Deliberate Presence: From Receptive Awareness to Active Commitment in Introspective Practice
PhilPapers (PhilPapers Foundation) May 8, 2026 preprint DOI: 10.5281/zenodo.20080297 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Theoretical or philosophical paper |
|---|---|
| Key points | Argues that contemplative presence can be cultivated not only through receptive, non-interfering awareness ("Scan") but also through a distinct active mode ("Push") in which a person deliberately intensifies the present through affective commitment and gentle insistence on full participation. |
Abstract
Most contemplative practices emphasize receptive awareness: remaining open to whatever arises and allowing the present to reveal itself. This paper introduces and defends a complementary but structurally distinct mode of presence: deliberate intensification of the present through affective commitment. Drawing on phenomenology, cognitive science, and introspective practice, the paper distinguishes Scan (receptive monitoring) from Push (active present-entry), arguing that sustained minimal-dual presence can arise not only through non-interference but through continuous, gentle insistence on full participation in the current moment.