Awareness while on the computer

Hi Chris,

Thanks for starting this topic! Maybe we'll learn some new tips from each other!

To start with, I find helpful to create inside me an understanding and an inspiration to stay concentrated on what I am doing on the computer, then, when I am in the state to clearly understand and strongly wish to stay focused, my goal to do so has more strength.

When I have to spend a lot of time with computer, I try to balance it with physical exercises outside, when my body is in a good shape, for me it's seems much easier to do spiritual work.

Another helpful thing for me is to plan breakes or to use available breakes (depending from circumstances) for a short practice, awareness walk, etc. This is my time to come back to awareness, or to boost consciousness with mantras, etc., if I have a chance.

Also, for me it's quite helpful to set up a reminders, anchors to get back into concentration and focus.
It can be a spiritual note on the computer, alarm, etc. However, their usage demonstrated for me the need to renew them oftenly, otherwise they tend to diminish their effectiveness.

Finally, creating and maintaining "centre of gravity" on spirituality, treating it as the priority, doing practices before work on the computer and after, seems to help with that too.

Have a great time working with the computer, everyone!

Some good tips there, Thanks Vadim,
Yeah I have asked some other people at the center, and they say similar things, like taking regular breaks helps a lot, and also staying focused on one task and not scattering your mind all over the place, helps a lot with being aware.

Another thing that was reccomended to me, by Cliff, was to be more conscious of your motor center, where your arms and legs are, what you are feeling at the time ect. I also found that this is a really good way to stay anchored, without allowing yourself to get stuck in your head and within the computer.

Your definitely right about creating the Center of gravity, as it becomes a focus, that helps to remember to be aware anywhere you are.

Although its defintily still a huge wall to climb.
If anyone else has some tips or ideas, would love to hear it
Thanks guys and best of luck with your efforts
Chris

Hello Chris,
I have read V.M.Samael's "The Need to Change Our Way of Thinking " and discovered myself the truth about it. My advice would be not to worry about lack of awareness, find out (observe) what thoughts distract you, while on the pc (I would say all day, during all tasks), what feelings come out, and next time they come "kill" them instantly, and eventually concetration and awareness will come more naturally. The fight is tough, discovering the truth about oneself ( the more you dig the more "it" comes) is really painfull because we think we are saints and we discover we are worms. Patience is needed and understanding, concentration on oneself,( and I would personally suggest to "kill" self-pity wherever you find it, because it hides the dirt beneath and can make one depressed, anxious, bored, etc.) The help we receive from above is immense, we are shown what we need, what we do and why, and we need to pay attention, to learn how to think and listen. Asking for help, deeply understanding what we need and why. Watching and getting rid of the dirt with Will and effort.
Enjoy your moment of peace :)

PS: I hope my english makes sense because I am Greek.

Thanks for the reminder, Chris. Something a friend mentioned last night was to be careful not to get sucked into the screen. See the screen and everything else too, taking short breaks to become aware of yourself and the environment.

It is pretty tough sometimes to not get sucked into the computer screen, it's a problem with identification. In reality, we are a consciousness using a body using a keyboard using a computer using the internet.

Hi there,

I find that it is easy to start multi-tasking on the computer in ways that I wouldn't do if I were doing some physical task. So, if I were trying to practice concentration during the day and was just writing using a pen and paper, it would be much easier to stop myself from checking my phone messages, looking at a newspaper, turning on the stereo, etc...while trying to focus on the task at hand. I would notice myself getting up to do these things. But, when I am on the computer, so many of these and other tasks are within the click of a mouse and I find that I can jump from one task to the other in a subconscious way, without realizing it.

Then, this kind of multi-tasking has its impact on my ability to concentrate, willpower, energy levels, and mental vigilance. So, it's something that I am looking into more and trying to gain more control over.

I also find it important to look into feeling rushed as I am typing and egos coming through the motor center in that way, as well as tension throughout the body. My breathing patterns often change if there egos coming through in this way. So, that's another cue for me anyway. Often, there are different emotions coming through when on the computer, as well.

The meditation on an ego would really be worthwhile to use to reflect on this since particular area since it can be so difficult to spot everything we are doing these tasks.

All the strength with your investigations,

Gabrielle

Hi Chris

I find maintaining the awareness before the computer very difficult too. In addition to the tips here in the post there have been a couple of blogs related to that subject, where many tips have been given. These blogs are Life at work 1-3:

http://www.gnosticweb.com/node/13178
http://www.gnosticweb.com/node/13256
http://www.gnosticweb.com/node/13724

Good luck with your work
jonny

Hey Chris,

I find something similar to what Gabrielle was saying, that it's really easy to get sucked into the computer if I multitask while I'm using it.

My egos seem to know what is going to cause me to get sucked in, so they'll try and push me to eat while I use the computer (which is a killer for me), or have multiple screens open at once, or use the computer while I'm on the phone etc. Often this comes as a quick thought and then a sensation that compels me to do something in my motor centre. So it helps to try and feel what I'm being pushed to do and how the egos are trying to make me do it, and then to try not to go along with what I can feel and disintegrate them.

Something that relates to that is if I'm at work and I decide to check my email or something like that, then I often get scattered because there is some guilt or other egos involved as well. I feel like I shouldn't be doing it at work and so I try and rush or hide what I'm doing and it's easy to get compulsive about it. If I'm not careful it's easy to get lost.

When I've written down my problem areas or the egos I've got fascinated by in the past it's really helpful because it helps me remember, and because it's harder to forget it pretend it didn't happen when it's written down and not just in my head.

Also, it helps to plan what I'm going to do, and just do one thing at a time, so I don't have to be thinking about what I'm going to do next or wondering if I've forgotten something.

All the best with it and hope to see you soon! :)

David

Hi Chris,

yes this is an ego which I became aware of quite recently and which I still working on all the time.

I have found during meditation on that ego that many different egoes can "induce" me to start "browsing" aimlessly, like irritation, lazieness, boredom, pride etc.

Browsing aimlessly also give rise to many other egoes, much like whatching TV.

I put a bright sticker on the side of my monitor where it is clearly visible for me. Every time I see the sticker it reminds me to stay in awareness while in front of the PC.

Any such reminder serves as an awareness anchor point while using the computer and it helped for me.

When I became used to the sticker I changed it to a different color....

Hope this helps.

Kind Regards

J

Hey Jaco,

Good idea about the sticker, I want to give that a try!

Thanks,
David

Hey guys,

Recently I experimented with replacement of an anchor with another one applying to a different sense...seems to work.

For example, I can get used to a sticker, a visual anchor; then I can try to use the sound of conditioning as a reminder; and after that a good one maybe can be, standing up from a chair, etc.

All the best!