Temporal Distortions and "One-Pointedness"
© 2002
>> Noticed something weird today. As part of practicing the Step 1 "one-pointed awareness", I was concentrating on playing the guitar and almost three hours slipped by! I was just wondering if this has the potential of becoming a nuisance, especially if one applies this to various day-to-day activities as Bardon recommends. I wouldn't want to miss a flight because I chose to focus completely on music. <<
As with all things Hermetic, balance is the foundation and mental discipline is the core, vivifying agent of balance -- it's what binds the molecules together that compose the foundation stone. Consequently, any form of mental discipline nets the greatest result when it is approached in a balanced manner.
With the one-pointedness, you must balance your main focus with other concerns, such as not driving off the roadway or not missing your flight. ;-) In other words, set a time limit -- or not, as the situation dictates -- and use a timer as someone else suggested. A timer with a mild alarm is good, especially in the beginning because it frees your mind to really get into the one-pointedness without having to worry about what time it is.
Also, taking the opportunity to carve out a few hours in which to just let your one-pointedness rip and spend those three or four or five hours in singular focus -- this is a very wise practice now and then! But enter in to it with the conscious intent of limitless time.
That's the issue here -- conscious intent. There is nothing inappropriate with being able to maintain one-pointedness for three (or more) hours at a stretch *if that is your conscious intention*. In fact, this ability will be a very great asset. But only so long as you learn to discipline it. Along with your intention to remain focused, add in the intention to remain focused within certain time-span limits -- or lack of limits, as the case may be.
There's also one more issue here. This is one I've never mentioned before.
It is impossible to achieve a true one-pointedness (to the exclusion of everything else) while carrying on your daily activities, such as while you're at work or while you're driving, etc. The "functional awareness" that we must use during such times handles many, many tasks at once, by nature. It can be focused in that we can prioritize, but it cannot be truly one-pointed and still remain "functional" (i.e., be capable of ALSO driving or typing, etc.). This is one of the things that Bardon's instructions regarding focusing during mundane activities, is meant to teach you -- how to distinguish between prioritization and one-pointedness.
The one-pointedness exercises themselves, where you sit in meditation, are meant to teach you true one-pointedness. Ultimate one-pointedness is a state of complete absorption, where you and your point of focus have merged into one. Here, there is no separation, no not-knowing between you and your point of focus. This is Understanding (Binah).
Eventually, it is possible to reach a state where you can achieve one-pointedness with many foci simultaneously. This is Wisdom (Chokmah).
This becomes, ultimately, a continuous state of awareness, wherein one is continuously merged with their surroundings. This is the state of Unity (Kether) as it manifests at the mundane level.
My best to you,
:) Rawn Clark
03 Jan 2002