Advice needed on starting/proceeding The Work without reading

[Thor]

I am hoping that some of you can give me some pointers as to how to proceed with The Work. Since December I have been suffering from a concussion, which means that I haven't been able to read books, use a computer for more than a 5-10 minutes at a time or watch documentaries/TV. This has been very frustrating as I have many books from the recommended reading list lined up that I want to read, not to mention reading on the Forum. Basically, it's like the most important thing in my life is no longer possible and I have a feeling that time is running out - arrrgh.

I have listened to the audiobook versions from the recommended reading list but as many of the titles are not exactly bestsellers, I have only been able to come by a few. Also, I have taken all the articles from the Cass site and converted them using TTS software as one of you suggested and listed to all the SOTT podcasts. But how to proceed next?

I apologize if this question has been dealt with other places on the Forum as I'm not able to do a long search.

I hope to hear from you. Thanks in advance.

 

[Alada]

Well it seems your situation leaves you with where you are right now as the place to work. So maybe make the best of that and focus on Self-Remembering, being present in the moment.

Take the five / ten minutes of reading time each day and review what you can find in the books you have available on just that one subject. Use the rest of the day to put it into practice and to make observations. Next day, same again and so on. There is a whole lot you can do there which could make great contribution to Work while you recuperate.

Also - though it sounds as if you're not in a position to do the full Éiriú Eolas programme - why not use a little gentle belly breathing each day, especially adding Pipe breath and Prayer of the Soul if you can . You could combine that with self-remembering.

So though it must be very frustrating for you, there is plenty you can do from where you are right now.

 

[madison]

Hi Thor

If you can get PDF versions of your reading material, Adobe Acrobat will read them to you. The computer voices they use have improved greatly in recent years, so its almost like listening to an audio book.

Hope this helps.

 

[Cosmos]

are you on the diet ? maybe this could help you with your concussion problems

 

[T.C.]

Hi Thor

Recapitulation and introspection are the things that come to my mind. You could use this time to reinforce your understanding of who you are, what you've done, what you're doing, where you're going, what your aim is, etc. etc..

Also, you could think about everything you've already read and studied and see if you can remember any important things that resonated with you when you read them, but that you never managed to actualise or apply to daily life.

Hope your condition improves, it must be terrible.

 

[manitoban]

Hi Thor,

I can imagine how frustrating it is to not be able to read for more than a few moments - very tough. However, as has been said, wherever you are now is the place to Work. The frustration that you are undoubtedly feeling is good material for self observation, though. Those type of negative emotions are just what we need to observe in ourselves, so in a way this is an opportunity to grow in understanding of your machine by focusing precisely on self remembering and observation.

 

[anart]

You've been given good advice. I'm wondering what input your doctor has on the fact that this concussion is still bothering you so badly? Is there nothing that can be done to speed healing along?

 

[ana]

Is the cause of the concussion known?

Maybe you need to rest and relax, how about trying to focus on doing the pipe breathing and the meditation portion without forcing the brain for some time?
Taking care of your diet and devoting time for example to walk among nature.
I think it is important that now, you don't stress and force yourself, on the contrary be gentle with yourself in order to heal.

It is contradictory to devote yourself to the work while ignoring this physical manifestations without taking the proper action to heal them instead of trying to ignore them to continue...

 

[Seamus]

Is the cause of the concussion known?

Maybe you need to rest and relax, how about trying to focus on doing the pipe breathing and the meditation portion without forcing the brain for some time?
Taking care of your diet and devoting time for example to walk among nature.
I think it is important that now, you don't stress and force yourself, on the contrary be gentle with yourself in order to heal.

It is contradictory to devote yourself to the work while ignoring this physical manifestations without taking the proper action to heal them instead of trying to ignore them to continue...

When the student is ready, the teacher will appear.

 

[Thor]

Thanks for the suggestions. I won't cover them individually, but luckily I can do the EE breathing and that is definitely good.

Also, using Adobe to read makes a lot of sense. I will see what I can come by as .pdf files.

The specialist I have been seeing says that the only thing to do is to give it time. Since I have had five concussions earlier in life, it becomes a little more difficult to heal each time. The last one took about 5 months. Currently I am looking at somewhere between 6 and 12 months, which is a bit depressing.

I am on the diet and actually that is one of the things keeping up my mood :)

I also think that the suggestion to remember important learning from earlier readings and putting them into life makes a lot of sense.

It's a great help to have someone help point things out to you.

Thanks again.