Contemplation
The New Oxford Dictionary defines
‘contemplate’ as: look thoughtfully for a long time at; think about; think
profoundly or at length, meditate. The verb ‘contemplate’ is derived from the
verb contemplari,
based on the Latin templum,
meaning: ‘place for observation.’ In actual fact, to contemplate means to
absorb oneself in a data stream. (more) There are two ways to contemplate. 1. Observe a focus as it appears, meaning: absorb (i.e. flood yourself with) the data
transmitted by the focus. In this case the observer as it were ‘stands on’
(or in) the focus and so gradually feels (or becomes) at/as one with it. 2. Break up the focus (i.e. penetrate its appearance)
to observe the background (or ground) data of the focus, meaning: absorb the
data hidden by the focus’ (foreground) appearance. In this case the observer
as it were ‘under-stands’ (German, verstehen,
meaning: stand off or at an angle) the focus by standing on the focus’
background (or grounding) data. The objective of this contemplation is to
recover the essential function (or driver) of the focus. This is done by
‘cutting the crap’, meaning: cutting off the inessentials with ‘Occam’s
Razor’. ‘No more things should be presumed to exist than are
absolutely necessary.’ William of Occam, 1285 - 1349 Both contemplation methods can be
applied to both the visual and verbal foci presented on Victor’s Way.
The 1st might be profitably used by fun seeking day-trippers, the
2nd by ‘impasse’ idlers (lying uncomfortably on ‘the devil’s
cushion’) and who need to increase their level of understanding to upgrade
their specific or general survival responses. |