The author Rhett Hawke (a researcher at Princeton University, now teaching at the University of Arkansas) summed up and refined his personal experience and knowledge in studying self-observation and wrote this book. Thanks to his in-depth understanding, this book can tell profound truth in simple language, which is admirable.
Self-observation is an introductory manual of the fourth practice system established by Gurdjieff. Gurdjieff divided the traditional spiritual practice into three categories, focusing on the ascetic way of controlling the body, the Taoist way based on faith and religion, and the yoga way of developing the unity of body and mind. He combined these three methods and created a fourth method. Starting from self-observation, we should be aware of our true state and face it honestly, so that we can change and awaken our consciousness.
The human brain is a highly automated system, which is often controlled by habits and environment. For example, influenced by people around you, become a rabble. For example, it is influenced by its culture and religion, and it acts according to its instructions rather than its own intentions. As the saying goes, "living in Chu and Chu, living more and more, living in summer and summer, is not natural, but also because of accumulation."
The essence of the mind is fear, which is a mode of thinking formed in the process of human evolution. The mind can't live in the present, either focusing on the past or the future. In the past, it often regretted, but in the future, it mostly worried about anxiety. And these will greatly consume the energy of the human body.
The fourth system holds that there is a self-consciousness that exists from beginning to end, a real body and countless selves created by the mind. These people often fight. For example, we often see our diligent villains fighting with lazy villains, and they all want to take the initiative. If they are evenly matched, we will be entangled and unable to act. If we are controlled by lazy villains, we will indulge our laziness, but at this time we will be condemned by our conscience. Now my body is comfortable, but my heart is uncomfortable. If we don't deliberately develop our consciousness, many times we are in an unconscious, mechanical and automatic state, and it is difficult to make a choice according to our true will.
Self-awareness means relaxing your body, observing your body and body feelings, your thoughts and your emotions. Through this observation, energy is preserved in consciousness, which is also called id. In this way, our id will not be led by emotions and thoughts.
Heisenberg's uncertainty principle proves that observation itself will change the observed object. Once we can relax our bodies and realize our emotions and thoughts, only realizing them, rather than struggling, judging, condemning and intervening, these noticed things will adjust themselves and change will happen automatically.
This book has a great view of the universe, thinking that everything in the world is the universe expressing itself through us. If we can relax our observation without interfering, it is equivalent to letting the universe take over, and naturally there will be behaviors and changes that conform to the will of the universe. This is inaction. Self-awareness and relaxation, not controlled by the mind, emotions and habits, can keep consciousness under control all the time.
Self-awareness should follow four principles: 1, relax the body, be aware of the feelings of the body, keep in touch with the body, and don't be distracted or jump up and down by a monkey-like thinking; 2, to perceive the mind and emotions and their reactions in all aspects without judgment, just like watching the clouds float in front of your eyes, not objectively. 3. Be honest, see your own shortcomings and shortcomings, and don't hide them; 4. Remember your most fundamental goal and take action. This is an action in line with the fundamental goal. In fact, awareness itself can coordinate emotion, body and mind, thus producing action.
The principle of observation is clear, but it is not easy to do it. Need long-term practice. It is a good way to meditate for 30 minutes every day. Usually consciously relax your body and trigger observation with some scenes as switches: unnecessary physical tension, unnecessary thoughts, inappropriate emotions, various habits, etc.
The process of observation is also a process of active pain. Everyone has basic goodness in his heart. When we observe internal contradictions, the impact of internal contradictions will make us suffer. This kind of voluntary suffering can nourish our hearts and make us more mature. A long-term sincere self-observation will bring humility.
Self-observation is an effective way to awaken our consciousness and get rid of the state of biological machines. Seeing yourself clearly and improving yourself through observation is the most valuable lesson in life. Suggest reading and learning from self-observation.