All Saints’ Day

Contemplation is not first of all about being religious, introverted, or pious— it is about being emotionally and mentally honest! Contemplation is an alternative consciousness that refuses to identify with or feed what are only passing shows. It is the absolute opposite of addiction, consumerism, or any egoic consciousness. Egoic consciousness is the one we all normally operate with, until we are told there is something else.    At the egoic level it is all about me, my preferences, my choices, my needs, my desires, and me and my group as the central reference point. Most people do not even know there is another way of thinking or feeling. It was religion's job to tell them about a different kind of software, and the original word for it was simply prayer. But even the concept and practice of prayer became captive to the voracious needs of the ego. Even prayer became a way to get God to do what we wanted.