day 3

[Terrence Brannon]

I did my concentration this morning... wide awake when I started.

I added in 'The Minds First Power' as the first exercise -
http://groups.google.com/group/ernest-wood-concentration/web/study-program

Now, when I got to exercise 3, I did for quite awhile (using the word
'stone') and then before I knew it, I was in a deep sleep. That isnt
altogether bad... sometimes I fall into discursive thought, which is a
form of dream. So I cant be too hard on myself for falling into deep
sleep or no consciousness of "I"

[minorwork]

> Now, when I got to exercise 3, I did for quite awhile (using the word
> 'stone') and then before I knew it, I was in a deep sleep. That isnt
> altogether bad... sometimes I fall into discursive thought, which is a
> form of dream. So I cant be too hard on myself for falling into deep
> sleep or no consciousness of "I"

You are right it is not altogether bad. But you can see the effort
of learning this thing. Once you realize you are in discursive
thought bring the mind back to the work. I trust that when you fell
asleep you did not fall. Best to lie in bed. Then you can raise and
balance your forearm on your elbow to catch yourself falling asleep.
Have you gotten to 100 arrows on paper? In thought? If so, go for
200. Then change 'stone' to 'key.'

[Terrence Brannon]

minorwork wrote:

Now, when I got to exercise 3, I did for quite awhile (using the word
'stone') and then before I knew it, I was in a deep sleep. That isnt
altogether bad... sometimes I fall into discursive thought, which is a
form of dream. So I cant be too hard on myself for falling into deep
sleep or no consciousness of "I"
    

You are right it is not altogether bad.  But  you can see the effort
of learning this thing. 

Actually, there is un-effort in doing concentration. Let's say we are going to do a ritual with a magic wand. What happens? We say some things, and move physical parts around. With these exercises, the first thing you catch yourself doing is furrowing the brow or hunching your back in order to concentrate. Until you realize that all of that mental effort is best left to drop away while you simply let the mind rest on the object of concentration. Then let it perform it's first power (of searching its filing cabinets for nearby things on the Roads of Thought) then with no need for physical intervention whatsoever (including what you call 'effort') you simply slide back to the object of concentration, doing no violence to body or mind in the process.

 Once you realize you are in discursive
thought bring the mind back to the work. 

Oh yes, certainly

 I trust that when you fell
asleep you did not fall. 

No, I was sitting up, but remained rather frozen.

 Best to lie in bed. 

ooh, then I would fall asleep! but it sounds like you are hinting that one might throw themselves beyond the highest thought that the body/mind can manifest and "... find oneself free of the body", as Annie Besant says here:
http://static.livingcosmos.org/ebooks/ernest-wood/ldump2/node8.html

best not to come back with your tongue between your teeth and blood everywhere, no?! I've very nearly bitten off my tongue many a time!

 Then  you can raise and
balance your forearm on your elbow to catch yourself falling asleep.
Have you gotten to 100 arrows on paper?

That is exercise 1 - http://static.livingcosmos.org/ebooks/ernest-wood/ldump2/node15.html

I skipped that and exercise 2

  In thought?  

I believe you are referring to exercise 3, which is about exhausting the roads of thought mentally only, per our conversation on gnawed:  http://gnawed.com/showthread.php?t=395

If so, go for
200. 

200.. I dont count when doing exercise 3... one thing you learn about the mind is that it makes associations very very very fast if you let it... if you dont step in and start forcing it towards this or that.

Then change 'stone' to 'key.'
  

abracadabra! heheh. what motivates the switch?

[Mark Palmer]

Of the 100 items, I was referring to the pen and paper exercise.  Then you have time to count.  It took me 4 days, but that was before I knew of the 4 roads of thought.  20 minutes at a time.

[Terrence Brannon]

I see... no, I won't be going back to Exercise 1 and 2 this time...