This talk is brought to you by the Tamistic Institute.

For more talks like this, visit us at tamistic institute.org.

I'll begin with one apology, two questions, and a menu of things to come.

So first, the apology.

I've learned over the years that I can't reliably count past

three, and also that I need to count in order to keep myself from going off the rails. So if you're

one of those lucky people who can count to four, I apologize for complicating things by using more than two or three sets of

two and three. Second, the questions. The first question is for you. Why are you listening to a talk on

contemplation? I don't mean this entirely rhetorically, because it's good for you to be aware of why you brought

yourself here, either so that you can upgrade your motive or consciously confirm the one that you have.

But in case you've been caught without a conscious motive for being here, I'll provide three

acceptable ones and will strongly suggest that you adopt the third. Since then you'll be wanting

the very thing that I hope to give. First, perhaps you're here for amusement or for fellowship.

Perhaps you've made the very strange calculation that this

talk was the most amusing thing available to make. Or perhaps you don't care about the talk at all,

but you just like hanging around people who go to talks. Second, perhaps you ran out of things to

say at your last cocktail party.

You're here because you'd like to know a few things about contemplation

so that you can approach your next cocktail party with confidence,

or at least with something to think about if you end up in the corner.

Third, and recommended,

perhaps you're here with a practical aim.

...