“Trust those who seek the truth; doubt those who say they have found it.”
- André Gide
Awakens
Curiosity
Deepens
Humility
Heals
Arrogance
What is inquiry?
Inquiry implies a questioning or exploratory process intended to verify the truth or facts in a matter. In the context of contemplative practice, inquiry implies a kind of reflection that is grounded in humility, open-heartedness, and compassion.
How do I practice inquiry?
Inquiry can range from spontaneous questioning to a methodical analysis of a physical object, a text, idea or a philosophical stance. Professor Arthur Zajonc, a leading advocate of contemplative practices in education describes contemplative inquiry as a four stage process that moves, “from object through image to activity, and finally to agency.”
Challenges and Commitments of practice.
Being willing to questions one’s own beliefs or the verity and worthiness of accepted ideas is no small matter; it requires respectful curiosity and a willingness to embrace or confront the results of your inquiry whatever the outcomes might be. Most individuals rely on a rock-solid certitude about their belief systems to help them navigate life’s many challenges. Disrupting those belief systems can be traumatic as well as liberating.