I appreciate Arthur’s systematic approach: he sets out to answer every question in part 1 of DTS Ex. 4. He notices that when he focuses on the flowing sensation in his shoulder, trying to stay in the moment before words come, that even the word “relaxation” gets in the way of the experience.
There would be another approach here: one that is characteristic for TSK. When the flowing in the shoulder gets taken over by the concept “relaxation,” can you conduct that experience of conceptualization?
This applies to the next part of the exercise also. You write that you had to force yourself to return to the focus, that perhaps “mind does not want to let itself be captured.” Making forceful effort is interesting in itself, but it takes you in a different direction, or at least to a new experience. In other words, “I am focusing on this experience, not another experience,” is also a concept.
It’s good that you find yourself “respecting” mind, even in its stubborness. Someone “doing something to someone” is not likely to give much clarity. Proceeding with delicacy, as you suggest, is a form of this respect.
Jack
I should have said, “can you conduct that experience of conceptualizing?” In other words, the conception-making is also an activity, one that we experience.
I think exercise 4 of DTS encourages you to look at concepts, so in that way it is easy to feel divorced from the feeling aspect. Ex. 34 is just the opposite.
Hello, Jack, I’m not sure I understand what you mean when you say in your e-mail: “can you conduct that experience of conceptualization?” Could you expand on this?
I do not find very easy exercise 4 of DST, maybe I’m trying to practice it very “mentally” and not so much connecting the “feeling” of it. I wonder why this is so. Anyway, I keep trying.
However the practice 34 of TSK really gives a flavour of a knowledge without partitions, without positions and focal points. I connected very well with this one.
As for the german guys, I really don´t mind if they´d rather express themselves in their own language!
Very best wishes for all