Contemplation

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Contemplation comes from the latin root templum (from Greek temnein: to cut or divide), and means to separate something from its environment, and to enclose it in a sector. Contemplation is the Latin translation of Greek 'theory' (theoria). In a religious sense it is a type of prayer or meditation. Within Christianity it is related to mysticism, and portrayed by the works of authors such as Teresa of Avila, Margery Kempe, Augustine Baker and Thomas Merton. Many religions share the concept of contemplation. Naropa University, for example, offers a Master's program in contemplative education in the context of Buddhism.

Contemplation was an important part of the philosophy of Plato; for Plato, by means of contemplation the soul may ascend to knowledge of the Form of the Good or other divine Forms.

The words contemplation and meditation sometimes have almost opposite meanings in the Western and Eastern traditions. In the West, contemplation may refer to a contentless direction of the mind to God (Christianity) or to the Good (Platonism), whereas meditation may involve a specific, directed mental exercise, such as visualization of a religious scene or consideration of a scriptural passage. In the East, however, these two terms' definitions may be reversed.