is this the next layer of consciosness?

[blazer1]

the other day I decided to meditate. Having read books on Buddhist thought and meditation I knew to observe the thoughts which enter my mind, and pay attention to how they leave, as next ones come in.

I also paid attention to my body, how it was placed, it's posture etc ... but this was less relevant compared to the observation of thoughts, its duration and its departure.

Eventually i came to a realisation if I constantly, in everyday living, paid attention to the thoughts in my mind, then life would be better.

So now I am trying to cultivate a layer of consciousness which acts like the Watcher of my mind, any thought which enters my mind I must acknowledge it .. or in other words it must pass through some mental gate.

It takes effort and concentration to achieve this awareness. But I think it would be beneficial.

BTW: (edited bit) ... the reason why I feel implementing the Watcher of thoughts would be beneficial is because each of us have an array of inner-most desires ... and our minds are prone to be lead astray by stimulus of our environment. when our mind is concentrated on the self, then these stimulus around us do not drive our minds, we drive our own minds.

your thoughts would be appreciated here.

[wren]

I'm with you on this. I recently started reading The Wisdom of No Escape by Pema Chodron which has cultivated a similar scenario for me. The book stresses that no matter what is happening, it is the perfect moment and the perfect teacher. One just has to be open to the moment, to the thoughts, the emotions, the reality of the situation.

I've only read three chapters of the book, but I am noticing amazing results. I watch my thoughts and emotions ebb and flow and the illusions fall away before my eyes. I feel really good about life, the best I've felt in a really long time. I hope you are experiencing similar results.

[blazer1]

I am I guess.

The key to what I have mentioned is constant mindfulness, which requires concentration, will power and thereby energy.

I find when I am by myself it is a lot easier to stay focussed on my thoughts, and keep things logical ... but when I am around a lot of stimulus (for example out in public) it becomes really hard to stay focussed and I end being driven by the stimulus rather than logic.

What I am describing is not only what Buddha advises, but the Silva Method is very similar. I think the concept is to NOT be driven by the external world, but rather be driven by the outter-layer of consciousness that one can develop, i.e. the more sensible, rational self as opposed to the emotion driven self.

I really do think it's the next phase in human evolution.

The primal being is compelled by sense feelings (emotions) ... the evolved being is compelled by logic.


Also, judging from the lack of responses, this realisation is either obvious to everyone, or people don't get it. Can you please tell me which one it is?!

[Acting Like Godot]

Originally Posted by blazer1

Eventually i came to a realisation if I constantly, in everyday living, paid attention to the thoughts in my mind, then life would be better.

So now I am trying to cultivate a layer of consciousness which acts like the Watcher of my mind, any thought which enters my mind I must acknowledge it .. or in other words it must pass through some mental gate.

It takes effort and concentration to achieve this awareness. But I think it would be beneficial.

You don't need to cultivate a layer of consciousness which acts like the watcher. The watcher is already there. The watcher has always been there. For example, the watcher was there when you were a little baby too young to know any words and therefore not able to think in words.

The effort and concentration is during the meditation itself. The mindfulness is cultivated here. If you meditate properly, the effect should last for at least a few hours after you have completed your meditation. Thereafter you don't have to strive to be mindful - the mindfulness comes automatically.

[Acting Like Godot]

Originally Posted by blazer1

What I am describing is not only what Buddha advises, but the Silva Method is very similar.

LOL, so you actually know the Silva Method. How come you haven't used it to contact your non-physical entities yet? And in certain ways, to become a non-physical entity yourself. Refer to Day 2 of the course.

[Cantando]

Originally Posted by blazer1

The key to what I have mentioned is constant mindfulness, which requires concentration, will power and thereby energy.
...
I find when I am by myself it is a lot easier to stay focussed on my thoughts, and keep things logical ... but when I am around a lot of stimulus (for example out in public) it becomes really hard to stay focussed and I end being driven by the stimulus rather than logic.
...
I really do think it's the next phase in human evolution.

The primal being is compelled by sense feelings (emotions) ... the evolved being is compelled by logic.

Can't you enjoy the sights, sounds and smells of the street without imposing logic onto the experience?
Experiencing emotion is an important part of living.
Are you aspiring to be Mr Spock or something?

[Acting Like Godot]

Originally Posted by Cantando

Can't you enjoy the sights, sounds and smells of the street without imposing logic onto the experience?

Actually Blazer is going to be very troubled if he sticks to logic and Buddhist meditation at the same time, because together they will lead him to a conclusion that he's already shown himself (elsewhere on this forum) to be very unable to accept.

From a previous thread, Blazer struggles - I mean, he really struggles - with the proposition that reality is illusion. For example, he absolutely cannot accept the 'magical' aspects of LOA because he still clings very hard to the idea of a materialist universe.

Actually he's going to be very troubled if he goes with logic and quantum physics at the same time too.

[wren]

Originally Posted by blazer1

I find when I am by myself it is a lot easier to stay focussed on my thoughts, and keep things logical ... but when I am around a lot of stimulus (for example out in public) it becomes really hard to stay focussed and I end being driven by the stimulus rather than logic.

What I am describing is not only what Buddha advises, but the Silva Method is very similar. I think the concept is to NOT be driven by the external world, but rather be driven by the outter-layer of consciousness that one can develop, i.e. the more sensible, rational self as opposed to the emotion driven self.

I really do think it's the next phase in human evolution.

The primal being is compelled by sense feelings (emotions) ... the evolved being is compelled by logic.

Not familiar with the Silva method... I believe an evolved being is compelled by logic and emotion. Emotion helps guide you in life. You may find your emotions are irrational now (not judging, just some of my own experience) but with awareness you can let go of the irrational patterns. Once you can stay present with your thoughts and feelings, you can choose how to react to you emotions.

Emotion is joy, fear, anger, frustration, sadness, etc. It is part of the human experience.

[lasti]

Your technique and this level of consciousness is exactly described like this in "The Power Of Now". The author calls this LoC "enlightment".

[Acting Like Godot]

Originally Posted by lasti

Your technique and this level of consciousness is exactly described like this in "The Power Of Now". The author calls this LoC "enlightment".

No. This is a misunderstanding of Eckhart Tolle. Actually it is a very serious misunderstanding of Eckhart Tolle, hence I feel compelled to point it out.

Blazer seems to be proposing to shut out / reduce the external sensory stimuli, in order to focus on his own thoughts.

Eckhart Tolle definitely would not advocate that. Eckhart Tolle advocates presence in the now, which means that you pay a constant and high degree of attention to what is immediately before you. Shutting out sensory stimuli is definitely not the idea!

In Tolle's approach, you should not be thinking, if you do not need to think. In a sense, you can regard the "thinking" part of your mind as an instrument, like a tool. IF you need to use it, you use it, and with full concentration on the purpose for which you wish to use it. IF you do not need to use it, you turn it off.

[blazer1]

[quote=Acting Like Godot;194851]Blazer seems to be proposing to shut out / reduce the external sensory stimuli, in order to focus on his own thoughts.QUOTE]


Wrong. Why would I shut out the world around me? Thats just stupid.

It's good I have come across this post again because you seem to be charging me on everything I write.

What I am saying is, instead of deriving our reactions on emotional thoughts, we need to base our reactions on rationality and logic.

Emotions will exist within us for a long while yet, instead of trying to supress it, or live by it, we need to use it as a gauge.

If I feel happy, then express the happiness, yet do so knowingly.

Tolle was just another Joe Blow person just like you or I who was articulate and entrepreneurial enough to write a book about this realisation. Don't give this person too much credit, I have read his book.

Stick to what Buddha wrote a long time ago. Too bad buddha did not have a word for rationality and logic.

Enjoy the blissful nature of life ... but do so knowingly. Understand the humanly emotions ... but look beyond it.

I have written another post on the Ego I believe somewhere, look it up.