Contemplation is a recommended practice and falls in the category of svadhyaya (engaging in the mode of seeking).
The fourth step of pancha kriya kala is to listen, read and contemplate spirituality. Many may find it difficult to divide time in the morning for spiritual learning. To that end, learning can happen any time during the day. Structured learning helps to reinforce and continue on the spiritual journey. The goal is for every action should have a spiritual anchor.
The gita and upanishad prescribe svadhyaya or spiritual learning as a practice. There are explicit statements that prescribe the seeker or sadhaka to get into the mode of abhyasa or habitual learning.
svadhyaya is not about sitting for hours in a ritualistic practice. The foundation for svadhyaya is inquiry. It is the awareness and understanding of divinity. Do you see divinity in the person you interact with? Is there an emotion of hatred in you? Do you discriminate against people based on their identity?
Spiritual learning wipes out all these divisions. There are differences but not divisions. Differences highlight characteristics for understanding. Righteous characteristics gain acceptance and unrighteous behavior is not tolerated.
Learning occurs through engaging your senses. This is where reading and listening helps. After absorbing knowledge through reading or listening, one has to contemplate. The act of contemplation makes knowledge turn into wisdom.
In spiritual parlance we call it sravana, manana, and nidhidyasa. Listening leads to reflection or processing of information. Processing should turn to contemplation. Then only knowledge translates to wisdom.
When the source of information is the gita, upanishad or brahma sutras then spiritual wisdom emerges.
The goal of spiritual wisdom is freedom. The freedom to cross this ocean of pain and pleasure, suffering and happiness. Spiritual wisdom is anchored in love. In a true sense, love is based on detachment. Where there is detachment there is nothing to lose. Attachment leads to a fear of loss.
The above is not a theoretical statement. It is a shift in mindset. I live in a house, use the house but not attached to it. I have money in my wallet, I save and spend, but not attached to it. I drive a car but am not attached to it. I live life to its fullest but am not attached to it, meaning, I do not fear death.
In the practical utilitarian world, contemplation can occur at any time. The famous parable often told – when you are washing dishes, one should wash the dishes. The deeper meaning here is to become aware of the action and do it with love and commitment.
Spiritual wisdom is through abhyasa. In this abhyasa or journey, one takes the help of a spiritual master. An authentic spiritual master imparts learning with the gita, upanishad and brahma sutras as the source.
तद्विद्धि प्रणिपातेन परिप्रश्नेन सेवया |
उपदेक्ष्यन्ति ते ज्ञानं ज्ञानिनस्तत्त्वदर्शिन: || 34||
tad viddhi praṇipātena paripraśhnena sevayā
upadekṣhyanti te jñānaṁ jñāninas tattva-darśhinaḥ
Approach a spiritual master to inquire and learn the truth. Adopt an attitude of reverence. An enlightened spiritual master imparts righteous knowledge. The master helps you see beyond names and forms into the cosmic universal person. “That” is Ishvara or the Divine.