A book entitled Thomas Merton: Master of Attention by Robert Waldron is now on my book stack. I was intrigued by the word attention in the title as I think being in the present moment is paying attention. I've never been a big fan of Merton but wanted to see what Waldron would say about Merton and attention. Attention is quite the buzzword.
One of the most interesting things in the book so far is a quote by Simone Weil: "Absolutely unmixed attention is prayer."
What do you think of this statement? I still think about it. I'd love to hear your perspective. Do you pray? What is prayer? What is unmixed attention? Is being in the present moment paying attention?
My goal is to publish on Fridays.
Quick Question: Two of my sisters asked what was in my mouth in the photo on the blog, Do you know?
Thanks for exploring the mystery - Nicky Mendenhall
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ReplyDeleteAnonymous - your test message came through! Congratulations on figuring this out!
ReplyDelete"Absolutely unmixed attention is prayer."
ReplyDeleteNot necessarily so, what about the guy shooting at the concert goers? Unmixed attention seems to be living in the moment, unless you are just letting your mind wander and enjoying random thoughts. I don’t know about praying, what is something appropriate to ask for?
Such good questions Nolan - I wish I had good clear answers. I'm still thinking about the whole issue of attention and prayer. See the other comments. I will try and write about this soon. Thanks so much for your input.
DeleteAbsolutely unmixed attention is prayer - absolutely. It's also energy and power. Which may be why I find it so tiring. Nice to have you back, Nicky!
ReplyDeleteBuddhist speak of the absolute and the relative. I'm still trying to understand that. I like your thought, if I hear you correctly, that unmixed attention is energy and power. I really like that and how you point out that paying attention takes a lot of energy. It does.
DeleteThanks for your kind words and for your comment! I will be writing more about this - at least this is the plan.
I see prayer as wishes or thoughts directed toward a god or being and attention as total focus on a moment with nothing added. (I always wondered why people who believe that God has a perfect plan would ask him to change the plan by praying for something. )
ReplyDeleteThanks for your thoughts Vicki. The distinction between prayer and attention very clear. Nola, in comment above, asks what is appropriate to ask for. Your question that if God has perfect plan there is nothing to pray for may be one answer for him. Ahh - this is interesting. I have a Buddhist book that has a chapter on prayer. I'm going to write more about this - I hope! Thanks for reading and sending something out to us!
DeleteI think prayer is attempting to tap into the energy that is everything. I also think prayer can be many different things based upon a person's intentions. Are they praying to get something? Are they praying to thank someone? Are they praying because there's no one else who will listen? I find prayer to be an outlet in which one can release thoughts. When one reaches the 'flow' state while being creative, is that prayer? I think I would like to explore this more and try to understand prayer as something spiritual and not specifically religious. I look forward to another way of keeping in touch!
ReplyDeleteLydia - So happy to see you here. Your first sentence is very spiritual and not religious so you are on the way to your goal of understanding prayer as spiritual and not religious. Congratulations!
DeleteYes I think the flow state is a type of prayer. I think that's probably what is meant by Weil's statement that unmixed attention is prayer.
Merton was an artist and a photographer who I think would agree with the idea that flow is prayer.
Thank you for your comments - we are going to explore prayer more in the future even though the next post is about attention. You ask some really good questions that will be fun to explore.
In the Science of Mind philosophy, we call prayer spiritual treatment. While there are some guidelines, it is basically as Lydia said, "...prayer is attempting to tap into the energy that is everything." We are not willing something to happen nor pleading for something we want. We are providing a condition in our consciousness which permits the Power/Source/Energy to flow through us.
DeleteNina - I like that - prayer is/as spiritual treatment.
DeletePreparing our consciousness for the energy to work with puts responsibility on us. As you and Lydia said, we try and tap into the energy.
I listened to Eckhart Tolle on Super Soul Sunday and he said that we are not our thoughts, we are our consciousness. Does that fit with Science of Mind philosophy?