Contemplation And Pathology

The underlying condition of modern society is that it refuses to accept reality for what it is. This is the definition of neurosis. Marked anxiety becomes its manifestation. Individuals withdraw into themselves. Individuals form social groups of like-mindedly anxious people with distorted perceptions of the world. Genuine feelings of spontaneity are neither possible for the person nor for the group. These seek resolution to their alienation throught expansive displays of self-righteous behaviours, or compulsive compliance, or detachment. And it is easy to see in each of these how in regards to the spiritual life that they may seek to justify themselves in ascetic desires and disciplines or beliefs of superiority. The lack of one’s ability to receive and give genuine love would be one key indicator of such a condition, both individually and as a group. Those who make ready distinctions about good and evil, light and darkness, black and white, or who justify their spiritual disciplines upon these, live in a pathological attitude toward reality, themselves, others, the world, and God. These people wall themselves up inside their own ego.

However, true contemplation does not back away from reality, physically or socially. It does not seek to evade it. It certainly identifies what is superficial and ill in society, but it does not reject any of the created things as they are in the world, including the psychological diseases and disorders of people.