How can I become more focused, more clear in my thinking and smarter?

[nesler]

Hello to everyone! :)

After I read a couple of interesting topics on this forum, I decide to ask you some ways in which a person could become more focused, more clear in my thinking and smarter?


I don't know if I posted in the right section of the forum and if not move my topic to the corresponding section. :)

 

[anart]

Hello to everyone! :)

After I read a couple of interesting topics on this forum, I decide to ask you some ways in which a person could become more focused, more clear in my thinking and smarter?


I don't know if I posted in the right section of the forum and if not move my topic to the corresponding section. :)

Hi nesler, that's kind of like asking, "how can I save the world". It's a very complicated topic and not something that someone can 'just tell you'. If you aren't yet familiar with the work of G.I. Gurdjieff, that's a good place to start. May I ask how you found this forum?

 

[nesler]

No. I don't want to find the peace and save the world. :d

I just want simple techniques which helps me quieting the mind (except meditations) and, in the same time, makes me more focused. :)


P.S. I don't want to read long books in which someone tells me about lots of theoretical stuff. :) I'm tired of this things. :)

 

[anart]

No. I don't want to find the peace and save the world. :d

I just want simple techniques which helps me quieting the mind (except meditations) and, in the same time, makes me more focused. :)


P.S. I don't want to read long books in which someone tells me about lots of theoretical stuff. :) I'm tired of this things. :)

Do you see the irony in stating that you want to learn how to become more focused and clear your thinking yet you are unwilling to read long books and study? There is no free lunch, nesler. If you aren't willing to put in effort and actually think, you will never think clearly. Again, how did you find this forum?

 

[Cosmos]

No. I don't want to find the peace and save the world. :d

I just want simple techniques which helps me quieting the mind (except meditations) and, in the same time, makes me more focused. :)


P.S. I don't want to read long books in which someone tells me about lots of theoretical stuff. :) I'm tired of this things. :)

so then I suggest that you might have walked into the wrong bar here.

 

[lake_george]

Hello Nesler,

You are asking good questions.

You write that you don't want to read long books. I can see your point, I have been there myself.

But there is a book which could help you, it might be interesting enough and speak to your current state well enough that you may really get a lot of help from it. There is quite a dramatic story in it.
"In Search of the Miraculous" by P.D.Ouspensky.

One very important idea, written about in this book, is that I am many 'I's, many different desires, intentions, characters, but to begin going against this I need to try to >observe< my self, my manifestations, my thoughts, my feelings. I need to see how I am not not unified, not >one<.

There are simple, practical things you can do that can help you gain more attention, that can help you begin.

At the beginning of the day, set yourself a simple goal(examples below), and then just notice how it goes. At the end of the day, review how it went. Do not judge or berate yourself for forgetting - just observe.

Some simple daily exercise goals:
~ use your non-dominant hand to open doors.
~ put your attention on the sensation of the sole of your left foot - the pressure of it on the ground, within your shoe, sock, bare, whatever.
~ notice your posture - put your attention on your spine.
~ notice the tensions in your body - take a minute to try to relax.

Also, you might benefit from taking an class in Tai Chi.

Good luck.

 

[ScarletBegonias]

Hi Neslar, It would be considerate to reply to anart's question about how you found this forum. Can you write a response in this thread or in the Newbies section here, please?

Also, lake_george recommended a great book by Gurdjieff, but to actually learn what you want to learn you must do the work yourself. How can you know what is a good way to go about doing something if you just rely on others to tell you what to do and how to think?

The Eiriu Eolas breathing program might interest you, but you should learn about it and watch the videos in order first. Watch the top one first here. Also, research is key, as the program is not recommended for some people. So don't just do the program because I mentioned it to you. It could actually be a bad idea, but only you can know once you look up more information on this forum.

Looking forward to seeing your response to anart's question either here or in the Newbies section. ;)

 

[Navigator]

No. I don't want to find the peace and save the world. :d

I just want simple techniques which helps me quieting the mind (except meditations) and, in the same time, makes me more focused. :)


P.S. I don't want to read long books in which someone tells me about lots of theoretical stuff. :) I'm tired of this things. :)

May I ask why meditations are such a no no? IMO that is one of the primary techniques is you want a quiet mind. Speaking of, perhaps you could start by reflecting on what kind thoughts are bringing noise to your wellbeing?

As a second approach, I should recommend following the diet as described in other threads.

 

[abeofarrell]

At least from my own experience i cannot see how you could ever learn to have a clear, still mind without increasing your level of consciousness through knowledge and then understanding, and at the same time doing meditative work. Meditative work does not have to been in the lotus position on the floor. The bulk of it is simply observing our SELF throughout the day, though doing real meditation a couple of times a week really helps.

Oh, unstable emotions are also a problem. I recommend the EE program. It will clear out your emotional garbage, enabling your mind to be more stable and focused.

 

[galleon]

I hope I have understood your request - even if I haven't, I think most people could benefit from knowing about this subject:

A basic education in how to think (with focus and clarity) can be obtained by using the Trivium method. The Trivium are the first three of the seven classical Liberal Arts and Sciences, and include basic Grammar, formal Logic, and classical Rhetoric. By using these in the proper sequence when you apply your mind, you will be able to self-educate and obtain the truth with increasing certainty.

• Basic Grammar is not meant here in the literary sense; it is a systematic method of gathering raw data of a similar nature into a body of knowledge, so that there is a subject that can be considered intelligently.
• Logic is a method of bringing full and intimate understanding to this body of knowledge by systematically eliminating all stated contradictions within it.
• Rhetoric are the rules applied to communicate this understanding to ourselves and others, or to utilized gained insights in the real world in the form of instructions of protocols.

You will find some very informative video instruction _http://www.triviumeducation.com/ that can help you get started learning and applying the Trivium. While the practice of the Trivium method is not esoteric, the results of using it in your life could be considered somewhat esoteric - especially in a world that has been deprived of this kind of training.

 

[obyvatel]

A basic education in how to think (with focus and clarity) can be obtained by using the Trivium method. The Trivium are the first three of the seven classical Liberal Arts and Sciences, and include basic Grammar, formal Logic, and classical Rhetoric.
................
While the practice of the Trivium method is not esoteric, the results of using it in your life could be considered somewhat esoteric - especially in a world that has been deprived of this kind of training.

Apparently, the world today has not been entirely deprived of Trivium method of training. Per Gene Odening, (the guy whose podcasts are in the link provided in galleon's post) this method of training is available in prep schools which train the elites of our society - those who go on to attend Ivy League schools. It forms the basis of classical learning with a stress on critical thinking which has been handed down from the Greeks in the western world.

 

[galleon]

Apparently, the world today has not been entirely deprived of Trivium method of training. Per Gene Odening, (the guy whose podcasts are in the link provided in galleon's post) this method of training is available in prep schools which train the elites of our society - those who go on to attend Ivy League schools. It forms the basis of classical learning with a stress on critical thinking which has been handed down from the Greeks in the western world.

True enough, though I made the assumption that the world of the elites is not the same world we live in :)

 

[obyvatel]

True enough, though I made the assumption that the world of the elites is not the same world we live in :)

Not sure what you mean by the above. Critical thinking is a tool that can be used for various purposes. The elites of western society have had access to this tool, and they have used it in a way that ultimately suits their purposes of domination and control of the masses. We use critical thinking in this forum for purpose of research geared towards a better understanding of objective reality.

The main line of focus here is 4th Way Work which was first introduced in the Western world by G.I Gurdjieff. It involves working with body, intellect and emotions together using various avenues like diet, research, networking and meditation. Threads and links as well as suggested reading given in response to your intro post clarifies the above mentioned point. As we have found from Gurdjieff's writings which are now backed up by a lot of independent scientific research, learning how to think clearly involves more than getting trained with tools of critical thinking. The psychology and cognitive science board has topics related to the theme of how our mind works and how we can approach reprogramming it. The "Adaptive Unconscious", "Thinking - Fast and Slow" and "Redirect" are some of the topics which deal with this issue.

 

[galleon]

True enough, though I made the assumption that the world of the elites is not the same world we live in :)

Not sure what you mean by the above.

What I meant by the above was to clarify my initial generalization which you used as the basis of your first reply to me on this thread. That generalization was:

the results of using it in your life could be considered somewhat esoteric - especially in a world that has been deprived of this kind of training.

I attempted to clarify that 'the world' consists of the society over 99% of people in the developed world are conditioned to live in presently. This majority does not receive the benefit of an education in the Trivium, although a very few prep schools offer it to the elite as you pointed out.

The generalization was used because I assumed that virtually everyone talking on this forum came from somewhere in this 99% majority of our human population. If that was not a safe bet, and we have a large proportion of membership here consisting of elites, then I'm on the wrong forum entirely :)

I hope I have clarified my choice of words, and that my original reply to the OP was a simple attempt to help him/her with the means to acquire mental clarity and focus, and not an attempt to derail the agenda here.

 

[obyvatel]

I hope I have clarified my choice of words, and that my original reply to the OP was a simple attempt to help him/her with the means to acquire mental clarity and focus, and not an attempt to derail the agenda here.

Thanks for the clarification, galleon. Your post was not seen as an attempt to derail the agenda here, btw. If you choose to read the material suggested, then you would perhaps have a better understanding of the forum's take on the topic of clarity of thinking.