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In a world of constant noise and distraction, the human heart longs for stillness, connection, and intimacy with the divine. Many turn to practices like meditation and contemplation to find peace and draw closer to God. Though these terms are often used interchangeably, they represent distinct spiritual experiences with unique purposes and outcomes. This article explores the essence of meditation and contemplation, drawing from non-Christian (Hindu, Buddhist, Zen) and Christian (Catholic) perspectives. It invites readers to discover the transformative gift of contemplation—a state where God’s grace actively draws us into His heart.

Understanding Contemplation: Non-Christian Perspectives

In Hindu, Buddhist, and Zen traditions, contemplation often refers to a state of deep, focused awareness that transcends ordinary thought and leads to spiritual insight or liberation. While these traditions differ in their philosophies and practices, they share a common emphasis on stilling the mind to perceive reality beyond the ego or material world.

In Hinduism, contemplation is closely tied to the concept of dhyana (often translated as meditation but encompassing contemplative states). It involves sustained concentration on a divine form, such as Krishna or Brahman, or on the nature of the self (atman). Through this practice, the practitioner seeks to realize the unity of the self with the ultimate reality. The Bhagavad Gita describes this as a state where the mind, like a lamp in a windless place, remains steady and absorbed in the divine.

In Buddhism, particularly in Theravada and Mahayana traditions, contemplation is associated with vipassana (insight) or samatha (calm abiding). Here, the practitioner observes the impermanent nature of thoughts, sensations, and phenomena, cultivating a profound awareness that leads to liberation from suffering (nirvana). Contemplation is less about engaging with a personal deity and more about realizing the emptiness or interconnectedness of all things. The mind becomes a passive observer, resting in clarity without clinging to concepts.

Zen Buddhism, with its emphasis on direct experience, views contemplation as a state of pure presence, often cultivated through practices like zazen (sitting meditation). In Zen, contemplation is not about intellectual analysis or visualization but about “just sitting” in awareness, allowing the true nature of reality to reveal itself. This passive receptivity to the present moment aligns with the idea of awakening to one’s inherent Buddha-nature.

Across these traditions, contemplation involves a shift from active mental effort to a state of receptive awareness. However, the focus remains on self-realization or insight into universal truths, often achieved through disciplined practice rather than an external divine initiative.

Understanding Contemplation: The Catholic Perspective

In the Catholic tradition, contemplation is a divine gift, initiated by God’s grace rather than human effort. The Catechism of the Catholic Church defines it as a “gaze of faith, fixed on Jesus,” where the soul is drawn into loving communion with God (CCC 2715). Unlike meditation, which engages intellect and imagination, contemplation is a passive state where God takes the lead, infusing the soul with His presence. While this passivity reflects a surrender to God’s action, it requires active cooperation through humility, detachment, and perseverance in prayer.

St. Teresa of Ávila, a Doctor of the Church, describes contemplation as progressing from the “prayer of quiet,” where the soul rests in God’s presence, to the “prayer of union,” where it is fully absorbed in divine love (The Interior Castle, Fourth and Fifth Mansions). St. John of the Cross calls it a “loving, simple, and permanent attention to divine things,” where the soul no longer actively thinks but receives God’s light (Dark Night of the Soul, Book I). St. Bernard of Clairvaux, another great mystic, likens contemplation to a spousal embrace, where the soul rests in Christ, the Bridegroom, in loving intimacy (Sermons on the Song of Songs, Sermon 83). Importantly, contemplation is a rare gift, bestowed according to God’s will, though all are called to holiness (CCC 2713).

Catholic contemplation is deeply relational, not a self-focused realization but an encounter with the living God. As the Psalmist invites, the contemplative heart is called to “be still, and know that I am God” (Psalm 46:10). This stillness is a surrender to divine initiative, where God works within the soul, drawing it into deeper intimacy.

What is Meditation?

Meditation is an active practice that engages the human faculties of intellect, imagination, and will. In both non-Christian and Christian contexts, it involves deliberate effort to reflect, focus, or cultivate spiritual awareness. In Hindu and Buddhist traditions, meditation might involve concentrating on a mantra, breath, or philosophical concept to train the mind and achieve insight. In Catholicism, meditation is a prayerful reflection on Scripture, the life of Christ, or the virtues, often using mental images or discursive thought. For example, meditating on the Gospel scene of Jesus healing the blind might involve imagining the encounter and pondering its meaning, inspiring trust in God’s mercy.

The Catechism describes meditation as a “prayerful quest” that engages thought, imagination, and emotion to deepen one’s relationship with God (CCC 2705–2708). It is a human effort, guided by the Holy Spirit, to align the heart with divine truths. While essential for spiritual growth, meditation remains within the realm of human activity, distinct from the infused grace of contemplation.

The Difference Between Meditation and Contemplation

The distinction between meditation and contemplation lies in their nature, source, and purpose:

• Nature: Meditation is active, involving intellect, imagination, and will to reflect or focus. Contemplation is passive, a receptive rest where the soul receives God’s presence without effort, though it requires active surrender through humility and detachment.
• Source: Meditation relies on human effort, guided by grace or discipline. Contemplation is a divine gift, initiated and sustained by God’s grace alone.
• Purpose: Meditation prepares the soul for union with God by fostering understanding and devotion. Contemplation is the experience of that union, where the soul rests in God’s love and is transformed by it.

In meditation, we are like laborers tilling the soil of our soul for God’s word to take root. In contemplation, we are like the soil itself, receiving the rain of God’s grace without striving. As St. Thérèse of Lisieux beautifully expressed, contemplation is like a child resting in the arms of her father, trusting entirely in His care (Story of a Soul).

Growing from Meditation to Contemplation

The journey from meditation to contemplation is a deepening of one’s relationship with God. However, one should not mistake focusing on an incident from Gospel with strong vivid imagination as contemplation. That can be a beautiful way to Meditate as one’s  imagination and intellect plays  the main role. Contemplation goes beyond and infuse into one insights which he would not have grasped with him human intellect alone.

Meditation lays the foundation by cultivating virtues, purifying intentions, and fostering love for God. However, contemplation is a gift God bestows according to His will, often to souls who have prepared through faithful meditation and prayer. As St. Augustine writes, “You have made us for Yourself, O God, and our hearts are restless until they rest in You” (Confessions, Book I). This rest is the essence of contemplation.

In Vox Divini Voyage one gets into serious practice of meditation in the foundational and Advanced Level. TAPPING and Spiritual Fencing assist in this journey. As we continue into these stages we are preparing ourself to enter into s deeper experience of the gift of contemplation in the contemplative and unitive levels.

To prepare for this gift, in Vox Divini Voyage one must practice:

• Detachment: Letting go of worldly attachments to desire God alone. We need to identify our mats, lots, boats and pots and surrender all these illusions and be washed in the blood of Jesus in TAPPING.
• Humility and Descipline: One must keep Spiritual Fencing and grow in spiritual descipline. However one should also Recognize that contemplation is a gift, not a reward for effort.
• Perseverance: Continuing in TAPPING and Meditation, even when it feels dry, trusting God’s timing.

The transition to contemplation often occurs when meditation becomes simpler, and the soul feels drawn to rest in God’s presence rather than actively think or imagine. This shift signals God’s invitation to deeper communion, though not all will experience contemplation in this life.

Lifestyle Changes: From Meditation to Contemplation

Meditation and contemplation not only shape prayer but transform daily life. Meditation inspires us to live like Christ by filling our minds with His teachings and example. For instance, meditating on Jesus’ forgiveness might motivate us to forgive a friend who has wronged us. Yet, this effort often feels like our own striving, and we may struggle to sustain it, especially when faced with persistent challenges. We might forget our inspirations or find ourselves trying hard but falling short.

Contemplation, however, allows God’s grace to work actively within us, transforming our hearts to reflect Christ more naturally. The contemplative soul becomes a vessel for God’s love, acting with Christ-like virtues not through effort but through grace. For example, where meditation might inspire us to forgive through conscious effort, a contemplative might forgive a family member’s harsh words with effortless peace, their heart moved by God’s presence. As the Apostle writes, “It is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me” (Gal  2:20). This grace-driven lifestyle is marked by:

• Spontaneity: Acting like Christ flow naturally, unforced by self-conscious effort.
• Peace: An inner calm that endures trials, rooted in trust in God. As we grow external influences are no more about to disrupt this peace.
• Love: A deeper love for others, reflecting God’s self-giving love. The actions or reactions of people do not affect our love towards them. 

The Invitation to Contemplation

Meditation is a vital practice that opens our hearts to God, but contemplation is the divine gift that sets them ablaze with His presence. While non-Christian traditions offer valuable insights into contemplative states, the Catholic understanding reveals contemplation as a loving encounter with God, where His grace transforms us beyond human capacity. By meditating faithfully and remaining open to God’s initiative, we prepare our hearts for this sacred gift, trusting that God grants it according to His will.