Túrin Turambar

Check this out:
http://www.gnosticweb.com/node/17679

Its a discussion thread on organzing your life and time towards gnosis. It seems to be very helpful. I havent been able to get through the whole thing, but there is a lot of good advice and links - enough information to taylor it to work for anyone!

Just thought I'd share! I think I might print it out....

Katie

Hi Turin!

I am very happy that what I have shared with you has helped you in any way. I too am trying to get it down how to be aware while talking to someone. And yes, I too feel that the most important thing is to keep practicing. I listened to some of Mark's talks last night and they were very helpful.

I hope we can both stick to our advice! :)

Have a great week!

Katie

Oh..and I forgot to mention..during all these things (awareness walks..concentrating..etc..) I am trying to keep a clear mind. So if thoughts come in - usually of things that have happened - which can keep negative states around I've noticed - or something I need to do - I try to bring myself back to now, just be, and push the thought out. One thing that has helped me with that is I got a phone with an organizer. I put things in there when I remember them and I set a little alarm when it's due. That way I don't have an excuse to worry - when my bills are due or if I'm forgetting some important event. It helps with not worrying and with basic organization of daily life - so I don;t feel so out of sorts! And I put in practices to remind me also. Sometimes when I set my alarm for early in the morning I don't remember why I did that! So i put a little reminder in and it goes off in the morning with my alarm.

Okay...thats all for now! :)

Bye!

Hello!
Your sock incident sounds like some things that have happened to me also. It's so crazy how I walk around sometimes thinking I am aware, and then I am jolted into real awareness!

I am still learning like you...and awareness is actually a challenge for me. And it is something that I have to work on consistently. I am a muti tasker, thinker, worrier and analyzer. Awareness is like the opposite of all those things! I read in a discussion forum a while back something really helpful..one of the people responding to a question about awareness said to "Just Be". That was very profound to me. Something so simple, but forgotten about in the rush of daily life. So now when i find myself carried away in all my thoughts and not concentrating on the task at hand, I bring myself back by taking a deep breath and telling myself to just be. It is really helpful.

Another thing I learned from someone else was to notice the space between things. I've noticed that when I am having moments of true awareness things seem to be almost 3D..and I think it is from being able to see even that the nothing is something..

When taking an awarenes walk I try to be interactive with everything around me. I stop and smell flowers..touch plants..feel the muscles in my legs moving...listen to the birds and the sound of my feet moving over the ground. And while doing all this trying to not label or analyze everything. For example: when I smell a flower I try to just enjoy the smell without my mind labeling it as "wow! this smells good!". I'm trying to maintain a simple joy. I stop and watch bugs and what they are doing..and I find this enjoyable.

I try to concentrate on the task at hand. This is very hard for me..because I am very inclined to try and do 3 tasks at once! But I've noticed that it is better to just finish one and then move on. And being at work is challenging also. I get fascinated so easily there. Everyone's egos and personalities and my egos and personality...work is my biggest challenge at the moment.

I am also trying to not rush around so much. I am trying to get up earlier and do some yoga and a practice. This doesnt happen everyday..but I try. And when it does happen my day is more..peaceful. The events that happen aren't any different than normal everyday life..but I am just more peaceful I guess.

The big thing is being able to stay outwardly aware while remaining inwardly aware. Being aware of whats going on around us in an objective way..and staying aware of our centers and the egos that manifest in them. This part of the whole awareness I am just figuring out how to get it right. I just keep putting efforts everyday towards this.

It is well said that this is a war within ourselves! Some days are definitely harder than others!

And I like your quote by Gandalf! So true!

Now I must go and clean house while trying to not multi task and stay aware :)

Talk to you soon!

I'm glad to hear everything is going well at the moment! For me, the hardest part about this whole thing is being consistent...its so hard to stay consistent because our egos try to take over...its kinda crazy! :)
And I know what you mean about situations that give you a reality check! It seems as though I am reminded that I really don't know how much time I actually have in this life - so I should use it wisely! But that is easier said than done sometimes...

Hope you have a good weekend! Where do you live anyway?

Okay..Bye! :)