Dear Allen, >>I still see advantages for someone say at Step 9 to still be saying their affirmations and counting their beads upon waking and before sleeping. Please someone correct me if this is not so... << These are individual choices. Do what *you* feel is right for *you*. :) Technically however, the only Step One mental exercise that is *required* for the student to continue is the emptiness of mind. Introspection is, of course, a life long exercise. The other Step One exercises evolve with each Step and are not *required* in their Step One form. My best to you, :) Rawn Clark 05 Dec 2003 rawnclark@... rawn@... http://www.ABardonCompanion.com http://groups.yahoo.com/group/BardonPraxis http://E.webring.com/hub?ring=arionthebardonwe