We are working with Attention. Attempting to be attentive to our attention.
We have an automatic attention where we get around and do complex things, but aren’t present or aware of our actions. I can get up after writing this, find my way out the door, down the stairs, and go buy a newspaper, all in sleep, on automatic. I can drive my car on a familiar route, completely mechanically and then be amazed I arrived safe and sound without the involvement of my consciousness.
Then there is an attention that involves our being present and aware. As I sit here I can sense my hands, my body, and come into a state of awareness, the beginning of waking up. I am here, aware of my mind being present, mindful of the sensation of my body and alive to my feelings. Collected, here and now, in this moment.
We work with our attention as continuously as we can; being present, alive in three centers; mind, body and feelings. Aware as often as I can be of an inner presence, an energy and aliveness inside me that is present irregardless of my state, level of energy, mood or feelings. To remember myself – my inner life, my wish, and the energetic presence that lives inside me. Being attentive to attention – to be able to separate the present moment from the present situation.
But there is another level of attention, beyond our collected awareness. An attention we have to be open to. An attention we have to allow. The sensitive awareness attention needs to be organized, focused on, made steady – and then we can be in a position of opening to a higher level that can come.
Our search is for consciousness when we are often too concerned with ourselves. There arises over time a preference for consciousness, where we can let things be and open to a deeper attention. An attention that is not from me, but in me. We don’t have to be a certain way to be related to this attention.
When we open and this attention comes, this conscious energy is present, we are less reactive, identified, less concerned with our image and able to externally consider.
Remembering that our work is not about subjective experience, but about service. Consciousness is contagious.
Jerry Toporovsky 12-11-12