/RM/, >>>The VOM and the One Pointed Concentration exercises both have the effect of suspending my sense of connectedness with all the life around me and THAT's what I can't endure.<<< I recommend attemping to interpret the exercises as having the effect of "altering", not "suspending", your sense of connectedness. The exercises are perhaps meant to limit your focus, but that focus is still a part of it all just like anything else. Best of luck to you :-) [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]