ATTENTION. Levels, Degrees and Qualities

Transcription

1 ATTENTION The very first moment you have an opportunity to lose your attention you will! G.I. Gurdjieff Levels, Degrees and Qualities Atentionhassometimesbeencaleda livingsubstance, withmanydiferentlevelsand gradations. Atentioncanbemeasuredlikeawine,likesilk.Itmaybeverycoarse,oritmay beveryfineandsupple. Atentionhasalsobeencomparedtolight.Justlikelight,itcanbe absent(darkness)orverydim.itmaybenarowlyfocused,difusedandscateredorvery bright. Atentionisadiscriminatingpowerwhichdetermineswhichelementsonthescreenofconsciousnesbecomefocuseduponatanyparticulartime.Forinstance,insituationsofdangeror physicalsurvivalatentionisautomaticalydirectedbytheinstinctive/movingcenter. When wespeakof atention inordinarylifecircumstances,itisadistantderivativeoftheawesome attention residingwithinourinstinctivecenter.amoment sthoughtabouttheincrediblycomplexabilityandpoweroftheinstinctivecentertomonitoralofourvitalfunctionsandtokeep adjustingfrommomenttomoment(topreservetheoptimalphysiologicalstate)shouldgiveus abenchmarkagainstwhichtomeasurethequalitiesandatributesoftheatentionweareable tobringtoourthoughts,feelingsandactions. Somespiritualteachingsdistinguishfivelevelsordegreesofatentionpossibleforahuman being: Noatention,inatention Dispersed,distractedorundirectedatention Captiveoridentifiedatention Directed,concentratedorone-pointedatention Open,freeorconsciousatention Scientificstudieshaveshownthatmostpeoplecanonlyfocustheiratentionononesingle thingforlesthattwominutes. Theordinarypersonhasnoatention afloatingatention onemomenthere,nextmomentthere.theiratentionisalwaysdivertedfromonepointto another. Ourdegreeofatentionchangeswhenourinterestschange. Wheremyatentiongoes,I go.ingeneral,myatentionisnotrootedinanything;itcanbeheldbysomethingoutsideme. Ihavetofindtherootofmyatentioninmyselfinordertoobservemyselffrominside. For mostpeople,atentionanditsvariousqualities,levelsandposibilitiesisanunexaminedphenomenon: 1

2 Whatdoweknowofouratention?Fromwheredoesitcome?Whatisitsorigin? Weareobviouslyunabletoanswerthesequestions.Yetwefeelthatthisveryextraordinaryphenomenon,thisforce,thisenergy,ispartofCreation.Everyhumanbeing, atbirth,receivesacertainquantityofthisvitalforceand,inthecourseofhisorher existence,itwilbetheintegratorofalthingswithinandeverythingmanifested... Atnomomentcanwelivewithoutatention.Everydaywedoalsortsofthings. Yes,butwithwhatatention?Withwhatoverlayofdreams?Ourmanifestations revealthecontactwehavewithouratention.quiteoftenwefailtonoticethatwe havenone,thatweareinatentive,thatwehaveactedinvariouswayswithoutbeing presenttoalthesemomentsofourlives.mostofthetimeouratentioniscaried alongbyouterevents.atriflecapturesit;itisnotfree.(1) Normalyouratentionisnotfreeorvoluntary. Itisoflowquality,withoutpower,and flowspasivelytowardstheoutside.butthisatentionhasthepossibilityofbeingtransformed, ofachievingapurerquality. Directedandconsciousatentionrevealsaspectsofouterorinner realitythatareusualyignored(andhenceinvisible)byournormal,undirectedsurfaceatention. Intentionalydirectedatentionimpliesthepresenceofachoiceforanindividual;asituationwherealternativesarerecognizedandadecisionismadeastowheretheatentionisto beplaced. Whenattention isdirected(orbrought)tothedevelopingimpression,properties thatareintrinsictotheperceptionbegintobenoticed.forexample,whenthere islitleornoatentionpresentatthepointofincomingimpresions,thetreethat youmaybeglancingatasyouleavethehouse,isjustanindistinctobject.when attention ispresent,thecolorsofthebarkandlimbsmaybenoticed,aswelas thevariedlimbstructure,thebasicleafformsthatcharacterizethespeciesoftree, theshadesofgreenthatarepresent.gentlemovementsoftheleavesandsmal limbsinducedbyalightbreezemaybenoticedandthecontrastbetweenthe greenleavesandthelightblueoftheskybeyondmaystandout.inthisactof paying attention and noticing,theperceptualexperienceitselfhasbeguntobe explored.alofthepropertiesarethere,withintheperception,buthadbeenunnoticeduntilatentionenteredandaprocesof takingapart or seeinginto the impressionwasinitiated.(2) Thefactthatmostpeoplehaveverylitlecontrolovertheiratentionbecomesapparent whentheyatempttoobservethemselvesasameansofself-studyandself-knowledge. After onlyamomentofself-observation,youratentiongetscaughtupinthoughtsandfeelings aboutwhatyouhaveobserved,andsoitgetstakenawayfromyourobservation. Ourinability tocontrolouratentionisusualyunrecognized: Atentionistheweaponforinnerwork,thetoolforinnerwork.Itisabsolutely indispensable.andatthesametime,wehavequitedistortedideasofourpower overatention.thisistoalargeextentbecauseweknowfromourexperience thattherearemanyoccasionsinourliveswhenwehavetheimpressionthatwe 2

3 arepayingatentiontothesamethingforalongtime,andwecalthisconcentrationofatention;butifyoubegintowatchtheprocesscloselyandyouarehonest withyourself,youwilseethatthisisnotconcentrationofatentionatal.itis atentionbeingdrawninacertainway.maybethereisaninitialeforttoplace theatention,butverysoonitgetsdrawnandheld.thereisnocontroloveratention.youmayalsoseethatwearesometimestaughttoturnouratentiontowards something,butunfortunatelywearenevertaughttotakeouratentionawayfrom something,andthisisjustasmuchapartofthecontrolofatentionasdirecting atentioninadesireddirection.(3) Consciousatentionisauniquelyhumancapacityandthequalityofouratentionisthekey toinnergrowthanddevelopment.professorofphilosophyjacobneedlemanspeaksofhisown experienceofconsciouslyworkingwithatention: Lookingatsomethinginmyselfwithouttryingtochangeitorjudgeitwasitselfaforce,anenergythathadanactionuponwhatwasseen. Andindeed,sometimesithadatransformingactionuponmyentirestateofbeing.Suchwas thepowerofpureatention.ibegantounderstandthatatentionandself-observationwas itselfaninstrumentofchange,butchangeofakindonecouldneverhaveimaginedor expected.changeinthedirectionofhumansensitivity,presence,being. Ihadalreadyseensomething oftheimportanceofatentionduringmyatempts atthepracticeofself-observation.icouldunderstandthroughexperiencethat ourlivesarewhattheyareinlargepartbecauseoftheweaknessofandpassivity ofouratention.wearetaken,ouratentionistaken,swalowedbyourstreams ofautomaticthought;weconstantlydisappearintoouremotionalreactions;we aretakenbyourfearsanddesires,ourpleasuresandpains,byourdaydreamsand imaginarywories.and,beingtaken,wenolongerexistasi,myself,here.wedo notliveourlives;weare lived andwemayeventualydiewithouteverhaving awakenedtowhatwerealyare withouthavinglived.(4) Developing Attention and Awareness Intalkswithhisstudents,Gurdjiefstressedthatwithoutthedevelopmentofthepowerof atentionrealinnerworkandtransformationwasimpossible.inthewordsofhispupilolgade Hartmann: Mr.Gurdjieftoldusveryseriouslythatatentionisabsolutelyindispensablefor anyworkwewishedtodowithhim.ifwedidnotunderstandthat,nothingcould bringustotheaimforwhichwecametohim.alofustherealreadyfeltthatwe weremorethanjustabody.weknewthat somethingelse wasinus,andwe wishedtoknow:whatis that?whathavewetodowiththat?howcanwecal toit?howcanwebringitout?howcanwerelyonitandnotdependonlyonthe body?althiswasrealyaburningquestionforus,andmr.gurdjiefmadeitclear 3

4 thatifwedidn tstudyatention notstudyintheordinaryway,butputingalour atentionondevelopingthatatention wewouldarivenowhere.(5) Self-developmentrequiresafreeandconsciousatentionthatisn tcapturedorfragmented. Ourhabitualatentionismuchtoofleeting;ithasnostability,nocontinuity.Inthisworld whereweleadourlives,weneedamuchmorestableatention.thisatentionislikealitle flamethattriestoholditsownintheworld. Normalywehaveverylitlecontroloverouratention,butitispossibletoenhancethe qualityofatentionandtodevelopittoahigherandfinerlevelwhereitbecomesvoluntaryor consciousatention: Ineedtolearnthatatentioncanmanifestinacompletelyunstable,vagrantmanner.Forexample,inmyintelectualfunctioningthevagrantatentionletsitselfbe sweptalongbyeverythingthatatractsit:words,images,memoriesandevery eventinmydaycansweepitup,eachinitsownway.igooutintothestreet;the shopwindows,thepeople,constantlytakethisatention.ithasnomorestability thanabuterfly.goout,takeawalkwiththeintentionofthinkingaboutyourown afairs.adogbarksatyouandtakesalyouratention...andwhattakesplacein theintelectalsotakesplaceintheemotionalandmovingfunctions.sometimes whenaproblemofgreatdificultycomesup,myatentioncanbeconcentrated, condensed;itsqualitychanges,itacquiresmoreforce,itissustainedbyanelement ofdesireorinterest.nolongervagrant,itiscaptured;anespecialystrongmotive hastakenover.thereis,however,averydiferentkindofatention,anatention thatismoreconscious,morevoluntary.sometimes,onrareoccasions,idiscover thetasteofit.ifthisoccursinmythought,iseethatmythinkingbecomesclear. Andifthisoccursinmyfeeling,Iknowthefeelingofbeingcompletelyfreefrommy habitualemotions.asformybody,icanalsoexperienceinanewwaywhatishappeningatitslevel.(6) Consciousatentionisanagentoftransformationandcanbedevelopedandrefined. We dohavesomepowerofatention,atleastonthesurface,somecapacitytopointtheatention inadesireddirectionandholditthere.althoughitisfragile,thisseedofatentionisconsciousnessemergingfromsleepwithinus. Transformationrequiresatotalatentionthatarisesfrom alpartsofourselves body,mindandfeelings. Forrealinnerdevelopmenttooccur,thequalityofouratentionmustbehonestlyobserved, thenstrengthenedandrefined. Bemoreandmoreawareofyourlackofatention.Inthe bestofcases,weloseitandfinditagain,butweresignourselvestooeasilytohavingsolitle atention.wemustconstantlyaskourselveswhereouratentionisgoing,whereisthisforce, towardwhatisitatracted. 4

5 Ineachofusthereisthisextraordinaryinstrument,theatention.Foraverylong time,icannotsaythatigovernmyatention.ihavetoseethatateverymoment itistakenbyonethingoranother.ineedtoexercisethepossibilityofkeepingit moreonmyself,inmyself,whilecontinuingtheouterworkthatisexpectedofme. Self-perfectingislinkedtotheperfectingofouratention.Ourcapacityforinner atentionprovidesameasureofourbeing.(7) Bygatheringandcolectingone satentionitisposibletoreturntoacalm,observingcentre ofawarenessratherthanidentifyingwitheverypasingthought,emotion,sensationoraction. Insteadofbeingatthemercyofexternalorinternalimpactsandassociations,therewilbea mindfulpresencethatholdsthereinsofatention. Theinitialefortistofreemyatention fromidentification.ineedtofindtheefortthatwilalowtheformationofacentralcore,a morestablecenterofgravityofmyatention. Whenthelevelofatentionisstrengthened,itbecomespossibletogainadegreeofcontrol overtherelentlesspultowardsinatentionandforgetfulness thereturntosleep. Acentral atentionmaybedrawnindiferentdirections,butitalwaysreturnstothecenter. Itisonlybyworkingtobepresentthatmyatentionwildevelop.Whenithasa beterquality,istruggletokeepitfromweakening,itrytopreventitsbeingtaken. Itrybutcannot,andItryagain.Ibegintounderstandwhatthisrequiresfromme evenificannotdoit.inthestrugglewhereicomebackandthengoagaintowards manifestation,iseethatwhenmyatentioniscompletelytaken,itisentirelylost tome.butifitdoesnotgotoofar,itcanbepuledback,asbyamagnet.inthat movementofmyatention,ilearnsomethingofitsnature.iwilhavetogotowardsmanifestation,andiwilalwayslosemyselfunlessmyatentiongoesboth towardslifeandtowardstheinside.(8) Directedatentionislikeafinetoolorinstrumentwhichcanbeusedforeithertherightor wrongreason.thereisasaying: From the same food the hornet produces poison and the bee produces honey. HenrieteLannes,astudentofGurdjief,stresedtheimportanceofthistool forinnerdevelopment: Icannotdoanythingexcepttrainmyatention,andifIthinkthatthisis notenough,iamafool.toperfectone satentionistoperfectoneself. Inmanyspiritualtraditionsspecificmethodsareemployedtoanchortheatention.Someof thesemethods,suchasrepetition,visualizationandcountingexercisesaremoreappropriatein monasticsetings,whilepayingatentiontothesensationsofthebodymaybemoreefective inthecircumstancesofeverydaylife.gurdjief: Atentionisgainedonlythroughconscious laborandintentionalsufering,throughdoingsmalthingsvoluntarily. Throughouthistory,the roleofatentionanditsdevelopmentandrefinementhasbeenanintegralpartoftheworld s spiritualteachings: Thepathtoachangeinthestateofconsciousness,toastateinwhichconsciousnestrulyexists,is,accordingtoalreligiousteachings,throughsustainedaten- 5

6 tion.indiferentteachings,theideaofsustainedatentiontakesdiferentforms (prayer,concentration,meditation),butthebasicdisciplineisprobablythesame. Anhonestatempttomaintainconstantatentiononanyonethingquicklyshows howdificultitisandhowfarfromourusualsituation.inchristianity,itisdescribedasconstantprayer,butnotsimplyanautomaticrepetitionofphrases.in Gurdjief steaching,self-rememberingplaysacentralrole theatempttobe awareofoneselfatthesametimeasoneisawareofoutsideimpressions.the mostaccesibleapproachtothisisthroughmaintainedawarenessofthesensationofone sbody.(9) Thestateofafiner,deeperatentioncanbedevelopedwithsteadypracticeandcertain specificspiritualexercises: Wemustacceptthatthestateofdispersionisnormalsolongaswehavealimited capacitytoconcentrate.wehavetorepeatandrepeatcomingtoacolectedstate. Onlyrepetitionwilleadtoshorteningthetimerequiredforpreparationandincrease thetimeavailableforpractice.therewasanexercisethatwasspecificalycreated forcomingtoacolectedstate.ibeginbyrepresentingwithalmyatentionthati amsuroundedbyanatmosphereextendingayard,moreorles.thisatmosphere isdisplacedaccordingtothemovementsofthethinking.iconcentratealmyatentiontopreventtheatmospherefromescapingbeyonditslimits.thenidrawitin consciously,asthoughsuckingitin.ifeel,throughoutthebody,theechoof I, and silentlysay am. Iexperiencethetotalsensationofbeing.(10) Oneoftheprincipalmethodsoffocusinganddevelopingatentionistoconsciouslyplace awarenesonspecificpartsofourbodyandthebreathingprocess.generaly,weareunaware ofourbreathingandpaylitleatentiontoourphysicalbodyunlessweareexperiencingpain, discomfort,physicalexertionorcertainemotionalstates.however,thislaterlevelofawarenessisapassive resultofphysiologicalprocessesandnotaconsciouseforttodirecttheatentionandremainpresent.thepracticesoffolowingthebreathandsensingthephysicalbody openupaworldofnewpossibilities: Thegradualincreasingawarenessofone sbeing thatresultsfromthecontinualeforttodirecttheatentiontofolowing(sensing)thebreathand sensingthebody smovementsandstatesthataccompanythisefortleadstosuccessivediscoveriesthatconcernthemiraculouslifeprocessesthatareperpetualytakingplace. Thedevelopmentandcontrolofatentionisaprecursortoself-rememberingandtheatainmentofhigherstatesofconsciousness: GurdjiefbroughtateachingoftheFourthWaythatcalsforconsciousworkrather thanobedience.afundamentalideaisthatinourordinarystateeverythingtakes placeinsleep.andinsleepwecanseenothing.wecannotdirectourlivesbyour ownwil.weareentirelydependentoninfluencesfromoutsideandenslavedby theautomaticreactionsofourfunctioning.itisacompleteslavery.thereisno higherprinciple,noconsciousprinciple.manhasthepossibilitytoawakenfrom 6

7 thissleep,toawakentothehigher,to be.themeansistheatention.insleepthe atentionistaken.itmustbefreedandturnedinanotherdirection.thisisthe separationof I and me. Itistheactiveforceopposedtothepassive,thestrugglebetweentheyes andtheno.themobilizationoftheatentionisthefirststep towardtheposibilityofself-remembering.withoutadiferentatention,weare obligedtobeautomatic.withanatentionthatisvoluntarilydirected,wegotowardconsciousness.(11) Conscious Attention and Inner Growth Thepowerofatentionisaliberatingforce. Innergrowthrequiresthemobilizationofour atention.whentheatentionbeginstoawaken,werealizethatitcanbecomemorestable, leslikeacorkforeverbobbingbacktothewater ssurface. Itispossibletomovefromastate ofdistractedatentiontoamorestable,unifiedatentionwhichintegratesbody,mindand feelings: Maintenanceofaconsciousatentionisnoteasy.Themovement,theobligations ofday-to-dayexistence,completelydistract.withnobaseofoperation,nohome inone sorganism,theatentionservesrandomthoughts,feelings,andappetites whichconflictandtyrannizeeachother.sensationofpartsorthewholeofthe bodycananchortheatention,provideitwithakindofhabitat.thestructure,becomingmoresensitive,helpstounifyatention,soitislessliabletoveerintomentalchannelsthatconsumeitspower.inturn,perceptionsandsensationsarequickened,insightsaremultiplied.openingtotheforceofatentionevokesasenseof wholenesandequilibrium.onecanglimpseapossibilityofastateofawarenes immeasurablysuperiortothatofthereactivemechanism,anawarenessthattranscendsone sautomaticsubject/objectmodeofresponse.freelyflowing,theconcentrative,transformingefectofconsciousatentionbringsthedisparatetempos ofthecenterstoarelativelybalancedrelationship.thought,feelingandsensation areequilibratedunderthisvibrant,harmonizinginfluence.(12) Consciousatentionopposesthepuloftheautomaticconditionedfunctioningofthemind. Almythoughts,emotionsandactionscanbeheldundermyatentionwithoutexcludingor condemninganything.forthisineedacertaininnerspaceandanatentionthatisfree.itis onlyinastateoffreeatentionthattrueseeingcanappear. Ineedtodevelopavoluntaryatention thatis,aconsciousatention whichis strongerthanmyautomatism.imustfeelthelackofrelationbetweenmymind andmybody,andseethatthisrelationrequiresavoluntaryatentionmaintained onbothparts...onlyaconsciousatention,whichistheopeningtoahigherforce, hasthepowertoprevailovertheautomatism.butforthistheatentionmustalwaysbeoccupiedvoluntarily.aconsciousforcecannotbeautomatic.theatentioncanbestrongerordiminish,butthemomentwhenitceasestobevoluntary, 7

8 itistaken.themomentitisnolongervoluntarilyturnedtowardthisrelation,the energiesseparate.ibecomefragmentedandtheautomatismtakesover.the openingtoahigherforcemustbecomeconstant.(13) Voluntaryatentiondoesnotappearautomaticalybutonlythroughthefocusingwhich providethenecesaryenergytosustaintheatention. Acolectedstateisastateofcolected atentioninwhichtheatentionisaswholeaspossible.thisstatedoesnotcomeaboutbymy thoughtresolvingtobecolectedinordertoobtainsomethingbeter.itcomesbyseeing throughthevisionofmydispersion,ofthelackofatention. Thistypeofatentiondoesnotcomebecauseitismadecaptive,notbyforcing Icannotmakeitappear,justasIcannotforcelovetoappear.Atentioncomes whenitisneeded,whenitiscaledbyafeelingofnecessity.ifirealyseethati donotunderstand,thatihavelostthedirectionandthemeaningofmylife,then atthatverymomentmyatentioniscaledtobehere.withoutit,iwilneverbe abletobewhatiam.idonothavethenecessaryenergy.butwhenifeelthis absolutenecesity,theatentionappears.soihavetocometothefeelingoflack, ofnotunderstanding,notknowing...icandaydreamasiwalkalongaroad.but whenihavetowalkonice,onaslipperyfrozenpath,icannotdream.ineedal myatentionnottofaldown.itisthesameinsidemyself.ifihavenorealinterest inmyself ifikeepthinkingicananswereverything,andpretendthatiamable Iwilcontinuedreamingandtheatentionwilneverappear.(14) Afreeandopenatentionisnotfixedorboundbyjudgement,evaluationorcomparison.In thewordsofjeannedesalzmann: Couldmymindperceivewithoutrecognizingandnaming, thatis,withoutseparatingtobesomeonewholooks,judgesandknows?forthis,iwouldneed anatentionidonotknow,anatentionneverseparatedfromwhatitobserves,alowinga totalexperiencewithoutexcludinganything. ItisonlywhenIexcludenothingthatIamfreetoobserveandunderstandmyself. Whenmybraincanbeactive,sensitive,aliveinastateofatentiveimmobility, thereisamovementofanextraordinaryqualitythatdoesnotbelongjusttothe thinking,thesensationortheemotion.itisawholydiferentmovementthat leadstotruth,towhatwecannotname.theatentionistotalwithoutanydistraction...ibegintoseethatrealknowingisposibleonlyinthemomentwhenmy atentionisful,whenconsciousnessfilseverything.thenthereisnodistinction; onethingisnotmorethananother.thereispureexistence.thecreativeactis thevisionofwhattakesplace.ilearntowatch.(15) Whenatentionisdevelopedandawakenedweareabletorespondmoreefectivelytothe requirementsandexperiencesoflifeandapproachhigher,morerefinedstatesofconsciousnessandbeing. IfIwerefulyalive,everythingwouldbefulyalivearoundme,asitrealyis. Whatisneededforonetoexperiencethat?Adiferentkindofatention,active,colected. 8

9 Thequalityofouratentionisreflectedinthequalityofourrealknowledgeofourselves.Whenouratentionisautomatic,aprisonerofourownmental,emotional andphysicalasociations,aloftheexternalandinternalimpresionswereceive arefragmented.whenouratentionreachesalevelofgenuineawarenessofourselves,impressionsareparticularlyaliveandpenetrating...thisquestionofatentionisveryserious,butourexperienceremainslimited.inusaconsciousatention ismissing.onlysuchanatention,throughthequalityofitsmovementofenergy, canhold together thethreeessentialpartsofourbeing:thought,bodyandfeeling. Wegeneralybelievethatatentioncomesonlyfromourthinkingcenter,although thereexistswithinuspossiblelevelsofatentioncomingsimultaneouslyfromour intelect,ourbody,andourfeeling.atcertainmomentswesee,thoughperhaps distantly,thatthisatention freerbutstilinsuficientlydevelopedinus isthe keytoagreaterinneropeninginwhichlessheavy,finerenergiescometogether. Theseenergiesconferlife,light,andwarmthonourinnerworld,intheserviceofa GreatRealityintheuniverse,justastheSunconfersthesethingsontheEarth.For thosewhoseektoawakentowhattheytrulyare,thisnewatentionhasmorevalue thananythingelseintheirlives.(16) Eventhemostmundaneeventsoflifeholdtheposibilityofexercisingaconsciousatention thathassignificant,thoughunsuspected,valueforinnergrowthanddevelopment: Nothingis worthwhileunlessitislivedinthemoment.ouraimmustbetobepresenttoourlives,notto besolvingimaginaryproblemsthatdistanceusfromreality. Onehasmanyopportunitiesinone slifetodevelopcontrolofatention.ifyou pausetoconsiderthethingsyouhavetodoeveryday,ithinkthatyouwilfind thattimeandagainonedoesthingswithjustsuficientatentionandenergytoget by;inotherwords,one sstandardisthelowestpossiblestandardthatwouldnot resultindisasterorfailure.itisveryinterestingtotrytodowelsmalthings,accordingtogoodstandards.everydaywehavethisopportunity.thesesmaldailythings werepeatagainandagaindon tseemtohavemuchimportanceatal,buteveryone ofthemcan haveimportanceifwelookatthemasameanstoanend.nooneof themneedbeunimportantfromthispointofview,butweforgetthatwearesurroundedbyopportunitieslikethis.(17) Consciousatentionisfreeandnotmechanicalbecauseitcanbeconstantlyadjustedin ordertomaintainitspurityandforce. Inbecomingactive,theatentionacquiresafiner qualityandbecomescapableofgraspingwhatistakingplaceonotherlevels,wherevibrations haveadiferentwavelength. Atentionopensthedoortohigherlevelsandstatesofconsciousnessandbeing. Waking sleep,presence,consciousnes:thesearethestagesthatmarkman sslowclimbtothefulfilmentofhisposibilities. 9

10 Amancanthink,feelandworkwiththeinstrumentsgiventohimforthesepurposes,usingthemautomaticalyfromforceofhabit,withoutbeing conscious that hethinks,feelsorworks.heknowsit;buthedoesnotexperienceit. Tobeconscious isfirsttoexperienceoneselfasonewhoknowsthisisso,tointroduceinto mechanicalfunctioningsuchaqualityofatentionthata sensationofbeing may ariseandpersist,wherealthephysicalandpsychicprocessesofwhichmanisthe centreunfoldthemselvesatthatmoment.thenhebeginstoberelatively present tohimself. Thesensationwhichthis presence evokesinhimthrowsanewlight ontheeventsinwhichheisinvolvedandconstitutesastatecaled self-remembering. Inthisstatehecancomegradualytoseehisfunctionsastheyrealyareand sobegintrulytoknowhimself.onlyagreatdeallater,inthestateof objective consciousness, canamanhopetoataintoatrueknowledgeoftheworldandto liveonthehighestlevelwhichafewmay,perhaps,beabletoreach.(18) Asthequalityofatentiondevelopsandmatures,newpossibilitiesofinnergrowthemerge. Inthisnewrelationshipofindividualatentionandahigherimpersonalconsciousnes,aman orwomancanbecomeavessel,servinganotherenergywhichcanactthroughtheindividual, anenergywhichatthesametimetransformsthematerialityofthebody. Humanitycanbegintooccupyitsproperplacewithinthechainofbeingonly throughaninnerworkwhichwithintheindividualhumanbeingmaybesubsumed underthegeneraltermatention.themanylevelsofatentionpossibleforman, uptoandincludinganatentionthatintraditionalteachingshasbeentermedspirit, arehererangedalongadynamic,verticalcontinuumthatreachesfromthelevelof biologicalsustenance,whichhumansrequirefortheirphysicalbodies,uptotheincomparablyfinersustenancethatwerequirefortheinnergrowthofthesoul.this finersubstanceisobtainedthroughthedigestionof thefoodofimpressions, a deceptivelymater-of-factphrasethateventualydefinestheuniquelyhumancosmicobligationandpotentialityofconstantlyandineverythingworkingforanobjectiveunderstandingofthereal.(19) Atitshighestlevelofrefinement,consciousatentionprovidesaconnectionbetweenthe realmofdenserinfluencesandhigher,moresubtleformsofenergy.gurdjiefpupilwiliam Segal: Openingtotheforceofatentionevokesasenseofwholenessandequilibrium.One canglimpseaposibilityofastateofawarenessimmeasurablysuperiortothatofthereactive mechanism,anawarenesswhichtranscendsone sautomaticsubject/objectmodeofresponse. Thetransformingefectofconsciousatentionbringsthedisparatetemposofthecenterstoa relativelybalancedrelationship.thought,feeling,andsensingareequilibratedunderthe vibrant,harmonizinginfluence. Atentionisthequintessentialmediumtorevealman sdormantenergiesinhimself. Wheneveronewitnessesthestateofthebody,theinterplayofthoughtandfeeling, thereisanintimation,howeverslight,ofanothercurentofenergy.throughthe simpleactofatending,oneinitiatesanewalignmentofforces...clearedofalin- 10

11 ternalnoise,consciousatentionisaninstrumentwhichvibrateslikeacrystalatits ownfrequency.itisfreetoreceivethesignalsbroadcastateachmomentfroma creativeuniverseincommunicationwithalcreatures.(20) Inordertoperformitsfunctionasamediatingbridgetohigher,subtle,spiritualenergies, atentionmustbecomeimpersonalanduniversalinnature. Itssourcesuroundedbymystery, atentioncommunicatesenergiesofaqualitythatthemindcannotrepresent.oneneedstobe attheserviceofconsciousatention;onepreparesforitsadventthroughactivestilness. Inquiet,tension-freemoments,man sstructureisopentoenergyflowswhich areordinarilyblocked.inturn,theseenergiesblendwithpreviouslyreceived materials,toservethehigherinawordless,namelessexchange.atentionisnot onlymediating;itistransmiting.givingandreceiving,godspeakstoman.receivingandgiving,manspeakstogod.justasman sstructureneedstobevivifiedbytheinfusionoffinervibrations,thoseverysamevibrationsrequirethemixingofcoarsematerialfortheirmaintenance.withouttheupwardtransmission ofenergiesthroughtheintermediaryofconsciousatention,theuniversewould giveintoentropy.inman,thesmalestdeformationofabalancedatentioncloses downthistwo-waycommunication.alone,themindcannotmaintainit.arelaxed body,too,isneeded.midwaybetweenmicro-andmacro-cosmos,manhashis parttoplay.returningtothebodyisagestureofopeningtotheatentionwhich, beckoned,isreadytoserveitscosmologicalfunction.(21) Atitshighestlevelofdevelopment,consciousatentionispureperceptionofthingsasthey are,directandimmediate,completeandwhole. Itisanatentionwhichwilcontaineverythingandrefusenothing,thatwilnottakesidesordemandanything.Itwilbewithoutpossessivenes,withoutavidity,butalwayswithasinceritythatcomesfromtheneedtoremain freeinordertoknow. Vision,innervision,istheliberationofanenergythatisbeyondthinking.Itisa totalawarenesoflifebecausetoseeistoembracetotalityattheverymoment. Wecannotseepartbypart,litlebylitle,overtime...Vision,ontheotherhand, isobservationwithoutthought,withoutthesecurityofwordsornames.inastate ofpureperception,thereisnomoreaimandnoatempttorespond.onesimply livesthefact.(22) References (1) Henriette Lannes This Fundamental Quest (San Francisco: Far West Institute, 2003), p. 58. (2) Keith Buzzell Explorations in Active Mentation (Salt Lake City: Fifth Press, 2006), p (3) Hugh Ripman Questions and Answers Along the Way (Washington, D.C.: Forthway Center Press, 2009), p (4) Jacob Needleman What is God? (New York: Jeremy P. Tarcher, 2011), p

12 (5) Thomas and Olga de Hartmann Our Life with Mr. Gurdjieff (New York: Penguin Books, 1992), p. 45. (6) Richard Guillon Record of a Search (Toronto: Traditional Studies Press, 2004), pp (7) Henriette Lannes This Fundamental Quest (San Francisco: Far West Institute, 2003), p (8) Jeanne de Salzmann The Reality of Being (Boston: Shambhala, 2010), pp (9) Christian Wertenbaker Man in the Cosmos (United States of America: Codhill Press, 2012), pp (10) Jeanne de Salzmann The Reality of Being (Boston: Shambhala, 2010), pp (11) Jeanne de Salzmann The Reality of Being (Boston: Shambhala, 2010), p. 22. (12) William Segal The Force of Attention in The Inner Journey: Views From the Gurdjieff Work (Jacob Needleman, ed.) (Sandpoint, Idaho: Morning Light Press, 2008), pp (13) Jeanne de Salzmann The Reality of Being (Boston: Shambhala, 2010), p (14) Jeanne de Salzmann The Reality of Being (Boston: Shambhala, 2010), pp (15) Jeanne de Salzmann The Reality of Being (Boston: Shambhala, 2010), p. 36. (16) Henriette Lannes This Fundamental Quest (San Francisco: Far West Institute, 2003), pp (17) Hugh Ripman Questions and Answers Along the Way (Washington, D.C.: Forthway Center Press, 2009), p (18) Henri Thomasson The Pursuit of the Present (Aurora, Oregon: Two Rivers Press, 1980), p. 25. (19) Jacob Needleman Introduction in The Inner Journey: Views From the Gurdjieff Work (Jacob Needleman, ed.) (Sandpoint, Idaho: Morning Light Press, 2008), p. xxvii. (20) William Segal The Force of Attention in The Inner Journey: Views From the Gurdjieff Work (Jacob Needleman, ed.) (Sandpoint, Idaho: Morning Light Press, 2008), pp (21) William Segal The Force of Attention in The Inner Journey: Views From the Gurdjieff Work (Jacob Needleman, ed.) (Sandpoint, Idaho: Morning Light Press, 2008), pp (22) Jeanne de Salzmann The Reality of Being (Boston: Shambhala, 2010), p