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| CONCENTRATION: DEVELOPING WILLPOWER - MD COURSE 3 |
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The wandering mind The benefits of improved concentration...
'Concentration' means putting all one's attention on something, and keeping it there for as long as one wishes to. So if you concentrate on a book, you are aware of the book and you are not thinking, looking or listening to anything else. You are aware of the associations, in fact you are more aware, but you are not distracted by them. If you are concentrating you are truly awake and focused. In much of everyday life, most people are effectively day-dreaming - at worst they are sleep-walking automatons. Their minds flip mechanically from one thing to another, never resting on anything for very long or intentionally. This process may go on for the whole of their lives and they never learn or achieve anything of consequence. Unless we can wake ourselves up from this mechanicalness and sleep, we cannot begin work on ourselves and we cannot get things done in life. We must learn the mood of concentration - of actually BEING in the Here-and-Now, noticing and observing, and focused on our actions. You will be more aware, because concentration is the ability to put your awareness on things. This means you are more relaxed - since you are more aware there will be fewer things to startle you. Also, as you can concentrate on things, the subconscious mind will be less able to affect you. Really, only the 'sleeper' is affected by the subconscious mind. When you wake up, you are free of it.
Not just theory! Willpower is the impelling factor, the directive intention, by which we get things done in life. It is the primary expression of our state of being, the source of our initiatives. The quality of the manifestation of our will is determined by our understanding - the 'why?' and the 'how?' - of the world around us. Our will is manifested through the choices we make. Choice, therefore, is the pivotal factor in a self-controlled destiny. Choice begins from the moment we separate from the consciousness of our parents - choice of what we will do, wear, eat and feel begins from the moment we awaken each day. It is only through choice that we discover what works and what does not, and in this way we learn by experience. When choice is consciously made, experience becomes self-created. When we live without consciousness, our actions simply reflect our conditioned patterns of thought (habits, fixed ideas and accepted beliefs) or other people's instructions, and we are no longer in charge of our own life experience.
The power of focus Wishing and willing are quite different things. Suppose I consider whether I will or will not pick up my pen. I cannot wish in this matter - I must decide either to pick it up or leave it where it is. Wishing is an acknowledgement of inability, a dependence upon external events. Willing is the use of your own power. The person who has educated his will does not grumble about the things fortune brings to him through no apparent action of his own, but is content to make the fullest possible use of the opportunities that do prevail. He or she does not dwell again and again on the same thought or argument. If something does require to be thought over, it is brought forward and all the facts bearing upon it are considered, so that a clear conclusion is derived; and then the matter is dismissed from the mind. The great Indian sage Sri Ramana Maharshi stated: "An average man's mind is filled with countless thoughts, and therefore each individual one is extremely weak. When, instead of these many useless thoughts, there appears only one, it is a power in itself and has a wide influence." We know that many great scientists and inventors ascribed their unique discoveries to their ability for strong, focused, thinking. This was the case with Isaac Newton, Thomas Edison, Louis Pasteur and many others, who were conscious of and able to apply their extraordinary powers of concentration to exclude all else but the object of their investigations.
Develop the will
It is a transition from one state of existence to another. The significance of this is largely neglected, because we fail to understand its relevance to freedom. Noticing, is the opening of the door to possibilities. How can we train ourselves to grasp this kind of opportunity?" --J. G. Bennett Concentration is a means to develop the will, so that life may be lived purposely and creatively, rather than as a reaction to the flow of sensations. Because you will not flit from one thing to another, like a butterfly, you will be able to choose to focus your mind - for example on study or work projects - and will increase your skills and knowledge in these areas. Most importantly, you will be able to focus more clearly on your vision of what you want to achieve. In short, your mental life is both intensified and broadened. The ability to concentrate is, therefore, a valuable skill which will enhance all other skills. Almost all the drills and exercises of Mind Development help develop your ability to concentrate. But are there ways to improve your concentration directly? Yes, and this course teaches the best of them.
After you have completed your purchase, you download the course in the form of a PDF file that you can view in the freely available Adobe Acrobat Reader. Or you may like to print out a copy. We accept credit card payments (online secure transaction or by fax or phone); wire transfer of funds; by check or Money Order through the post; and by PayPal. Your purchase is made in your local language and currency. We will confirm your purchase by email and supply the download link for the materials.
The Mind Development courses are available as a specially priced package, delivered to you on CD. These courses are:
The CD also includes the full contents of the Tools for Transformation 2-CD Set, normally priced at $39. This, in itself, is an incredible package of information. PLUS we include The New Life Course, normally priced at $39. Based on the principles described in Peter Shepherd's book 'Transforming the Mind' (also on the CD), this course takes you much further to give you the tools to really turn your life around. You will learn to look at the world with a more aware and open mind -- left brain and right brain working in harmony -- no longer suppressing your needs, wants and feelings. And so with enhanced confidence and self esteem, you feel ready to begin a new life of greater achievement and happiness.
SPECIAL OFFER! The MD Courses Package - only US$ 150.00!
If you have questions about the courses, please do not hesitate to email me with your enquiries. |
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