The Attention Handling Exercise
Purpose: To gain experience using applied attentionExercise:
Relax all bodily tensions. Monitor the facial mask for tension. Diffuse your vision
Collect all of your past attention into the present. You will notice that some of your attention has remained on certain events and experiences in your past, in much the same way as small children leave a trail of scattered clothes behind them. Bring each of these scattered bits of attention to you now, in the present. Undoubtedly, some of your attention is on the future, even if it is nothing more then general worry about "what will become of me and my life." Bring this attention also to the present. You might have some attention on your personal hungers. cravings, fears, discomforts, and even upon exactly "How I feel about my present situation." Your hungers and also your insecurities about yourself – your vanities – even this little bit of attention cannot be spared from the task at hand.
Now, gather together all the attention which you have collected. Remember to keep your facial mask relaxed and your vision diffused. Select three objects within your visual field. Deliberately place your collected attention on the first object. At the moment you place your attention, let a little breath out – as if you were placing a stone on the object , not letting go of the stone before the stone is in place. Then, lift your attention from the first object and place your attention on the second object in the same way. Next, withdraw your attention from the second object and deliberately place your attention on the third object. Repeat the process of placing, withdrawing, and replacing your attention several times using the three objects.
(For further penetration into this subject refer to chapter 17, "Warming of the Soul," The Human Biological Machine as a Transformational Apparatus. Refer also to the Talk of the Month; Issue #54: "Shamanism 101")