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Hey everyone,
afer a brief concentration the other day, I realized in part a big block I had been having with concentration that I thought some of you might share. I found that I was thinking of concentration as something inherently boring/difficult and not as something enjoyable that would sustain its own practice by itself. As I stared at and visualized a candle, I could see it vividly and it was like a huge flame and somehow very comforting. It was a very enjoyable excercize. I realized that I had been saying I SHOULD do the excercise, which made me not want to do it at all. Now it is more of an enjoyable activity, I hope to do the practice with less resistance. This, of course, can be applied to everything, and all gnostic (and other) practices can be a source of pleasure instead of a horrible burden to be worked through.
-J
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Join Date: 2005-05-29
Forum Posts: 213
Hello Julian,
Thanks a lot for sharing that. I've had the same kind of pre-thinking about excercises like that before. I also remember I've seen the same thing when I come across something new be it an excercise or pretty much anything. I guess what you mention is like the best approach in most cases. This is very related to what Belzebuub mentioned today in his talk, that it is better to go for it, 100%, and let the experience show us the real thing.
Thanks,
Mauricio
Join Date: 2008-03-18
Forum Posts: 294
Thanks for the inspiration.
Join Date: 2005-01-26
Forum Posts: 1036
The more you think about it or plan it, the harder it becomes to achieve because the object is to use something other than the mortal intellect.
Thanks for bringing it up. Concentration's usually the biggest thing people struggle with when it's actually pretty easy, it's our own minds that betray us.
I don't like looking at stuff, I like the visualization excersizes better.
My favorite is probably the infinity symbol.
Join Date: 2004-02-21
Forum Posts: 255
Hi everyone
When looking upon the same thing again and again I find that there could be also something mechanical in the concentration exercise which might become a blockage, so I like to vary the things I concentrate on from time to time (candle, crystal, etc.).
To concentrate on each activity during the whole day is also a very good exercise. When done for the whole day, many different things come up which one can concentrate on.
All the best everyone
jonny
Join Date: 2004-11-30
Forum Posts: 2906
Hi Julian,
I think, that's a very good insight to bring!
Maybe it can explain more or less why a deep and profound relaxation facilitates a good concentration.
Being fully relaxed makes easier to achieve a highly motivated, sincerely enthusiastic state and then carry this positive attitude throughout the practice.
Tension causes discomfort and keeps trying to "steal attention".
Another point is to be in a state of awareness with a balanced centers before a practice.
Then it's possible to simply stare at the dot but find it inspiring and magical, because of the appropriate inner state.
All the best to everyone in the practices!
Join Date: 2008-06-11
Forum Posts: 34
Overwhelmingly loud, aerial music does it for me. Its a great tool that you can manipulate with your hands to effect your conscious state. If you do it right.
"The Infection has Been Removed, The Soul of this Machine has Improved."
Join Date: 2005-03-16
Forum Posts: 255
What is aerial music? Do you mean that it sort of 'engulfs' your mind and bypasses your thinking (and that you can thus, indirectly, control your thinking) or that it actually helps concentrate? In my experience, loud music is opposed to concentration or awareness, so your comment interests me.
-J
Join Date: 2008-06-11
Forum Posts: 34
You hit the nail on the head ^_^
Atmospheric is a good term for it as well. Indian Sitars are a good example, as is Gregorian Monk Chanting (Benedictine Monks of Santo Domingo De Silos)
"Do you mean that it sort of 'engulfs' your mind and bypasses your thinking (and that you can thus, indirectly, control your thinking) or that it actually helps concentrate?"
Both
I prefer Gregorian Master of Chant's "Guide Me God" and "Responsorios" as well as many more of their chants. I believe "Guide Me God" is also done by Sinead O' Connor, and may actually be the originator, as Gregorian does a lot of covers.
Heres a lyric excerpt from "Guide Me God":
I will always know(x4)
I'll always know you're there(x5)
I will always know(x5)
Guide me God and I will find you(x8)
chorus/repeating
"The Infection has Been Removed, The Soul of this Machine has Improved."