Spanish Catholic priest Pablo d’Ors has called for a return to contemplation in today’s fast-paced world, arguing that silence and self-awareness are essential for a fulfilling life.

D’Ors, the author of the bestselling meditation book “Biography of Silence,” is also the founder of Amigos del Desierto, a network of meditators promoting “integral meditation,” a practice that blends Christian and Buddhist teachings to foster a spirituality that transcends specific religious doctrines. 1    

In an interview with En Perspectiva, d’Ors criticized the modern world’s emphasis on reason, suggesting that a new paradigm of consciousness is emerging. “Reason is what has prestige, but a new paradigm of humanity is opening up: that of consciousness,” he said.

The Spanish priest further elaborated on his perspective, arguing that “it’s no longer possible to be religious today without being interreligious. We live in societies that coexist with people of different religions.”

D’Ors believes that the Enlightenment and modernity represented a “dream of reason,” but that postmodernity signifies the awakening from that dream. “We are realizing that reason does not exhaust all that is human,” he asserted.

“Just as we have gone through a mythical, magical, archaic paradigm, we are now in the rational one, but it doesn’t end there; this will continue,” d’Ors concluded.

D’Ors’s call for contemplation resonates with many who feel overwhelmed by the demands of modern life. His emphasis on the importance of silence and self-awareness offers a refreshing perspective in a world that often values productivity and achievement above all else.