--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Contemplative living is living in true…" description: "\"Contemplative living is living in true relationship with oneself, God, others and nature, free of the illusions of separateness.\" — Thomas Merton" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a3f/thomas-merton-231_contemplative_contemplative-living-is-living-in-true-r_1180028.jpg" --- # Contemplative living is living in true relationship with… ![“Contemplative living is living in true relationship with oneself, God, others and nature, free of the illusions of separateness.” quote by Thomas Merton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a3f/thomas-merton-231_contemplative_contemplative-living-is-living-in-true-r_1180028.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a3f/thomas-merton-231_contemplative_contemplative-living-is-living-in-true-r_1180028.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a3f/thomas-merton-231_contemplative_contemplative-living-is-living-in-true-r_1180028.jpg) > “Contemplative living is living in true relationship with oneself, God, others and nature, free of the illusions of separateness.” [Thomas Merton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-merton/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Living contemplatively means recognizing deep connection with self, divine, others, and nature, discarding the illusion that we are separate entities. **In simple terms:** True connection with self, others, and nature eliminates feelings of isolation. Key Takeaway Cultivate mindfulness and relational awareness. Themes spirituality interconnectedness self-awareness Mood reflective peaceful Type inspirational philosophical When to use this quote - daily meditation - community service - environmental stewardship - relationship building Key Concepts philosophy religion psychology Questions to Reflect On - How does recognizing interconnectedness change your daily choices? - What practices help you feel less separate? A Different Perspective Maintaining this awareness can be challenged by modern distractions and materialism. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Contemplative](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/contemplative/) [Illusion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/illusion/) [Life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/life/) [Nature](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/nature/) [Separateness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/separateness/) [True relation](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/true-relation/) [True relationship](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/true-relationship/) ## Related quotes > [A TRUE RELATIONSHIP has tears fights trust faith pain arguments patience jealously and most importantly LOVE](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zhat/a-true-relationship-has-tears-fights-trust-faith-pain-arguments/) [Zhat](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zhat/) > [In A True Relationship, you love the person for who they are, not for who you want them to be.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/enhance-dreams/in-a-true-relationship-you-love-the-person-for-who-they-are-not-for/) Enhance Dreams > [My true relationship is with myself - all others are simply mirrors of it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shakti-gawain/my-true-relationship-is-with-myself-all-others-are-simply-mirrors-of/) [Shakti Gawain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shakti-gawain/) > [A true relationship is having someone who accepts your past, supports your present, and encourages your future.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/a-true-relationship-is-having-someone-who-accepts-your-past-supports/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“While she might outwardly portray a self-confident, assured, independent woman who wasn’t interested in the opposite sex—she’d been called a dyke on more than…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susan-stoker/while-she-might-outwardly-portray-a-self-confident-assured/) [Susan Stoker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susan-stoker/) > [Defination of true relationship..That relationship is best one, in which yesterdays' fight don not stop today's communications :)](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jazz/defination-of-true-relationship-that-relationship-is-best-one-in/) [Jazz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jazz/) > [A True Relationship Is when... Someone hurt's you n you don't hurt Them back.. They Shout's at you n you don't.. They ignore you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/swashi/a-true-relationship-is-when-someone-hurt-s-you-n-you-don-t-hurt-them/) Swashi > [Being pregnant finally helped me understand what my true relationship was with my body - meaning that it wasn't put on this earth to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amy-adams/being-pregnant-finally-helped-me-understand-what-my-true-relationship/) [Amy Adams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amy-adams/) > [Sometimes you just have to be hurt in order to be in love again and if you never been hurt you don't know what…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/sometimes-you-just-have-to-be-hurt-in-order-to-be-in-love-again-and/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Some relationships aren't true relationships. And it's usually when the other person does something really terrible that you realize it. And that's when it's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/natalie-portman/some-relationships-aren-t-true-relationships-and-it-s-usually-when/) [Natalie Portman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/natalie-portman/) > [I'm not a fan of religion. Religion ties people up and binds them and puts them back in chains but faith - true relationship…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kathie-lee-gifford/i-m-not-a-fan-of-religion-religion-ties-people-up-and-binds-them-and/) [Kathie Lee Gifford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kathie-lee-gifford/) > [In a true relationship, honesty is the only policy. Those lies will leave you alone, alone and alone.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/enhance-dreams/in-a-true-relationship-honesty-is-the-only-policy-those-lies-will/) Enhance Dreams > [Never leave a true relationship for a few faults. Nobody is perfect, nobody is correct and at the end ...AFFECTION is always greater than…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/never-leave-a-true-relationship-for-a-few-faults-nobody-is-perfect/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [A true relationship is when you can tell each other anything and everything no secrets no lies.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/a-true-relationship-is-when-you-can-tell-each-other-anything-and/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [TRUE RELATIONSHIP IS NOT A BUSINESS, SO IF RELATIONSHIP IS YOUR WAY TO EARN MONEY THEN ITS NOT A RELATIONSHIP IT IS WHAT WE…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/no-voice/true-relationship-is-not-a-business-so-if-relationship-is-your-way-to/) NO VOICE ## More by Thomas Merton > [“Let no one hope to find in contemplation an escape from conflict, from anguish or from doubt. On the contrary, the deep, inexpressible certitude…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-merton/let-no-one-hope-to-find-in-contemplation-an-escape-from-conflict-from/) [Thomas Merton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-merton/) > [If nothing that can be seen can either be God or represent Him to us as He is, then to find God we must…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-merton/if-nothing-that-can-be-seen-can-either-be-god-or-represent-him-to-us/) [Thomas Merton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-merton/) > [It is almost impossible to overestimate the value of true humility and its power in the spiritual life. For the beginning of humility is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-merton/it-is-almost-impossible-to-overestimate-the-value-of-true-humility/) [Thomas Merton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-merton/) > [We are not perfectly free until we live in pure hope. For when our hope is pure, it no longer trusts exclusively in human…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-merton/we-are-not-perfectly-free-until-we-live-in-pure-hope-for-when-our/) [Thomas Merton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-merton/) > [The desire to kill is like the desire to attack another with an ingot of red -hot iron: I have to pick up the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-merton/the-desire-to-kill-is-like-the-desire-to-attack-another-with-an-ingot/) [Thomas Merton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-merton/) > [To enter into the realm of contemplation one must in a certain sense die: but this death is in fact the entrance to a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-merton/to-enter-into-the-realm-of-contemplation-one-must-in-a-certain-sense/) [Thomas Merton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-merton/) > [The mission of Christian humility in social life is not merely to edify, but to keep minds open to many alternatives. The rigidity of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-merton/the-mission-of-christian-humility-in-social-life-is-not-merely-to/) [Thomas Merton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-merton/) > [Peace cannot be built on exclusivism, absolutism, and intolerance. But neither can it be built on vague liberal slogans and pious programs gestated in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-merton/peace-cannot-be-built-on-exclusivism-absolutism-and-intolerance-but/) [Thomas Merton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-merton/) > [Things that are good are good, and if one is responding to that goodness one is in contact with a truth from which one…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-merton/things-that-are-good-are-good-and-if-one-is-responding-to-that/) [Thomas Merton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-merton/) > [Love winter when the plant says nothing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-merton/love-winter-when-the-plant-says-nothing/) [Thomas Merton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-merton/) > [The logic of worldly success rests on a fallacy: the strange error that our perfection depends on the thoughts and opinions and applause of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-merton/the-logic-of-worldly-success-rests-on-a-fallacy-the-strange-error/) [Thomas Merton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-merton/) > [“The wisdom of the flesh is a judgement that the ordinary ends of our natural appetites are the goods to which the whole of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-merton/the-wisdom-of-the-flesh-is-a-judgement-that-the-ordinary-ends-of-our/) [Thomas Merton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-merton/) > [I will no longer wound myself with the thoughts and questions that have surrounded me like thorns: that is a penance You do not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-merton/i-will-no-longer-wound-myself-with-the-thoughts-and-questions-that/) [Thomas Merton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-merton/) > [If you write for God you will reach many men and bring them joy. If you write for men--you may make some money and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-merton/if-you-write-for-god-you-will-reach-many-men-and-bring-them-joy-if/) [Thomas Merton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-merton/) > [“Contemplation means rest, suspension of activity, withdrawal into the mysterious interior solitude in which the soul is absorbed in the immense and fruitful silence…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-merton/contemplation-means-rest-suspension-of-activity-withdrawal-into-the/) [Thomas Merton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-merton/) [Explore all 851 Thomas Merton quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-merton/) ## More Contemplative quotes > [“Let no one hope to find in contemplation an escape from conflict, from anguish or from doubt. On the contrary, the deep, inexpressible certitude…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-merton/let-no-one-hope-to-find-in-contemplation-an-escape-from-conflict-from/) [Thomas Merton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-merton/) > [Composing a piece of music is very feminine. It is sensitive, emotional, contemplative. By comparison, doing housework is positively masculine.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barbara-kolb/composing-a-piece-of-music-is-very-feminine-it-is-sensitive-emotional/) Barbara Kolb > [“everything kills everything else in some way. Fishing kills me exactly as it keeps me alive. The boy keeps me alive, he thought. I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ernest-hemingway/everything-kills-everything-else-in-some-way-fishing-kills-me-exactly/) [Ernest Hemingway](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ernest-hemingway/) > [You cannot grow in the integrative dance of action and contemplation without a strong tolerance for ambiguity, an ability to allow, forgive, and contain…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-rohr/you-cannot-grow-in-the-integrative-dance-of-action-and-contemplation/) [Richard Rohr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-rohr/) > [“I wonder if I am not turning into a contemplative . . . But those roses . They were something else. I was having…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/muriel-barbery/i-wonder-if-i-am-not-turning-into-a-contemplative-but-those-roses/) [Muriel Barbery](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/muriel-barbery/) > [A lot of people do their practice. They meditate on compassion. Then they yell at people afterwards. That is not quite working. One of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sakyong-mipham/a-lot-of-people-do-their-practice-they-meditate-on-compassion-then/) [Sakyong Mipham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sakyong-mipham/) > [Fish slowly and thoroughly. Haste never paid dividends. Never wory about the fellow ahead of you. If you start racing to get ahaead of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ray-bergman/fish-slowly-and-thoroughly-haste-never-paid-dividends-never-wory/) [Ray Bergman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ray-bergman/) > [“Oak gave up his room so they could sleep there, and although the bed is small, Cardan cannot mind when he takes Jude in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/holly-black/oak-gave-up-his-room-so-they-could-sleep-there-and-although-the-bed/) [Holly Black](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/holly-black/) > [Each person comes to have this musical experience, this moment with us, where they get to sink into our world for a little while.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gillian-welch/each-person-comes-to-have-this-musical-experience-this-moment-with-us/) [Gillian Welch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gillian-welch/) > [Since I was introduced to the practice of God's presence, which in turn led me into the contemplative way, I have nearly always felt…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-d-mclaren/since-i-was-introduced-to-the-practice-of-god-s-presence-which-in/) [Brian D. McLaren](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-d-mclaren/) > [From about 5 years old on, I was very contemplative and started to become constantly filled with nostalgia for the present moment and the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alex-ebert/from-about-5-years-old-on-i-was-very-contemplative-and-started-to/) [Alex Ebert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alex-ebert/) > [ It is to this silence \[contemplative prayer\] that we all are called. ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henri-nouwen/it-is-to-this-silence-contemplative-prayer-that-we-all-are-called/) [Henri Nouwen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henri-nouwen/) > [“Contemplative love seeks a heroic deed that can be accomplished without delay and in full view of everyone. Indeed, some people are even ready…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fyodor-dostoyevsky/contemplative-love-seeks-a-heroic-deed-that-can-be-accomplished/) [Fyodor Dostoyevsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fyodor-dostoyevsky/) > [We become, after the arrival of the printing press in general, more attentive more attuned to contemplative ways of thinking.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nicholas-g-carr/we-become-after-the-arrival-of-the-printing-press-in-general-more/) [Nicholas G. Carr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nicholas-g-carr/) > [I just think of interesting roles to play. I guess that I have matured, I guess growing up and becoming a man, your taste…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/josh-hartnett/i-just-think-of-interesting-roles-to-play-i-guess-that-i-have-matured/) [Josh Hartnett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/josh-hartnett/) [Browse all 237 Contemplative quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/contemplative/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Contemplative living is living in true relationship with oneself, God, others and nature, free of the illusions of separateness.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Thomas Merton" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-merton/contemplative-living-is-living-in-true-relationship-with-oneself-god/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Contemplative" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-merton/contemplative-living-is-living-in-true-relationship-with-oneself-god/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a3f/thomas-merton-231_contemplative_contemplative-living-is-living-in-true-r_1180028.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a3f/thomas-merton-231_contemplative_contemplative-living-is-living-in-true-r_1180028.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a3f/thomas-merton-231_contemplative_contemplative-living-is-living-in-true-r_1180028.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Contemplative living is living in true relationship with oneself, God, others and nature, free of the…” — Thomas Merton", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Thomas Merton", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-merton/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "Contemplative living is living in true...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-merton/contemplative-living-is-living-in-true-relationship-with-oneself-god/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-merton/contemplative-living-is-living-in-true-relationship-with-oneself-god/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```