A discussion of application of meditation and technology… is this the new utility of being?
Part 1 was about some esoteric meditative thoughts and concepts. Part 2 is the so what? The challenge is the everyday utility or application. In science the three main branches are theory, empirical (data), and the application (clinical). And likewise in the spiritual realm there is the doctrine (theory), the laws or dharma of practice and the resulting experience or gnosis.
Last week’s post concluded… at some point we get pooped back into reality. The question is “now what?” What does one do? Of course, we do… we cannot help but do! There is other option but to do. There are four options of doing: First, is do nothing; by doing nothing the same thing or existence continues. Second, is do something… but it depends on what a person does. Which is basically one of three options. Option one is doing something… not quite knowing what it is you are doing… essentially a gamble; sometimes you win and sometimes you lose and sometimes it gets ugly. Third, is doing the thing that aligns with who you are and your passions, dreams and joy. At least this gives you an idea and direction of what to do. And the fourth, recognizes you do not know who you are, nor your dreams, passions, and joys. But you realize this is a cue or an opportunity to discover who you are and your passions. The only option is that one must do… but you get to choose the what, when, where, how and why.
Meditation, a technique to investigate one’s internal environment. It is being aware and tuning one’s response of the physical, emotional, mental, energy, knots (disruption and blocks). The difficulty is ignoring the impingements and distractions of the external environment. In a sense, the internal knots can only break through the external environmental impingements as sensations of pain and suffering that rage to get attention.
Reality is that the physical, emotional, relationships, knots, etc.), are merely the signs and symptoms of the deeper causes. Yet they are cues to attend to the underlying matters. The usual mode of operation is reactive or in response to the signs and symptoms. However, it cues us to respond at a deeper level and become proactive and strategic, thus prevent further crap and costly chasing our tail. This applies to the spectrum of daily life. Whether it is car maintenance, child raising, your work and career, significant relationships, physical health, wellbeing, etc.
This comes down to three things. First awareness of something is not right, or at least the potential. Second, is acknowledging that it is your responsibility and your sovereign and can do something about it. Even if you are not aware, not trained nor have the skills. The moment you recognize or become aware, it is your responsibility and due diligence to investigate what is happening. This investigation is to ask the questions of what, when, where, how and why. From investigation leads to the question of what you can do about it. Moving from a response of reactive behaviors to the strategic mindset.
Ultimately, with sovereignty and discernment, you develop a strategic action plan. And then execute to the best of your ability. Knowing that you will need to continue to analyze new information, synthesize, adapt, and refine your execution. Ideally, being at least focused on the next step… if not 3-5 steps ahead of what is happening now.
Techniques
Hypnosis
Most are familiar with induced hypnosis, i.e., when a hypnotist guides or inducts a person into a hypnotic state. Hypnosis is merely a state of focused attention. And when in a state of focused attention, external environmental awareness dampens or fades into the background of your attention or consciousness. This is nothing new and practically everyone does this to some level. For example, when driving to work, playing a game of tennis or video game, just dancing listening to music or playing an instrument. Any activity where we focus our attention… and the rest of the world fades. We don’t hear the phone ring, the fans cheering, don’t remember the 20-minute drive to work, etc. because your attention was absorbed into your thoughts, feelings and perhaps your self-awareness disappeared into the “flow state.”
In hypnosis it is easy to drop the awareness of the physical body and just exist as a consciousness. For example, in regression and/or in the quantum healing hypnosis technique (QHHT) the focus is on consciousness and accessing other parts of one’s consciousness of the past, future, subconsciousness, higher consciousness. The hypnotist could ask what did you feel, see, hear, etc. In QHHT, energy healing, guided meditation, you access the awareness of different contexts (set and setting). Exploring different levels and aspects, e.g., the akashic record, past lives, future lives, etc. Much of this has some aspect of “time” as a structure. Yet we can use other structures such as location, event, dimension, energy or feeling, i.e., frequency. There are many applications, e.g., remote viewing, astral projection, quantum jumping, re-interpretation or narrative revision of a past traumatic event.
In the everyday context, there are the discussions of the veracity and validity of false memory, creating alternative realities, i.e., fantasy or things like alien abduction, etc. It is apparent that we are confusing the application of the internal realities for considerations external reality. Yet at another level there is a realization of the metaphysical reciprocity between the internal and external. There are stories of spontaneous healing and knowing and feeling things that are beyond our conceptions of consensual reality. Things like near-death experiences, divination, etc. Anyway, this is the “rub” (friction and fire) of destruction and creation in which emerges new understandings and realities… or not.
Self-Scripted
Self-scripted, self-induced or auto hypnosis. Hypnosis offers another pathway to the self. It is like meditation or guided meditation and is an example of my 3-hour flotation experience, which retrospectively, it was like lucid hypnosis or lucid dreaming. Hypnotic induction focuses awareness or the attention on what to pay attention to. Instead of what to not attention to. Self-hypnosis can be work a around of both the external and sensory proprioceptive “noise.” And also over-ride cognitive filters which act, oppose,or filter out a person’s physical, emotional, mental, and moral objections and other limiting parameters. This can be a good, bad or ugly thing. For example, a long-distance runner can over-ride their feeling of pain and do some significant damage before realizing (feeling) the pain that would have been noticed earlier.
Self-hypnosis takes a bit of understanding and a bit of strategy. Basically, you are using you to discover you, or bringing into awareness different aspects of you.
The Script
Though with self-scripted, self-induced or auto (self) hypnosis simply involves noting a purpose or goal, taking a bit of time to write and revise a script, record it into your cell phone or recording device using your own voice reading the script. And then get comfortable with a pair of closed-back headphones or noise cancelling earbuds and listen.
The idea is to sink into or rise into yourself that is beyond your everyday consciousness. The first part is to drop awareness of your external environmental surrounding. Including your proprioceptive body awareness. The result is that you are just consciousness. Listening to yourself, telling yourself to breathe deep, relax and sink into a calm “witnessing” position (Vipassana “observation”)…
Once in a deepened or absorptive “attentional state,” you direct your consciousness to attend to many tasks. Such as performance enhancement, memory absorption, retention, and flow for exams. And exploring other aspects of consciousness like “past or future” lives, enhancing your physical health, etc. However if dealing with traumatic or PTSD, it is wise to engage a therapist so that you can move through and re-interpreting the experience instead of “re-traumatizing” yourself.
It is easy to script with each exhale, release and let the anxiety flow out… and now inhale deeply… feel energy and light fill every cell of your body, etc. Or do affirmations, e.g., repeat slowly “I am ready for the ___ exam. The material lives within me and flows onto the paper. Or perhaps setting up your golfing game. “I step up to the putt, relax and settle into my being (physical, emotional, mental, etc.). I immediately see the line to the cup. I breathe deeply three times… I am the ball… elegantly rolling into the cup.” This is like “being the arrow” in Zen archery. Basically, when you script, be mindful of using present tense because it is happening or already happened. And do not use negatives… such as, do not say “I will not” instead script and state as a positive “I am.” And when recording your script, use a slow paced, monotone, affirmative tone that will envelope your conscious attention. The thought is that using your voice you will more readily and deeply accept the script than someone else’s voice such as a therapist doing guided meditation. You might consult with a hypnotherapist for helping you write and go through your script.
Science and Technology of Hacking Consciousness
There are an infinite number of pathways. Since folks are all about science, real-time empirical metrics, best practices and measurable results. Here are a few very easy and elementary ways to show and measure changes. Though results are merely correlative (suggestive) and not causal (definitive). It wasn’t until the 1990s where computers and technology such as imagining, functional imagining, brain wave tech developed and came into being at a level capable of imagining, capturing and measuring data. Of course, now we have DOD and Elon wanting to insert interactive tech into the processing and augmentation of our experience. Whether it is heads-up computer assisted interaction for fighter piolets. Neuro-link type implants for bionic protheses to assist an amputee vet. Or further developing some link apps such as google glasses.
Neuroscience now has functional MRI to observe brain activity in real time under the influences of high frequency ultrasound. Or trans-cranial magnetic stimulation (TMS). For example, many years ago I read of a brief article that the DOD was testing some type of magnetic device placed on the head of a soldier that vastly improved both their simulated (VR) and training for target recognition and shooting skills measured as kills. Yet what if we developed a similar device to assist our meditation or attentional capacity. For example, being able to scan our own body for cancer and then to use our own laser focus. Along with monitoring brain/neuro activity via EEG, regions of brain metabolism load, etc. (https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC8364152/). This is neuro enhancement of recognition, visual motor coordination, processing speed. It was like flashing-neuro coordination beyond cognitive processing. Whether used for fighter jets or attack helicopters pilots, urban tactical combat with heads-up night vision or just driving a car. For example, on the civilian side there are now offerings for TMS in the treatment of various mental malaise: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6401552/
Currently we see the investment in robots, drones, swarming, and mesh technology, application, and utility; perhaps because it is easier to design, produce, and manipulate. However, it is fascinating to ponder the capacity and potential of humans and their consciousness to enhance the quality of life on this planet.
Technology and Active Alert Hypnosis
Back in grad school, I had the fortune to sit in on a few sessions of brain wave tomography (mapping regions of brain wave activity) to assess brain wave activity for kids with ADHD. And then use their brain wave tomography as bio-feedback via a computer’s software to teach a kid to dampen their over active occipital/visual lobe and to activate and increase their frontal lobe executive and organizational processing. And then use “active alert hypnosis” to boosting the kid’s attentional level. Via active-alert hypnosis, they could increase clinical efficacy evidenced by fewer required treatment sessions to reach clinical efficacy. Anyway, this was cutting edge and fascinating some 30 years ago.
Virtual Reality
The advancement of technology, whether hardware, software/apps, digital, speed, memory, wireless connectivity, AI, centralized/decentralized net, etc., a wide open potential is dawning on the horizon. A few years ago, a dear friend clued me in to Laurie Anderson’s Chalkroom. Https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zHT016FbR30. Also concurrently a young co-worker was finishing up an art degree project integrating a piece of art, a picture via digitizing it into a VR “Chalkroom” like experience. Immediately, I thought, this is like psychedelic experiences, forays into the flotation tank, meditation experiences, and the attentional environment of hypnosis. It seems, perhaps this is the typology (terrain) of Ken Wilber’s “spectrums of consciousness.” The threshold between “vision-logic and the psychic” levels.
What are the implications and utility for therapy, to go beyond consensual notions of reality, what happens to the concept of ego, psychic phenomena and flow-state-life on this planet… mind blown!
Side Note: Laurie Anderson notes wondering about the orienting and adjusting to the VR experience. Which suggests, in these new experiences, regardless of the pathway; what are the rules of engagement and orientation that enable us to make sense in exploring these new experiences of consciousness? What is the utility and application beyond exploration and entertainment? And who gets to decide how it is used? This is just like any art or creation. The artist or creator is sovereign in creating. And the user or fan is sovereign in their appreciation and utility. Which brings up the notion of use, i.e., ownership versus renting/subscribing. For example, I buy a pencil and write something, versus I rent a pencil and become limited in the use and the parameters of the writing? Perhaps a non-issue or does it become an issue of control and the ability or logistics of control… just wondering. And how does one make sense and narrate the experience… whose experience is it, anyway? Just wondering what the hell is this rabbit hole… let alone going in the damm thing. Are we already deep in the hole? Btw which way is up and am I going in or out? It feels there is some humping going on… lol.
Digital Capture or Expansion
In a sense, our cell phones, laptops, TV, video games are digital entrainment devices that capture. The question is our awareness. Is it contained, limited, expanded, exploratory, etc? To be sure, the digital world influences our awareness. Perhaps the factor is the capacity of awareness and consciousness. We see people whose attention is captured, fully focused and absorbed into their digital world; unaware of what is going on around them. And probably unaware of their internal state of being. Some note they are addicted and have anxieties and withdrawal if they wonder outside or their box disappears. The good is at least they are aware of their box… “it could be heaven, or it could be hell.”
Bending, Blending or Humping
It is refreshing that we have arrived at being able to discuss opposites (inverses, converses, reverses). The current conversational chatter is bending, blending, mixing and twisting between opposites. Whether between science and spirituality, light and dark, love and fear, male and female, etc. What is this about? What is the goal? How is it done? Do we want a homogenous consistency or dynamic, divergent, or diverse? Smooth or chunky… peanut butter, guacamole… how about? Thai-mex fusion? Ideally, each person wants and gets to decide their experience. But they might have to make it and be willing to experiment… c’est la vie.
Turning vs Churning… the Why and How
Some note that what is happening in our world is in the “great turning or 4th turning.” Are we making a controlled turn or change of direction? I wonder if it is the “great churning?” An agitation, a breaking up and mixing that is beyond merely stirring. The cream’s big fat molecules are being violently broken to smaller sizes forming butter; a state change from liquid to soft solid. The question is why.
There are all kinds of wonderful, weird, and whacky thoughts of the why. In the discussion of why something happens often involves an investigation into the past, the conditions and factors that lead up to what exists now. Which the study of history and precursors is appropriate? And science is basically theory, testing the theory and searching for repeatable empirical evidence, which is a standard of statistical confidence that only shows a correlation, i.e., “an educated guess.” And then there is the why of the future; the realm of religion, metaphysics, and spirituality. Religion… are we going to hell or heaven? How are we getting there is a matter of metaphysics, woo, and wonder? And spirituality seems to be a mystical, intuitive “experience” that is beyond the muddled mumbo jumbo words. Sages note and point, “ya just got to go there and be”… wherever there is?
Everyday Hacks
To bring things back to everyday hacks. Most of us are mere hacks that are whacking out some semblance of life; and we can use all the help we can get. Why else would there be all the wellness, coaching, consulting, therapy, manifesting/woman-testing stuff? Pet-fest your grumpy cat into a happy puppy… delivered fresh to your door from already been “chewed,” if you can’t laugh… it’s already over.
NAPs (not alive, pretending)
Perhaps my most useful and frequently applied life hack is the NAP (not alive… pretending). Of course, the nap “is one of my favorite things” (Martha Stewart). I’ve developed the knack to nap… anytime, anywhere, and for whatever reason. The nap can be many things. “Not Alive Pretending” can be the following and much, much more:
- A nap is a nap is a nap. Need I say more?
- A nap is a gap in which to create space to disconnect or separate feelings from thoughts and avoid unsightly behavior. A moment to collect one’s wits to be better.
- A nap to breathe deeply, dropping in to refresh yourself, your energy, to connect intuitively, to connect to knowledge during an exam, to enter an enhancing brain wave state, e.g., alpha, theta, delta, to prepare and energize for some expected stressful situation, to clear residual energy from an overwhelming or stressful situation, etc.
A significant part of my crisis MH career was working nights. Being able to hack naps was a lifesaver on many levels. Running between 3 ERs and 2 jails during a 12, 24, or 36-hour shift could be grueling. Especially with 5-6 cases stacked deep or doing 3 simultaneous evaluations at once. Hacking naps to access brain wave states whether actually get a 20 minutes of z’s, 5 minutes in delta, taking advantage of intuitive and creative aspects of the theta or powering through with beta and gamma states. Being able to hover for a few minutes in delta waiting for a phone call; phone rings and boom right back into gamma and beta waves. Truly, NAP’ing is a skill that is invaluable.
Heart
We are witnessing an explosion of “heart centered” interest. All these pathways are merely reflections of the cultural, social, conceptual accoutrements of whatever tribe a person finds or feels themselves appropriate and/or accessible.
Whether we approach as manifestation via the mind, heart or field, it involves all. There are all kinds of heart songs; a five hearts model, empathic process, magnetic toroidal field, heart coherence, Merkabahs, sacred tantra, etc. They all involve focusing on the pathway through heart. Where a person becomes aware (or not) of connecting via feelings, it influences their perception of their reality; for better or worse. This could be for health, manifesting, empathic connections, etc. We are understanding there is a three or four brain structure and process. The gut brain is for manufacturing physical existence. The heart is for connecting to existence. The head is for the logistics or gps of how to get there. And the soul brain is just coming online as intuition, revelations, synchronization, entanglements and the higher woo stuff. Btw there is a woo spectrum from low wo(ah) to the high, hi or hey there… woo whoo.
Hack Life Uprising
A way to think about life is to hack it. What are the shortcuts, the little tricks or ways to navigate and get things done? It has been an explosion of people, programs, and platforms/apps. From Oprah, Tony Robbins, Mind Valley, Humanity’s Team, psychedelics, energy work… an endless stream or a flood of the Aquarian age. So how does one make sense of all this, where to start, and what to do?
Framework, Practice, and Experience
Everybody is different. Having a unique history, skills, talents, needs and wants. I do much better have a grasp of the big picture and then working out the details. Like working a jigsaw puzzle but not know what the puzzle (picture) looks like. I had trouble seeing how pieces related to each other and how pieces fit. My sister pointed out; frame the border, sort the colors, work on chunks or clusters of colors and the details will fill in.
It is useful to figure out a conceptual framework or structure, i.e., the parameters and boundaries. Develop a routine, practice or process of using the hacks. And then living the experience. A conceptual framework or structure is having a model that organizes where to hang bits of information/hacks and ideas. For example, in my career, Ken Wilbur’s “Spectrum of Consciousness” became an invaluable framework to hang bits of psychology, meditation and spirituality. There are many models, e.g., chakra system, various cosmological views; whether religious, metaphysical, scientific, etc. It doesn’t matter which one, but pick one that makes sense (at least makes intuitive sense) to you.
Framework
Developing a framework first involves surveying and exploring various schools of thoughts and their systems. Whether it’s science, art, music, religion, metaphysics, horticulture, etc. Pick one that you enjoy and makes intuitive sense. Then study it deeply. In the study, its premise and structure is revealed. The larger revelation is that other schools of thought and their premise then become relatively easy to recognize.
Often we are taught from the granular grit details and build toward the big picture. Yet also valid to show the big picture and then as needed, fill in the details. This is more of an intuitive, telepathic, flash or download metaphor.
Practice
Develop a routine, process, practice or way of living or being. Are you living from your head, heart, hands, or gut? How about all four via your soul? All this is simply a way to organize your day-to-day life. Having a routine and pattern is invaluable in helping you to get where you aspire to be. Of course, you can have more than one routine. One for routine for work, another for family, hobbies, and weekends. And it is valuable to review and update your routine as it becomes a habit. Make changes that will challenge (enhance) your efficiency of time, cost, effort and results. Overall, this keeps you going in the same direction. It helps you to weed out distractions. It enables you to focus your actions and behaviors toward goals. I.e., feeling on track, getting things done. Which are feelings, actions that become competence, confidence, and accomplishment. Yet, more important is the “experience” that you are aligned with your meaning and purpose. Your existence, resilience, and existential being… reinforces, rejuvenates, rebirths and expands who you are. A simple place to start is establishing a wellness routine. https://lovechangegrow.com/epmzjxal2772jq8v4bt28q9ssmlfff32016/
Experience
Who is living the dream… who is having the experience? You, your mind, heart, body, and soul. We are witnessing an explosion of “living the dream.” Whether it is a crew of marathoners, bikers, meditators, skiers, kiters, sailors, etc. All are examples of pathways that reflect the cultural, social, conceptual accoutrements of whatever tribe a person finds or feels themselves to be appropriate and accessible. There are an infinite number of permeable self-collecting and correcting tribes where a person can morph into and out of with an avatar. Perhaps this internet of things is the kindergarten of level of this experience? Which is revealed to exist on more of a psychic level and beyond. For example, moving beyond the current discussion of the AI/tech “trans-humanism” conception to a “trans-psychic” experience that comprises qualities of individual sovereignty, integrity, compassion, grace and love on the planetary level with all forms on and of mother earth.
Manifesting your life, specifically your quality of life. Feeling empowered, grateful, and blessed. And it is easy to flow life. You become the blessed, the blessing and the blesser. It is not what you (the individual or ego) have attained or accomplished (the noun) but what you share (the verb/action). Becoming the sharing, shining, and being. Once experiencing and understanding this, anything less is less and anything more is unnecessary.
Are we the I of the beholder, the eye of the beholder, the eye in which all things pass or the I in which all things pass. This is where the enormous fun begins, is, and will be. A flow of being grateful, gladly doing life, without parole.
Blessings,
Tim