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# Concentration and the Step I Work

#### Message 01712 of 3835

- To: BardonPraxis@yahoogroups.com
- Subject: Concentration and the Step I Work
- From: "Alan Cook" <fish_studios@...>
- Date: Thu, 06 Nov 2003 20:25:32 -0000
- User-agent: eGroups-EW/0.82

    Concentration

    These are some of my thoughts on concentration, either stemming from
    or related to the work of Step I and II of Initiation Into
    Hermetics. I have tried to give examples or analogies of things that
    most people have experiencd or can experience.

    The first exercise a student is asked to perform is that of mental
    observance. It has been pointed out that the word "control" used by
    the english translations may not be the best. The German word could
    as well be translated into "standard", in this case the "control"
    would be more like a control group for a study. In this context, the
    first exercise of IIH takes on a bit more significance. The student
    is asked to observe his thoughts so that he knows the way in which
    his mind works under "normal" circumstances.

    This can be visualized by the analogy of being in a theater. The
    viewer is passive, not participating in the story. He is *observing*
    it. This is the level at which Step I is to be approached: the
    passive observer. He is to observe the "story" of the thoughts that
    are occuring in his mind, but not to participate in them.

    >From the discussions that I have read, conversations I have had, and
    from my own experience, the understanding of this exercise tends not
    to present that much of a problem to the student. Once the goal is
    firmly in mind it is simply a matter of time.

    We shall skip the one-pointedness of life, as Bardon's description
    and Rawn's commentary explain it to the full extent. As well, I have
    yet to see anyone ask for any clarification for this exercise.

    The next exercise is one of focus and concentration. This exercise
    is hardly ever questioned, as it is easily understood. Most of the
    questions tend to stem around what constitutes a "thought". Counting
    of the breaths is not a thought. The one-pointedness is to be of a
    thought or train of thoughts, stemming from an idea or thought. In
    my opinion, and experience, the best thoughts to use during this
    exercise are those of the Theory of IIH, or other thoughts of that
    nature. This is sort of "killing two birds with one stone" but since
    IIH and hermetics is of interest to the student (as he is pursuing
    this Work), the mind is able to focus on these with a degree of
    intensity.

    If the student is having trouble with these exercises, a good
    exercise is to find things in his life that allow him to focus
    intently on something. Media is a great tool for this. If the
    student likes movies, plays video games, or even reads books, he will
    see that this allows him to focus to the extent that he is engrossed
    in what he is doing and the surrounding world disappears from him.
    This is the level of focus that the student is aspiring to obtain.
    If the student plays an instrument or is a lover of music, he will
    notice that when he plays or listens, that his focus is sometimes so
    great that the only things that he is aware of is the music.

    The student can find something that he can concentrate intently on.
    If all else fails, watch your favorite movie. Try to keep in mind
    that you are wanting to observe your surroundings. Try and stay
    aware of them. At some point, you will lose your surroundings and
    become abosrbed in what you are doing. Eventually you will "snap
    out" of this state of intense focus, or the movie (or activity) will
    end. Now think back to how focused you were on what you were doing.
    That is what you are trying to achieve. Nothing else mattered but
    that one thing. You need be able to achieve this with any thought
    and activity that you choose.

    The last exercise of Step I in IIH is the exercise of vacancy of
    mind. This is not the *blocking out* of thoughts. It is the release
    of thoughts. It is a state of mind that is *above* thought. In this
    state, things are *perceived* and *not thought*. It is *vacant of
    thought* but not vacant of activity. A lot is going on, which after
    sometime the student will be aware of, but thoughts do not occur in
    this state. This is why this exercise seems to be so difficult.
    Trying to put into thought that which is void of thought, is
    difficult in and of itself. To then put those thoughts into words is
    almost impossible. But if there is doubt in the student's mind as to
    whether or not he has achieved this state of mind, he will know when
    he does. That's about the best way I can say it. The crux of the
    exercise is to *let go* of the thoughts and not *block them*. Let
    them flow out of your mind and leave it empty.

    I myself had trouble at first. I would try and block all thoughts, I
    would think about not thinking, etc. But once I learned to *let go*
    and *release* thoughts from my mind, it was only a matter of time
    before the exercise was "completed".

    This state is extremely important for later work in IIH, this is why,
    in Step II, the exercise is deepened and continued to be practiced.

    The concentration in Step II is based upon the exercises of Step I.
    If the student is having trouble focusing upon on the sensory
    concentration, he should pursue the work of one-pointedness to a
    deeper state than that which was required in Step I.

    One-pointedness is also needed with the asana of the physical
    exercises of Step II. The body is to be observed during the time of
    the sitting. In the end, this will require the one-pointedness of
    observing the body for 30 minutes. So the one-pointedness of Step I
    is already used extensively in Step II of IIH. As well the one-
    pointedness of life from Step I is used in the psychic exercises of
    Step II. The student must transmute his negative traits in his Soul
    Mirrors, one way being that of constant watch throughout the day.
    Without the one-pointedness in life, he will have difficulty in this
    endeavor.

    The continued vacancy of mind that must be deepened in Step II, is of
    great importance as it will lead to the direct perception of
    essential meaning later. But this exercise must be continually
    deepened throughout the Steps.

    All Will Go Well,
    --Alan

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