Source: Dictionnaire de l’Académie, 9th edition.
Suggested definition
To place one’s gaze and sensory perceptions attentively on a moment of beauty before us – visual, aural, olfactory, human, etc. – in order to welcome it, marvel at it, immerse oneself in it and enter into connection with nature, life, oneself, one’s being, others, all others, humanity; transposing into a state of calm, harmony and peace, allowing us to leave behind the tense ruminations of the previous moment, opening up the present moment.
This moment of beauty can come from contemplating a leaf, a flower; a dewdrop, the expanse of the sky; music, a song; the rustle of water, the murmur of the forest; a scent, a perfume; a look, a smile, and everything else that vibrates before us.
Commentary:
Contemplation can also be experienced as a spiritual or religious process (to connect with the universe, nature, the whole, the divine). It’s an approach found in all cultures, to varying degrees and with its own specific characteristics. It seems that the search for the contemplative state is currently spreading, as a way of returning to moments of calm in a hectic world. Wikipedia also contains references to contemplative education. Without entering into a particular spiritual approach, some teachers are beginning to introduce moments of silence before starting the day or to calm the class, or walks to learn to appreciate nature.