Concentration, Meditation, Contemplation
Concentration. Meditation. Contemplation. By Lars Adelskogh.
Fundamentals of LT4: (5.1) Concentration is the ability of the monad to direct its attention. Meditation is the ability of the monad to direct its attention continuously. Contemplation is the ability of the monad to direct its attention continuously and to simultaneously move its waking consciousness to a higher envelope.
(5.2) Concentration can be further developed into right meditation and right contemplation while being nourished with knowledge, self-discipline (elimination of unnecessary desires), self-consciousness, and right attitude which comprises realization of responsibility, gratitude, humility, and reverence for what is higher.
(5.3) What chiefly distinguishes meditation from concentration is the ability of the monad intentionally to overcome the distracting influence of envelope automatism and in so doing to keep concentration longer. When the vibrations of the monad are occasionally stronger than those of the envelopes, then concentration is obtained. When the monad can keep up that state limitlessly, then meditation is obtained.
(5.4) In meditation, the control of envelope automatism by the monad is efficient to the extent that the monad is aware that its consciousness is not identical with the consciousness of the envelopes: “I am, but I am not the consciousness of the envelopes. I am, but I am not this confusion. I am, but I am not this unrest. I am, but I am not this fear.” Non-identification is the insight, “I am not this.”
(5.5) The ability of the monad to apply non-identification, its realization that its own consciousness is not identical with the consciousness of the envelopes, can and should be intensified to that qualitatively higher state, self-consciousness. That is why meditation and contemplation perform their true function only when exercised with simultaneous self-consciousness.
(5.9) Esoterics teaches that all members of higher kingdoms live in constant contemplation exercised as group activity and that, consequently, the aspirants should work at contemplation in group formation. Aspirants should consider, however, that they can make a positive contribution to the raising of the group force only to the extent that they are strong each one individually. The group cannot fill up what is wanting in the individual, the group cannot afford him the insight he lacks. The group is strong only if each of its members is strong in himself, is able to work independently, without the external support and help given by the group. Therefore, the aspirants should always think of what they can give to the group rather than what they can receive from it.
(5.10) Contemplation exists of several different, ever higher kinds according to the lower envelope left by the monad. The lowest kind of contemplation is the transition of the monad from the organism to the etheric envelope, the lowest but one is its transition to the emotional envelope, the third kind is its transition to the mental envelope, the fourth kind is its transition to the causal envelope, and so forth.