Raising Awareness and the "gap"

[calicles]

I've been working on raising my awareness for the last couple of months as I see this as one of the pillars of improvement.
A few weeks ago and for a couple hours, I suddenly entered a state of what I'll call heightened awareness. Basically I saw the gap between stimulus and response. Steve talks about this in a couple of his articles.
To give an example, I was shopping, and one item I intended to buy was out of stock. I realized that this was going to affect me before actually feeling the negative emotions associated with the event.
This was extremelly empowering. I was able to cut down on negative thoughts even before they started and it gave me a feeling of great control. I also felt very excited and joyful about the whole thing.
However for some reason I felt that this state might not last, and though it seemed to persist until I went to bed, the following day it was gone. I haven't fully recovered it since.
I believe that if I could be in such a state most of the time, it would ease my development by an order of magnitude.

I'd like to hear from people with similar experiences and ideas on how to recapture this blissful state.

[Adam Sargant]

Hi Calicles

That sounds wonderful... there are techniques of develop similar yet more perseverant states, though I'm not sure it's "techniques" as such you are asking for, and most of the ones I know of (such as the mythogenic self) involve having another individual involved as a facilitator.

NLP, as the study of subjective experience, gives us tools to model such experiences and to develop ways of eliciting them. I have an abiding interest in the application of NLP to spiritual development and would love to have the opportunity to ask you some questions (along modeling principles) about this experience if you would be willing. And hey, you might discover something useful about it for yourself in the process

[calicles]

Adam,
I'll be happy to answer your questions. Fire away!

[Adam Sargant]

OK... ... at risk of hijacking the thread... when you take yourself into the time you experience this heightened awareness... what do you notice that is important to you?

[calicles]

I think what sticks out is the feeling of control and clarity I got in that state. Going beyond my brain just running random thoughts on it's own for reasons half unknown and instead understanding what's going on and choosing what I want going on.

[Adam]

The best way that I've found to get into that state of mind is simply to practice. Don't get stressed out if it doesn't work, or if you forget, since you're only practicing at it... but practice makes habit, and if you refine the methods that you use to practice, you'll have a pretty good habit out of it when you're done.

NLP, etc., are all very good 'generic' methods to practice finding the 'gap,' but really, nothing beats finding your own method. You can start with the generic methods, but refine them and actually study what parts really work for you and don't be afraid to discard the parts that don't work.

[Adam Sargant]

Originally Posted by calicles

I think what sticks out is the feeling of control and clarity I got in that state. Going beyond my brain just running random thoughts on it's own for reasons half unknown and instead understanding what's going on and choosing what I want going on.

Cool... you've already answered my second question (what does it mean for you to have that feeling of control and clarity?)...

to clarify...

having the feeling of control and clarity means going beyond your brain just running random thoughts on it's own for reasons half unknown and instead understanding what's going on and choosing what you want going on?

So then... can you expand on the relationship between control and clarity, between understanding and choosing, for me?

[Adam Sargant]

Originally Posted by Adam

NLP, etc., are all very good 'generic' methods to practice finding the 'gap,' but really, nothing beats finding your own method. You can start with the generic methods, but refine them and actually study what parts really work for you and don't be afraid to discard the parts that don't work.

Absolutely! 100%

I simply hope to elicit some of the process that took calicles to that tipping point previously, maybe even in such a way as to usefully reapply stuff (or apply it in the spirit of experimentation myself)

That would be what I consider to be NLP anyway... not a collection of applications or techniques

[calicles]

Originally Posted by Adam Sargant

So then... can you expand on the relationship between control and clarity, between understanding and choosing, for me?

By clarity, I mean that I have a better understanding of what's going on in my mind. It's like I'm witness to what is actually going on - not just letting things happen (basically I guess this is the definition of awareness).
This yields control because I'm aware of things happening and can thus actually interrupt or redirect thoughts: I have more options of choosing consciously.

[fontduroy]

calicles:

In reference to your question regarding how to recover that blissful state, I have a question for you:

Do you think the blissful state was a result of your realization, or a side effect of it?

Just something for you to think about on your journey.

[calicles]

Hi fontduroy,

Originally Posted by fontduroy

calicles:
Do you think the blissful state was a result of your realization, or a side effect of it?

The "bliss" in the state was, I believe, caused by two things:
- excitement/happiness/hope over my "discovery".
- the actual fact that the state was closer to what some might call "peace" because a lot of unusefull internal dialog was turned off.

I'm still curious - has anyone here experienced similar things? How often?

[starseed]

This post made me smile, Instead of you as the ego, you were observing the ego. This happens to me sometimes after I have calmed my mind enough to observe my thoughts. Not often tho! I should put out a new intention

[fontduroy]

calicles:

Yes, I have experienced feelings like that often, but never constantly. The feeling of happiness that I experience usually comes about from a realization of some kind, be it finally understanding a concept that is presented to me or figuring something out for myself. In fact, it is not unlike the feeling that anyone may get from accomplishing something that they set out to do.

In my last post, I was attempting to suggest that the feeling of bliss is not in itself the end result of your realization; it is the realization that is the gift. In other words, it is the experiences that led up to that point and the point itself that are important, not the feeling you get afterwards.

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There is a story about a Buddhist monk who was seeking an old man who was said to be enlightened. He found the old man carrying a burden of sticks on his back, walking towards home. The monk asked the old man, "What is enlightenment?"

The old man put down his burden, looked up at the sky, and sighed with a content smile on his face.

The monk then asked, "What comes after enlightenment?", and the old man picked up his sticks and started walking towards home again.
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I'm not suggesting that you were enlightened, and I would never suggest that I am. All I'm trying to point out is that yes, these feelings happen, and when they do they can be very enjoyable. But perhaps it is not wise to get too attached to that feeling and pursue it too much, lest you forget about all the other joys to be had in living.

I hope this response doesn't come across as pretentious, or that I didn't give unsolicited advice of any kind. I don't consider myself some wise sage or knower of anything "divine". To further sum up: You figured out something that was a truth to yourself, and it felt good.

[calicles]

Originally Posted by fontduroy

calicles:
In my last post, I was attempting to suggest that the feeling of bliss is not in itself the end result of your realization; it is the realization that is the gift. In other words, it is the experiences that led up to that point and the point itself that are important, not the feeling you get afterwards.

This is perfectly true. The blissful aspect was just decorative. My true interest lies in the actual state of heightened awareness that I got - not so much because it made me happy at that time but because I believe the state to be something generally usefull.

[Adam Sargant]

Originally Posted by calicles

By clarity, I mean that I have a better understanding of what's going on in my mind. It's like I'm witness to what is actually going on - not just letting things happen (basically I guess this is the definition of awareness).
This yields control because I'm aware of things happening and can thus actually interrupt or redirect thoughts: I have more options of choosing consciously.

So what is it in sensory terms that lets you know that you are witness to what is actually going on and not just letting things happen, that you are aware of things happening and can interrupt or redirect thoughts? What do you notice, internally or externally? What do you see, hear, feel, imagine, say to yourself?

Adam

[calicles]

Originally Posted by Adam Sargant

So what is it in sensory terms that lets you know that you are witness to what is actually going on and not just letting things happen, that you are aware of things happening and can interrupt or redirect thoughts? What do you notice, internally or externally? What do you see, hear, feel, imagine, say to yourself?

Adam

Ok, I'm going to try this but the state being a few weeks old, it's a little difficult recalling exactly how it felt.

My mind felt unclouded.
It's as if things that were supposed to affect me, suddenly got into focus.
I felt relaxed and alert.
I felt this satisfying internal feeling of being on top of things, one step ahead.

[Adam Sargant]

Originally Posted by calicles

Ok, I'm going to try this but the state being a few weeks old, it's a little difficult recalling exactly how it felt.

My mind felt unclouded.
It's as if things that were supposed to affect me, suddenly got into focus.
I felt relaxed and alert.
I felt this satisfying internal feeling of being on top of things, one step ahead.

OK, so this is a guess, but would it be fair to say that you were in a primarily feeling state, with some visual imagery? That internal chatter had settled to a minimum? (i'm digressing slightly here, but I'm interested in the metaphors you use for this experience and the forms they take)

[calicles]

Originally Posted by Adam Sargant

OK, so this is a guess, but would it be fair to say that you were in a primarily feeling state, with some visual imagery? That internal chatter had settled to a minimum? (i'm digressing slightly here, but I'm interested in the metaphors you use for this experience and the forms they take)

I'd say yes to the feeling state and yes to the internal chatter settled to a minimum.
Not so sure about de visual imagery. I guess that's what is evoqued from my use of the term "focus" but what I meant was that whatever stimulus that would have an emotive impact on me (be it visual, auditive or a thought) was isolated and magnified.

This is a bit unrelated to your question but I now remember that I was also afraid that concentrating on anything else too hard might break the state I was in - so I was also careful not to let my mind wander of too much.

[sept]

calicles,

I find my self in the state of heightened awareness that you describe off & on and after every yoga class I take. Feels like I'm in a meditative state but with full awareness and control.

If you haven't tried yoga, I would suggest it. Since I've started attending a class regularly (3 months ago), I find myself in that state of high awareness randomly throughout the week even if I have not attended class that day.

It is one of the most amazing experiences I have ever felt.

[Adam Sargant]

Originally Posted by calicles

I'd say yes to the feeling state and yes to the internal chatter settled to a minimum.
Not so sure about de visual imagery. I guess that's what is evoqued from my use of the term "focus" but what I meant was that whatever stimulus that would have an emotive impact on me (be it visual, auditive or a thought) was isolated and magnified.

This is a bit unrelated to your question but I now remember that I was also afraid that concentrating on anything else too hard might break the state I was in - so I was also careful not to let my mind wander of too much.

OK now, so what was the feeling? Where in your body? What sort of feeling?

And what has to be true for your mind to feel unclouded? What has to be true for that to happen suddenly?

In love and light

Adam

[calicles]

Originally Posted by Adam Sargant

OK now, so what was the feeling? Where in your body? What sort of feeling?

And what has to be true for your mind to feel unclouded? What has to be true for that to happen suddenly?

In love and light

Adam

I'd really like to be able answer your questions but I feel I'd be really being too speculative or simply make up stuff just to provide an answer as I really don't remember that state all that well.
Next time it happens I'll be sure to pay more attention to what I'm feeling and how I got there. Thanks for your input!

[Antarananda]

Whenever an experience of satori (pure awareness) is intense, there is no memory of it left, because during that experience your mind was no longer functioning, and only pure awareness was. Memory is a function of the mind. The moment the mind kicks in and goes "Oh, what a blissful experience", the pure bliss is lost.

[Adam Sargant]

Originally Posted by calicles

I'd really like to be able answer your questions but I feel I'd be really being too speculative or simply make up stuff just to provide an answer as I really don't remember that state all that well.
Next time it happens I'll be sure to pay more attention to what I'm feeling and how I got there. Thanks for your input!

No worries... the process works so much better face to face when I have non-verbal cues to guide me



But thanks for the opportunity to build a model of a fascinating state... now I'll experiement with some design work on what I've got

Light and love

Adam

[Adam Sargant]

Originally Posted by Antarananda

Whenever an experience of satori (pure awareness) is intense, there is no memory of it left, because during that experience your mind was no longer functioning, and only pure awareness was. Memory is a function of the mind. The moment the mind kicks in and goes "Oh, what a blissful experience", the pure bliss is lost.

I recall a story about Ram Dass tell of a time when he asked a Yogi to describe this sort of state; every time the Yogi tried, he dropped into a trance and stopped talking.

In light and love

Adam