CCCI Part 2 Chapter 5 - Respiratory Mechanisms Questions

[Jeremy Chance]

Hi All,

Questions to ponder for the chapter on "Respiratory Mechanisms" in CCCI:

1. Do both sensory & emotional congruity need to occur in tandem with  

our reasoning prosess when choosing to respond in a non-habitual way  

to an everyday stimulus such as the need for taking in air?

ANSWER

There is no definitive answer to this question in the text, but it was suggested to me by this passage (THIS ALSO ANSWERS THE SECOND QUESTION BELOW):

"For instance, suppose that a pupil has a special desire to increase his chest capacity. This desire acts as a stimulus to the psycho-physical processes involved and sets in motion all the unreliable guiding and directing sensations associated with his established idea of chest expansion. The only way, then, by which he can prevent the old subconscious habits from gaining the upper hand is for him to refuse to act upon this idea. This means that as soon as the idea or desire comes to him he definitely stops and says to himself: "No. I won't do what I should like to do to increase my chest capacity, because, if I do what I feel will increase it, I shall only use my mechanisms as I have used them before, and what is the good of that? I know I have been using them incorrectly up to now, else why do I need these lessons?" In other words, he inhibits his desire to act."

CCCI Part 2 Ch 5

***

What interests me about the above passage, is the quality of inhibition indicated. Often it is conceived as a momentary decision, a split second convergence of awareness and memory that delivers us the ability to choose outside of habituated behaviour. However, in the above instance, the process is one of talking to one self and reaching an inner conviction - could we call it an "emotionally supported" decision? This is the point of my questions and, even considering it, opens up a can of worms in my mind. There is most probably a simple, elegant response that avoids my service right now, but any comments, thoughts or complaints on this line of thinking always appreciated.

As an addendum to this idea, I think it helpful to read a passage from MSI Part 1 Chapter 6 "Habits of Thought and of Body" where there is also support for the idea that any new decision news to come from the undisputed whole integrated wish of the person, and be seen through to its final accomplishment:

"We must cultivate, in brief, the deliberate habit of taking up every occupation with the whole mind, with a living desire to carry each action through to a successful accomplishment, a desire which necessitates bringing into play every faculty of the attention." 

MSI Part 1 Chapter 6

2. How do you "inhibit your desire to act " when it comes to taking a  

breath?

ANSWER

See passage above!

cheerfully

Jeremy