Further Thoughts on the Three Stage Process
Alan Watts once described the mind as “the focus of conscious attention”. I may not have used the word “mind” here but this infers, at least to me, that there is only one source of attention and we are all openings allowing it access to this particular frequency range. I do recall him using an analogy similar to this “openings” metaphor.
As I mentioned in Choice and Appreciation, “focused attention generates an energetic flow in the direction of my intent”. For me it seems that the more attention is paid to something, the more “energetic mass” coalesces around that focal point. This mass, just like a celestial body, develops a gravitation that is amplified based on its volume. As I saw in the interview with Jeff, the same holds true for collective attention. Thus attention brings energy to bear on a particular point and the more human beings that have their attention on something in common, the more energy it has and the more gravitational force it generates. This gravitation is what helps hold our repetitions, our habits, in place. In Jeff’s book he says “Maybe selves are not things; maybe they are habits that are embraced as our self.” What I am suggesting is that habit formation all starts with attention, that habits are the mechanism used to hold attention in place here and the more attention we apply, the more facility we have – thus consciousness has – to create in and to appreciate this place, personally and collectively.
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