Tuning in – Assignment of session 2 week 5

See if you can be aware of what is immediately present without automatically locating that present in a “before-after causal nexus.” As a way into this practice, consider the suggestion in the text that in such encounters, both the knowing subject and the known object can be seen as presentations rather than solid entities. The text suggests that doing this may allow “previously hidden dynamics to show themselves in and as the situation,” pointing less to what manifests and more to the activity of manifesting.

Our experiences depend on our individual consciousness. But this consciousness, our awareness is unstable and stained by the stories of the self.

I read today a very interesting paper, available in the creative inquiry website, entitled “Does Consciousness flow? And Why it Matters”. This paper describes how we get confused when we look at consciousness. We think we are in touch with its workings, when actually we are focused on its content: memory, thought and feeling. And I think it is connected with our assigned practice of the week.

The paper suggests that if you could find ways to focus on the fringe (of the images and appearances), we could counter our tendency to submerse ourselves in the content. For me it works better to bring silence to my mind and allow a panoramic awareness, without a specific focus, a kind of mindful alertness.

In my experience it takes a very long time of practice to have an awareness more stable and focused. I always get distracted and bring my attention back. It is a continuous practice to be aware of everything that is happening: staying with the quality of alertness and maintaining it as long as I can. As we glue on the content of our consciousness, we are instantly bound by the stories of the self and the linear structure of time.

Today, when I was walking back home, I can say that I could experience this activity of manifesting. The traffic was heavy, many people on the sidewalk and it had not darkened yet, and suddenly someone honked strongly, and at the same moment I felt a contraction in my body and continued walking. I realized that if I was not aware of the activity of manifesting my reaction would have been different.

I realize that if I am not aware of my surroundings, judgments pop up and a feeling of isolation takes place. If I am aware, I am automatically connected with these surroundings, I am part of it and I am tuned with this vital stream, any disturbance affects me but instead bringing a disruption, everything accommodates.

“Time” is not at all oppressive. Time, any “time” is actually enabling, not restraining, if appreciated and used with the right “knowledge”. TSK 142