The hottest Contemplation Substack posts right now

And their main takeaways
Category
Top Faith & Spirituality Topics

In the Desert of the Heart

The Abbey of Misrule • 523 implied HN points • 11 Mar 26
⛪ Faith & Spirituality Contemplation
  1. Inner silence matters more than external quiet. Calming the inner noise is what allows the Holy Spirit to dwell in the heart.
  2. Our identities, words, and stories become cages that block spiritual growth. Letting go of self-made opinions and returning to simple, childlike openness creates space for real transformation.
  3. Spiritual change is quiet, hidden work that grows through stillness and prayer. Even amid outer chaos, trusting God and deliberately making room for silence lets the soul be purified.

The way of poetry

Silentium • 399 implied HN points • 30 Oct 24
📚 Literature Contemplation
  1. The practice of poetry can invite us into moments of silence and stillness. It helps us reflect and connect with our deeper selves.
  2. One-on-one sessions and courses can enhance this experience, as they provide tailored guidance and support in exploring poetry and mindfulness.
  3. Meditations and recorded teachings can be valuable tools to return to when we need reminders to slow down and find peace in our busy lives.

Acts of Faith

As Ever • 7 implied HN points • 09 Mar 26
⛪ Faith & Spirituality Contemplation
  1. When everything collapses, art and poetry still remain and can bring comfort and meaning in the darkest times.
  2. Life can feel like wandering through old traditions and long silences; we keep moving, sometimes speaking with regret, but staying gentle among friends and enemies.
  3. Certain single moments—a touch, a wave, a song—are enough to satisfy us forever, turning into a memory that feels like an inheritance and brings contentment.

The Experience of God

Secretum Secretorum • 479 implied HN points • 17 Dec 25
⛪ Faith & Spirituality Contemplation
  1. Materialist or naturalist accounts can't fully explain why anything exists or why consciousness and physical laws make sense. That suggests we need a transcendent ground beyond nature to account for existence.
  2. Ultimate reality is best understood as an infinite source of being, consciousness, and bliss that grounds and sustains all finite things, not as just another object within the world.
  3. Human knowing is inherently directed toward transcendent ends like truth, beauty, and goodness, and experiences of wonder, beauty, and disciplined contemplation are presented as the proper ways to encounter and confirm that transcendent reality.

Silence is ecological

lifeboat • 746 implied HN points • 29 Nov 23
⛪ Faith & Spirituality Contemplation
  1. Silence is our birthright and our natural home.
  2. Our culture often views silence and solitude as negative, but they are crucial for a healthy society.
  3. Creating space for silence in our lives is simple, powerful, and necessary for our well-being.
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Befriending the void

Sasha's 'Newsletter' • 2844 implied HN points • 23 Dec 23
⛪ Faith & Spirituality Contemplation
  1. We are often afraid of experiencing unmediated, raw existence without constantly asserting our identity.
  2. By learning to befriend the void through contemplative practice, we can find a sense of peace and acceptance.
  3. Being comfortable with the void can lead to a deeper appreciation of life and a sense of gratitude for existence.

Be like incense

Silentium • 239 implied HN points • 11 Feb 24
⛪ Faith & Spirituality Contemplation
  1. Contemplating true nature and the Divine leads to transformation and a sense of unchanging presence.
  2. Burning like incense symbolizes the process of self-discovery and inner transformation.
  3. Through practices like meditation, self-inquiry, and prayer, one can burn away the false self to reveal their True Nature and attain Divine Union.

A single flower

Silentium • 139 implied HN points • 05 Feb 24
⛪ Faith & Spirituality Contemplation
  1. The importance of contemplative silence and inner peace.
  2. Encouragement to support and share content that promotes silence and reflection.
  3. Engaging in silent sitting practice and supporting silent publications.

Open thread: Finding balance between extremes

The Recovering Academic • 197 implied HN points • 06 Oct 23
⛪ Faith & Spirituality Contemplation
  1. Find balance in work by merging personal passion with public good, aiming for a middle ground that sustains you and aligns with your values.
  2. Navigate through the all-or-nothing nature of work pathways, like the overwhelming job application processes, by seeking a balance between extremes in both personal and professional life.
  3. Strive to avoid negotiating work and life as separate entities but integrate them into a harmonious blend, ensuring that your work embodies both private passion and contribution to the greater good.

A week of inspiration

Iterare • 117 implied HN points • 01 Mar 23
⛪ Faith & Spirituality Contemplation
  1. People on independent paths may need to redefine their way of life.
  2. Finding inspiration can come from emotional grounding in rational frameworks.
  3. Exercising control over how we think is essential for personal growth.

Aristotle's Practical Philosophy (part 1)

Logos and Liberty • 19 implied HN points • 07 Nov 22
📖 Philosophy Contemplation
  1. Aristotle's practical philosophy aims at discovering a way of life that enables individuals to use their highest faculties and communities to support this way of life.
  2. The key components of 'Eudaimonia' according to Aristotle are virtue, love, and the contemplative life.
  3. Human happiness, for Aristotle, is strongly influenced by the quality of human relationships and the social context surrounding those relationships.

Objections to Aristotle's Practical Philosophy

Logos and Liberty • 0 implied HN points • 29 Nov 22
📖 Philosophy Contemplation
  1. Aristotle's philosophy provides a system of values that can help us resist and transcend technological determinants in our technologically advanced society.
  2. Aristotle's practical philosophy offers conceptual tools to proactively respond to technological change, and recent advancements have made his ethical and political recommendations more feasible.
  3. While Aristotle's views on slavery and the subordination of women may be objectionable, they do not detract from the core concepts of his practical philosophy, especially in the context of modern societal changes.

Eudaimonism and pluralism

Logos and Liberty • 0 implied HN points • 15 Dec 22
📖 Philosophy Contemplation
  1. Aristotle's notion of eudaimonism may conflict with prevailing liberal views on individual freedom and government neutrality, particularly in terms of promoting a contemplative life as a way to prioritize values.
  2. Isaiah Berlin contrasts negative freedom (freedom from coercion) with positive freedom (freedom for self-realization), warning that history has shown positive freedom can lead to dangerous ideologies and oppression in the name of 'true' selves or entities.
  3. Berlin's call for pluralism as a way to navigate conflicting values highlights the importance of prudence and individual choice, outlining the government's role as safeguarding negative liberty without endorsing specific values, while Aristotle's eudaimonism offers an alternate perspective on balancing values and advocating for a contemplative life as a path to truth and meaning.