Noun

Singular contemplation

Plural countable and uncountable; plural contemplations

contemplation (countable and uncountable; plural contemplations)

1. The act of the mind in considering with attention; continued attention of the mind to a particular subject; meditation; musing; study.
2. Holy meditation.
3. The act of looking forward to an event as about to happen; expectation; the act of intending or purposing.

The word Contemplation comes from the Latin root templum (from Greek temnein: to cut or divide), and means to separate something from its environment, and to enclose it in a sector. Contemplation is the Latin translation of Greek 'theory' (theoria). In a religious sense it is a type of prayer or meditation.

Greek philosophy

Contemplation was an important part of the philosophy of Plato; Plato thought that through contemplation the soul may ascend to knowledge of the Form of the Good or other divine Forms. Plotinus as a (neo)Platonic philosopher also expressed contemplation as the most critical of components for one to reach henosis. To Plotinus the highest contemplation was to experience the vision of God, the Monad or the One. Plotinus describes this experience in his works the Enneads. According to his student Porphyry, Plotinus stated that he had this experience of God four times. Plotinus wrote about his experience in Enneads 6.9.xx.

"God asketh none help, but only thyself." -The Cloud of Unknowing, ch. 2

"The open road is wondrous in that eventually, every bend leads inward." -Cynthia Vale