Meditation or Contemplation?

[Guest]

Is there a real difference? I dont sit down and just  meditated muchfor a long time. BUT i contemplate all the time. No, i dont wake up early to sit and not do anything with my eyes closed. No, I dont watch the sun set over the ocean....with my eyes closed... And when the kiddies go to sleep I dont find a quiet moment and "meditate" (i feel the need to stress i have nothing against it, just not a part of my life) . I'm not going to lie I really dont "know" what meditating is, but i've read books and have tried it.  With fear of sounding pretentious, id say ive gotten to 45 mins of what id consider meditation, and sitting there. It doesnt piss me off but it just feels like i've sat there for 45 mins. Am i in this for the wrong reasons? i've made leaps and bounds with my "self" without any realization or insights during "meditations" its been during real life moments while doing mundane thing like with the kids, driving the car or breaks in reading. I guess im asking is meditation as black and white as described or can it be something other then sitting for .... well forever? 

[Leo Gura]

There is an important difference.

Firstly, let's make sure we're on the same page as to what contemplation means. Contemplation in the context of enlightenment work is equivalent to self-inquiry. Don't let the word contemplation fool you. It does NOT mean: sit there and think about stuff. << That is NOT contemplation, and that will not get you enlightened. Contemplation really means: directly experience your true nature right now! Focus deeply on only question: Who am I? or What am I? And probe it experientially for 30 to 60 minutes like a laser beam, never wavering.

Meditation is sitting down and literally doing nothing. Letting go of all control and letting your monkey mind run as you observe it. There is no goal in meditation. You just sit and accept reality exactly as it is, no matter what is happening. Meditation is helpful for enlightenment work, but it's not as direct as self-inquiry/contemplation.

 

[BipolarGrowth]

Effective contemplation can also be done on the nature of suffering, pain, resistance, impermanence and many other things. As long as you have no-self, suffering, or impermanence as the core of your contemplation, it can be very fruitful. 

[hamedsf]

both but if you are insisting I'll go with meditation first because it's the father of every spiritual work.