, and to realize Virtue.
