“Man was made for the highest
activity, which is, in fact, his rest. That activity, which is contemplation,
is immanent and it transcends the level of sense and of discourse. Man’s guilty
sense of his incapacity for this one deep activity, which is the reason for his
existence, is precisely what drives him to seek oblivion in exterior motion and
desire. Incapable of the divine activity which alone can satisfy his soul,
fallen man flings himself upon exterior things, not so much for their own sake
as for the sake of the agitation which keeps his spirit pleasantly numb. He has
but to remain busy with trifles; his preoccupation will serve as a dope. It
will not deaden all the pain of thinking; but it will at least do something to
blur his sense of who he is and of his utter insufficiency.
Pascal sums up his observations with
the remark: “Distraction is the only
thing that consoles us for our miseries and yet it is, itself, the greatest of
our miseries.” ”
Merton points
us to the paradox that while we strive so hard to secure peace, happiness, and success
“out there” in some activity or accomplishment, it can only truly be found in
the reflective inactivity we try to avoid at all cost.
Any
contemplation slows down the mind and nourishes the soul. It is all good.
However, contemplation
of Self is the highest of practices. When
you seek to know that which knows, you might avail yourself to the greatest of
discoveries.
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