Transcript: In Episode #1, I provided an introduction to the podcast and mentioned that guests would be discussing what they mean when they say "contemplative". I did not however say what I mean. While there may be diversity in understanding, a commonality is how our usual, familiar mind is viewed and treated in contemplative practices.
Implicit is the idea that while this mind, the one we usually think of, is necessary for survival and well-being, and is developed and valued for its ability to accumulate information and to analyze it, to think critically, to use complex language, and to anticipate and plan for the future, etc., it is not the sole means for knowing that is at our disposal as humans. When, for lack of a better expression "thinking mind" dominates, other ways of knowing go unrecognized and unappreciated.
For instance, if I wish to see the beauty, uniqueness and elegance of my visual world as it is in all its plentitude versus what I think it is, I will need to let go of thinking mind (my thoughts, concepts, opinions, judgements) and be open and receptive to unfiltered and unmediated seeing. Or speaking religiously, if I wish to know god or have a closer relationship with god, I will need to let go of what I think god is and open to receiving information that is not solely based on thinking mind including what others might have said and alleged to be true. In so doing, we're residing in "contemplative mind" so to speak.