Editing Contemplation (section)

==Greek philosophy==

Contemplation was an important part of the [[philosophy]] of [[Plato]]; Plato thought that through contemplation, the soul may ascend to knowledge of the [[Form of the Good]] or other [[divine embodiment|divine Forms]].<ref>[https://books.google.com/books?id=veWc15Cd9L4C&pg=PA156 ''Plato: Critical Assessments''], Nicholas D. Smith, Routledge, 1998. {{ISBN|0-415-12605-3}}</ref> [[Plotinus]] as a [[neoplatonism|(neo)Platonic]] philosopher also expressed contemplation as the most critical of components for one to reach [[henosis]]. 
To Plotinus the highest contemplation was to experience the vision of God, the [[Monad (philosophy)|Monad]] or the One. Plotinus describes this experience in his works the [[Enneads]]. According to his student Porphyry, Plotinus stated that he had this experience of God four times.<ref>See the Life of Plotinus</ref> Plotinus wrote about his experience in Enneads 6.9.