Hi Noah,

I had some interesting observations regarding tiredness used by laziness in my instinctive centre.
I used to get fascinated with egos around my healthy instinct to sleep, and letting egos to manipulate my behaviour.

Yes, I have seen it a lot with food too.
If someone has a problem to see egos in instinctive centre, I find, it is very easy with food...by trying to be aware in the first place and eat in the second. What's about observing within, when you see a meal, the meal, you like a lot, when you are hungry and're exposed to food, or someone talks about it?
I find that it is quite intersting to see what happens internally in instinctive centre and in others, in that moment.

Recently, I' ve realized that distortions with movements, tension, unnecessary movements, etc. come either from instinctive or motor centres, or usually from both.

Observing them is watching your own back!

Then, by working there, with egos in those centres, movements can become more relaxed and graceful, more appropriate, energy can be saved.
I have tried it with driving, it's interesting how egos can manipulate the way you drive and how you can drive consciously. For example, when you drive your car, a point to watch, can be tension in your face.

I find that egos are dangerous in all 5 centres, it's important to secure all the 5 gates, not more, not less.

All the best for everyone!

Hi Noah,

I completely agree - that instinctive centre can be very, very dangerous and it's very easy to overlook it. Maybe because there aren't necessarily sensations or thoughts that go with it so it disguises itself in our natural body processes.

I think the best way to observe any centre is to bring ourselves to awareness and be on guard for anything that alters that state. In the case of the instinctive centre, it could be a sudden urge to look up (and possibly look at someone), our mouth salivating for food, our eyes opening wide and blood pumping faster if something scares us, etc. But the second something has taken away the awareness, we know an ego has come up, regardless of the centre. Knowing which centre comes second, in my opinion, but it comes naturally if we just observe naturally.

An interesting thing I found about the instinctive centre is that sometimes the egos first manifest in this centre before the others. So if I am vigilant I can prevent a terrible chain reaction. In the case of fear - say an angry dog starts barking at me - the instant I catch my heart begin to pump faster if I return to the awareness then I'm spared from fearful thoughts, emotions of terror, tension throughout my body, trembling legs, etc.

All the strength!

Mike

I discovered a lot about this centre when I went to the dentist last week and had to have some fillings. When the dentist was injecting my gums and later when drilling and working in my mouth, I could feel extreme egos in my instinctive centre – the whole area was extremely tense and tight, and this tension radiated throughout my body. It was really interesting because I could distinctly feel that the tension was emanating from my instinctive centre. I would focus on this area and relax and my entire body would relax, then as soon as my attention wavered it would flood with egos again and I would tense up once more. By the time the hour was up I was positively drained and exhausted.

Also, if something gives you a sudden fright this is also when I can distinctly feel this centre – that startled jump that occurs emanates from there.

I never really noticed it with food before, but this is probably because it is much more subtle. I will pay closer observation to it from now on!

Strength to everyone!

Amy

Hi Noah,

I find the same thing as Mike, if I'm observing properly I am aware of egos in that centre (often it feels like a subtle shift or sensation in the lower back area, often too without any external provocation that I'm aware of). If I'm not observing properly, I usually only see my thoughts.

Amy, the dentist is an eye opener isn't it! I had pretty much the same experience as you the last time I went, it's interesting because I'm not concerned too much about going to the dentist until I'm actually sitting in the chair..

How do people go with kneejerk instinctive reactions? I'd love to be able to have a bug fly into the side of my head, or have a dog bark next to me (or anything else like that) and not jump in fright, but I haven't developed my observation well enough I don't think. I can usually catch it a second or two after that with feelings in the motor and emotional centres, but I still react in the first place.

Is it just better observation and watching what's going on in the centres that stops this? Or is there more to it do you think?

"Observing them is watching your own back!" - very good Vadim :D

This is definitely a centre I overlook a lot in my observation! This thread has got me thinking. Thanks!