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# Re: Concentration and the Step I Work

#### Message 01720 of 3835

- To: BardonPraxis@yahoogroups.com
- Subject: Re: Concentration and the Step I Work
- From: "forestofsymbols" <forestofsymbols@...>
- Date: Fri, 07 Nov 2003 20:05:34 -0000
- In-reply-to: <bofblt+6nu8@eGroups.com>
- User-agent: eGroups-EW/0.82

    Alan,

    In my experience, there are two ways of doings things: with and
    without consciousness. One can drive a car with or without paying
    attention to what one is doing. I'm sure all of us have gotten up in
    the morning and driven to work or school and realize that we're not
    sure exactly how we got there. Many of us wander through the day not
    paying any attention at all, but rather "zoned out" or stuck in a
    cloudy mental narrative. Further, attention can go in two directions:
    within and without. One can be as easily lost in one's own thoughts
    as one can be lost in one's surroundings. Both seem to me to be
    imbalanced. Even when meditating, one can do it with and without
    attention.

    In my mind, the underlying message of Step One is "pay attention."
    In fact, each exercise of Step One reinforces the other, such that
    one cannot take it part by part, but as a whole. I would assume that
    all 10 Steps are the same way, both internally and between them. I
    found Step One to be quite difficult because of all the conscious
    effort it required. Bardon asks us to give attention to our thoughts,
    our inner souls, our bodies, our eating, drinking, and breathing, and
    our lives. It is easy (because I have done it) to pass through all
    the exercises of Step One with the feeling that one has *done* it
    when in fact one has only gone through the motions.

    Step Two continues that development, again, as a whole. It is
    often emphasized that one will not be able to do further steps until
    each preceding step is mastered. It is easy to think, as I once
    thought, that this applies to such things as being unable to
    visualize without mastering the Step One exercises. But it is more
    than that. Step Two is impossible without the attention developed in
    Step One. Before one can control one's anger, for example, one has to
    be aware of it as it is happening. In order to do that, one must be
    able to detach from one's passions in the manner that one detached
    from one's thoughts in Step One. It is as though Step One plants a
    spark of awareness which must be nurtured and expanded in Step Two.
    In some respects, the exercises of Step One are like practices for
    battle. Practice is done in a controlled environment, with wooden
    swords and complete protection for the individual. It is easy to
    observe one's thoughts laying down with your eyes closed; just as it
    is easy to learn basic thrusts and parries with a sword. In Step Two,
    one begins actual combat in real-time, real-life situations. Now we
    must be able to observe ourselves standing, acting, and moving about
    in an open space with no time limitations. Now we must use the sword
    against real opponents who will not stand still or follow the rules
    of engagement.

    mj

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  - Re: Concentration and the Step I Work
    - From: "Alan Cook" <fish_studios@...>

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  - Re: Concentration and the Step I Work
    - From: "Alan Cook" <fish_studios@...>

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