Éiriú-Eolas - Breathing Program

[mada85]

I found my mind drifting into the need to add four more lines

Firstly, this sounds like the predator’s mind and a lack of careful thinking. This is suggested to me when you say ‘drifting…’. There is no will or directed thought behind ‘drifting’.

Secondly, why would you want to ‘network with others on the Cass path’ and yet not use the tools that have been given in the way they were given?

FWIW, I would work with the Prayer as it is, daily, for a substantial amount of time, and carefully observe its effects in yourself, before you even think about making any changes. The desire to change the prayer will disappear the more you work with it.

Bless my speech
So that it bears truth

Arouse my courage
So that I join with like-minded others

This is covered by:

Live in me today
Be my Daily Bread
As I give bread to others

Where ‘bread’ can be understood as truth, amongst other things.

 

[Bo]

I have made an interesting observation about the breathing program, I have fear of heights, and I really get very afraid when I even stand on a high balcony, but after having done the breathing program fully 2 times, only 2 times and I have observed that my fear of heights has decreased, I think this is a very interesting observation..and I will keep on eye on it.

Today at work when I was starring down from above, I was like ''huh I am not afraid, What's going on?'' I even bend over to watch more, and still no fears, I am extremely thankfull for this technique.

I will keep on observing.

 

[Psalehesost]

I've only just begun - two days ago - "zoning" for a bit (missing a few breaths here and there, going into a dream-like state and popping back), though during the first time I was very, very tired - ready to go to sleep, though except for the zoning having no trouble staying awake. Last time was during the day, but still I zoned; I also felt somewhat tired. I wonder if this somewhat unusual tiredness doesn't come so as to facilitate the zoning as part of the process when ready, rather than zoning during tiredness being a coincidence.

 

[expandingview]

Well, drifting could also be following intuition and then, of course, examining with critical mind its applicability (or not) to the situation. In other words, will is engaged but at the active/non-anticipation level of being open to what comes up from deep within.

But of course, you are right that it is often extremely difficult to discriminate between intuition and predator mind. My "rule of tumb" or signal that predator mind is active is that I feel more comfortable or better about stuff or more convinced that I am right.

In this case, my comfort level decreases when those lines come to me and i feel more anxious about going into areas I do not want to go into.

I don't understand what you meant by this: "Secondly, why would you want to ‘network with others on the Cass path’ and yet not use the tools that have been given in the way they were given"--By posting here and asking for feedback I am networking and not just doing the four lines (or any other deviation from what has been given) without checking in with the group.

Bread as nourishment (in the correct way) would cover the truth part and the additional phrase I added was me trying to personalize the prayer to me. You are spot on there.

What about the courage part?

Thanks for your feedback and would like to hear what others have to say.

Frank J.

 

[Laura]

KEIT:

Thanks for you post: i have been struggling for two weeks to try to articulate my unease with some of the 'experience addiction" posts that that have ccurred in this thread: reminds me somewhat of the warnings in 'Darkness over Tibet" about spiritual materialism.

Understandable caution. However, we specifically asked for people to share their experiences so that we could assess how such a program works in real life, when people are, basically, trying it out on their own, and so that if any problems arise, they can be dealt with.

Another topic: I have been doing the prayer in sync with the breathing for about about a week now (i..e, it took me that long to fully memorize it and to feel confident in the technique that i could do it anytime anywhere) and I found my mind drifting into the need to add four more lines. I wish some feedback about its appropriateness. I don't know where it actually goes in the prayer and my mind inserts at different spots in different sessions:

Bless my speech
So that it bears truth

Arouse my courage
So that I join with like-minded others


The first, because how we express ourselves and external considering is so important. Speech--as a code for all types of communication, particularly the internet (reads weird to say "bless my fingers as I type" :)

The second, because I have been challenged by the imperative to network with others on the Cass. path.

What part of that is NOT covered by gaining knowledge, having one's eyes and ears opened, and giving to others as you receive yourself?

 

[mada85]

I don't understand what you meant by this: "Secondly, why would you want to ‘network with others on the Cass path’ and yet not use the tools that have been given in the way they were given"--By posting here and asking for feedback I am networking and not just doing the four lines (or any other deviation from what has been given) without checking in with the group.

There was some lack of external considering in the way I formulated that question. The ‘tool’ I was referring to is the Prayer of the Soul. One of its effects is to open and encourage networking communication. At least that has been and still is one of its effects for me.

Also, I understood the context of your post to relate to the breathing method and the Prayer of the Soul as part of ‘the Cass path’. And in that context, I wondered why you would not want to use what is a very effective tool in its given form.

 

[Nienna]

Well, drifting could also be following intuition and then, of course, examining with critical mind its applicability (or not) to the situation. In other words, will is engaged but at the active/non-anticipation level of being open to what comes up from deep within.

But of course, you are right that it is often extremely difficult to discriminate between intuition and predator mind. My "rule of tumb" or signal that predator mind is active is that I feel more comfortable or better about stuff or more convinced that I am right.

In this case, my comfort level decreases when those lines come to me and i feel more anxious about going into areas I do not want to go into.

I don't understand what you meant by this: "Secondly, why would you want to ‘network with others on the Cass path’ and yet not use the tools that have been given in the way they were given"--By posting here and asking for feedback I am networking and not just doing the four lines (or any other deviation from what has been given) without checking in with the group.

Bread as nourishment (in the correct way) would cover the truth part and the additional phrase I added was me trying to personalize the prayer to me. You are spot on there.

What about the courage part?

Thanks for your feedback and would like to hear what others have to say.

Frank J.

It seems that we have heard this kind of thing before.

Frank, why do you think that this most beautiful and powerful prayer needs anything else? Do you think that you know better than Laura and the C's as to what is needed?

Maybe it would be good if you read what has already been discussed of this topic and scroll down to post #126 and read on from there.

Maybe this will help clear up some things for you. Hopefully it will set your mind at ease and you can get on with cleaning out your emotional blockages and toxicities instead of trying to fix something that isn't broken. ;)

 

[Buddy]

Hi sometimes. Please take a moment to think about how emotions that limit are an impediment to progress. The concerns you express are similar to the ones others have expressed (see the link Nienna Eluch provides), but the Prayer of the Soul is thoughtfully structured to be open-ended and universal, and cannot be contained in anything less. It may take awhile to realize this, but contemplate it in light of the following and see what you think:


speech...flows from what you know, or think you know.
"Help me grow in knowledge
Of All Creation"


courage...will be a side effect of cleansing your heart of fear as your eyes and ears are cleared.
Cleanse my heart
That I may know and love
The Holiness of True Existence


When the vagus nerve and the Prayer of the Soul does its work, 'bearing truth' and 'networking with like-minded others' may seem to be a completely natural 'by-product' of your sincerity and commitment.

 

[anart]

Well, drifting could also be following intuition and then, of course, examining with critical mind its applicability (or not) to the situation. In other words, will is engaged but at the active/non-anticipation level of being open to what comes up from deep within.

This sounds like a deflection of the truth that Mada85 had just written to you. You are attached to the idea that if YOU drift, it isn't drifting - it's something more objective or important than that. Unfortunately, you can't think about the way you think with the way you think.

Others have clearly explained the point behind saying the prayer as it was given, so I don't think any other input is needed on that.

My "rule of tumb" or signal that predator mind is active is that I feel more comfortable or better about stuff or more convinced that I am right.

You cannot think about the way you think with the way you think - perhaps it's time to stop thinking that you can recognize your own predator?

What about the courage part?

It seems to me that as it applies directly to you, the 'courage part' has to do with simply giving up a little control and saying the prayer the way it was given - in actually having the courage to not have to control or change what you have been given to suit your particular understanding; to actually accept the fact that you must question your own thinking. That takes courage.

 

[Evolutionary1]

My "rule of tumb" or signal that predator mind is active is that I feel more comfortable or better about stuff or more convinced that I am right.

You cannot think about the way you think with the way you think - perhaps it's time to stop thinking that you can recognize your own predator?

What about the courage part?

I was wondering, isn't it at least an indirect goal of this work to learn to recognize the predator as it is expressed by us and others so that we can react as our authentic selves instead? Isn't it prudent to try to recognize it? I find myself conflicted between trying to build up awareness and self-efficacy while being aware that what I think I know is still cloaked in illusion. Ahhhh! Well, knowing that at the end of the day I still have my breath and my intent as tools for growth helps a lot, though!

 

[pete02]

When the vagus nerve and the Prayer of the Soul does its work, 'bearing truth' and 'networking with like-minded others' may seem to be a completely natural 'by-product' of your sincerity and commitment.

This is what seems to be happening to me. I used to feel sometimes I didn't know enough to contribute to the forum because everyone here is so intelligent in one way or another but since doing the program I do feel more confident in myself. I think many of us need to remember what has already been said in this thread, it will take some of us longer than others to experience anything of significance from doing the program. I too have been doing the program since Laura has released it and nothing amazing seems to be happening. I sometimes feel as if I'm not doing it correctly either. Those 'zoning out' incidents I was having I am starting to see was nothing more than falling alseep although a few times I know I did actually zone. Even so, in the back of my mind, I know it is helping me in someway. Whether or not we're OPs or trying to change the program we were given I do believe is just the predator's mind at work. Trying to get results quickly just shows expectation and I don't believe we are supposed to be doing that. I think we just need to give ourselves more time. fwiw.

 

[anart]

I was wondering, isn't it at least an indirect goal of this work to learn to recognize the predator as it is expressed by us and others so that we can react as our authentic selves instead? Isn't it prudent to try to recognize it? I find myself conflicted between trying to build up awareness and self-efficacy while being aware that what I think I know is still cloaked in illusion. Ahhhh! Well, knowing that at the end of the day I still have my breath and my intent as tools for growth helps a lot, though!

Well, I didn't really suggest that one shouldn't 'try' to recognize their predator, I think we all strive for that. I was speaking to 'something's assurance that he had a rule of thumb that could do so. Perhaps it will help to think of it this way - for most people, there is VERY little that is not their predator - almost everything one thinks is 'them' - is 'who they are' - is programs, the predator - so to assume that with the predator's mind one can identify the predator within them is to fall into the trap of the predator's mind!

I think, until one really - and truly - grasps how indistinguishable one's programs (predator) are from what we think of as ourselves, we will continue to deceive ourselves into thinking we have a handle on it. My point to 'something' is that until one has forged a singular 'I' - and cleaned away all the filth and programs that have accumulated over a lifetime (or several) there can be no 'rule of thumb' - and if you honestly think you have a 'rule of thumb' or that you can identify the predator, assuredly, within yourself, then you really have no idea about the true horror of the situation. fwiw.

 

[Buddy]

I sometimes feel as if I'm not doing it correctly either. Those 'zoning out' incidents I was having I am starting to see was nothing more than falling alseep although a few times I know I did actually zone. Even so, in the back of my mind, I know it is helping me in someway. Whether or not we're OPs or trying to change the program we were given I do believe is just the predator's mind at work.

Hi Pete, I think that's some great insight. Growth seems to follow a spiral course in just about every endeavor and there are times when someone may think nothing's happening (apparant plateau), but the exciting part is that just about the time when a person is about to give up, that's usually the point where there's about to be a breakthrough! This phenomenon has happened to me on several occasions in other areas as I'm sure it has for others.

Trying to get results quickly just shows expectation and I don't believe we are supposed to be doing that. I think we just need to give ourselves more time. fwiw.

I agree totally. I have come to see expectations in this Work to be like trying to stuff something limitless into a conceptual boundary (box it in). You can't do it without oppressing the process. Regardless of what seems not to be happening, be sure to hang in there! Personally, I'm thinking of it as a lifestyle.

 

[Beorn]

Making changes:

I have noticed I am able to do the things that I have only ever thought about doing. For instance, for years I have thought about getting a reverse osmosis system but only now, after a week of looking around, have I ordered one.

A far infrared blanket is also on it's way! It seems strange now that I have wanted to order one for a long time but somehow have not been able to DO it.

I have this uncanny desire to try smoking and my body craves protein which led me on a hunt around the city until I found a store that sells brown rice protein.

The threads on diet are a bit daunting but I will add supplements as I learn about them.

 

[shijing]

I have recently been trying to do the breathing program regularly, and today was an eventful day. Right before I was planning on beginning this evening, I heard from someone who I have developed a close relationship with over the past half-year saying that they wanted to end it. Although I love and care very much for this person, I was not sure that the way the relationship had developed was conducive to my growth, and after reading the most recent session (8/15/09) posted today, I had been giving a lot of thought to how I should handle the situation -- the timing couldn't have been more significant.

This is what was in my mind when I started the breathing. I haven't had a strong emotional reaction since starting the breathing program (and I naturally went into it tonight with strong emotions so this wasn't entirely due to the breathing), but when I hit the 'beatha' part of the program I really started to break down and let a lot out -- even more so when I got to the Prayer of the Soul part toward the end. One thing that struck me is that when you are really crying, the area in the back of your throat naturally constricts in exactly the place that it is supposed to for pipe-breathing -- of course it wasn't long before my nose stuffed up and I had to start breathing in through my mouth, but I still felt like it was giving my vagus nerve a real work-out. Even though it was set up by outside circumstances, I hope this was an example of the kind of emotional release that the breathing program is supposed to facilitate.