One who has trained their attentional skills with shamatha to such an extent that they can validly and directly make observations about the nature of reality through subjective inquiry. Such observations are contrasted with observations made with an untrained, ordinary mind, which are obscured by mental afflictions such as ignorance and craving.

The CCR bases its definition for a contemplative scientist on the classical definition of a yogin, or “one who has yoga” – that is, samādhi that is characterized by the non-objectification of all phenomena.*

* Paraphrased from the Pañjikā commentary on A Guide to the Bodhisattva Way of Life by Prajñākaramati; cf. Dégé Tengyur, Vol. 105, Toh D3872, 388.