|
Establish Clear
Picture of the Mind
The third
step in dealing with mental problems and difficulties through active individual mental
engagement, individual mental work and effort, understanding and managing the mind and
mental existence from the inside, involves establishing a clear picture and understanding
of the mind, mental existence and mental development. Establish a clear picture and
understanding of the nature, conditions, workings, needs, demands and challenges of the
mind and mental existence. The purpose is to establish the conceptual foundation and
framework of understanding within which to consider and understand the mind and mental
existence, what takes place and what we do, our role and responsibility, and how to deal
with and manage them. It is to establish the conceptual foundation and framework within
which to consider and make sense of what enters the mind and awareness -- experience,
perceptions, sensations and feelings, thoughts and ideas, the conditions that lie behind
them, and how to deal with them.
Exercises and Practices
Following Step 1 and Step 2, considering and dealing with daily and past mental problems,
this Step involves establishing a clear, comprehensive and detailed picture and
understanding of the fundamentals and essential of the mind, mental existence and mental
development, their nature, workings, conditions, needs, demands and challenges.
Understanding them from the inside and from the ground up, in a comprehensive way, in
their essence, in depth and detail, in a differentiated, but integrated, connected and
related way. Establish a picture and understanding of the different elements, aspects,
details and specifics of the mind and mental existence, how they are related, connected,
interact and affect one another. Distinguish and differentiate between and understand what
lies beyond our control, on the one hand, and the role and responsibility in the mind and
mental existence that by nature are individually ours to understand and manage on the
other. Establish a picture and understanding about experience, perceptions, sensations,
feelings and memory, thoughts and ideas, their nature, what they tell us about the
conditions of existence, the conditions that lie behind them, and how to deal with them.
Establish a picture and understanding about mental images and pictures and larger
conceptual structures, states of mind and conditions of mental existence, mental problems
and difficulties, and how to deal with them. Distinguish and differentiate between and
understand experience, awareness, knowledge and understanding, the nature and purpose of
understanding, and the process and steps of establishing clarity of mind and
understanding. Establish a picture and understanding about our mental faculties, our
natural mental potential, our natural mental powers and abilities, mental skills and
practices, mental work and effort, how to develop and use them. Moreover, establish a
clear picture and understanding of how to understand and manage the mind, mental existence
and mental development, and the consequences of failing to understand and manage them.
As a starting point and to assist in this Step an introductory lecture presentation,
Inside the Mind: Understanding and Managing the Mind and Mental Existence from the Inside,
is available on the website. The lecture presentation is available both in PowerPoint and
in PDF format. (In Power Point, click the right mouse button, select Full Screen, and
browse through the presentation using the left mouse button, the keyboard up/down arrow
keys, or the PageUp/PageDown keys. In Adobe Reader, browse through the presentation using
the keyboard up/down arrow keys, or the PageUp/PageDown keys.) The presentation discusses
in a systematic way the mind, mental existence and mental development, the elements,
details and specifics, what takes place, what we do and what we need to do, what we must
develop, establish and maintain in the mind and mental existence.
To start, read through the lecture presentation in one sitting, to set your mind and get a
general sense of the material. Then, work through the lecture presentation
section-by-section. Consider each section at some length, in depth and detail, visualize
and establish a clear picture in your mind about what is discussed.
Next, identify and recognize in your own experience, the experience of your own mind and
mental existence what is discussed, the issues, elements, details and specifics. What is
set out and discussed in the lecture presentation will only make sense if you can identify
and see them reflected in your own experience.
You need to keep in mind, not everything in your experience is self-evident or obvious. To
identify, recognize and see the elements, details and specifics discussed in the lecture
presentation reflected in your own experience you need to go over your experience of your
mind and mental existence more than once. You need to dig out and bring into your
awareness the hidden, the less than self-evident and obvious in your experience.
Consider and go over the material, the issues, elements, details and specifics
section-by-section, read them out loud. Copy and write out by hand the section you are
considering. Reading out loud and writing down what you read focuses and concentrates the
mind and attention. It focuses and concentrates them on the issues, what you study and
consider. It slows down the mind to get beyond the text and language, and consider the
reality that is described in the text.
Reasons
The purpose of establishing a clear and comprehensive picture and understanding of the
mind and mental existence is to develop the conceptual foundation and framework of
understanding within which to understand and manage the mind and mental existence, what
takes place and what we do in the mind. It is to provide the conceptual foundation and
framework of understanding, the clarity of mind and understanding about the fundamentals
and essentials of the natural conditions of the mind and mental existence within which to
manage the mind and mental existence and deal with mental problems and difficulties. To
distinguish and differentiate between and understand the role of nature that lies beyond
our control, and the role and responsibility in the mind and mental existence that by
nature are individually ours to understand and manage.
The objective is to provide the conceptual foundation and framework of understanding
behind the work of Step 1 and Step 2, dealing with daily and past mental problems and
difficulties. It is to provide the conceptual foundation and mental framework within which
to consider, make sense and deal with daily mental problems, and understand past mental
problems and how we dealt with them. The aim is to place the continuing work, exercises
and practices of Step 1 and 2 within the necessary conceptual foundation and mental
framework about the mind and mental existence to be more effective, efficient and
constructive. To be effective and efficient they need to take place within the context of
clarity of mind and understanding about the fundamentals and essentials of the mind,
mental existence and mental development, their nature, workings, conditions, needs,
demands and challenges, our role and responsibility in them, how to deal with and manage
them.
The objective is to provide the necessary conceptual foundation and framework of
understanding within which to consider, make sense and deal with what enters the mind and
awareness - experience, perceptions, sensations and feelings, thoughts and ideas. The
framework of understanding within which to deal with our experience, order and arrange
them, consider and make sense of them, the conditions that lie behind them, and how to
deal with them. It is to provide the conceptual framework within which to make informed
and considered choices and decisions, define necessary and appropriate aims, goals and
objectives, and consider, plan, organize and manage our behaviour and actions.
The purpose is to provide the conceptual foundation and framework of understanding within
which to deal with, respond and adjust to change, changing conditions, demands and
challenges in necessary and appropriate ways.
The framework within which to deal with changing conditions, in our own mental and
physical existence and development and in the world around us, when only a minimum in
mental work, effort and adjustment are required and before they develop into larger
problems, difficulties and crises. Ultimately, the purpose and objective of this step is
to provide the conceptual foundation and framework of understanding within which to manage
ourselves, connect, communicate and cooperate with others, relate and interact with the
world around us, with nature and the natural environment in meaningful, constructive and
beneficial ways, without creating problems and difficulties.
Benefits
The benefits of establishing a comprehensive, clear and detailed picture and understanding
of the fundamentals of the mind and mental existence include one no longer has to operate
in a conceptual vacuum. One no longer has to make sense of what takes place in the mind
and mental existence and in the world around us without a clear framework of
understanding. One no longer is forced to make choices and decisions, define aims, goals
and objectives, consider how to behave and act, how to respond and deal with what one is
confronted with in a vacuum, without a clear frame of reference.
Moreover, with a comprehensive conceptual foundation and framework of understanding,
rooted in one's own individual experience one is less dependent on others for clarity of
mind and understanding. One is less dependent on others, on external guides and
directions, established socio-cultural beliefs, views, values and conventions, which lie
beyond our control, when it comes to making choices and decisions, define aims, goals and
objectives, and consider, plan, organize and manage individual behaviour and actions. A
comprehensive conceptual foundation and framework of understanding of the fundamentals and
essentials of the mind and mental existence provide the necessary foundation and framework
to act individually as an independent, autonomous, sovereign and responsible human being.
A clear and comprehensive conceptual foundation and framework of understanding of the mind
and mental existence reduces mental disorder and instability, doubt and confusion,
uncertainty and insecurity about the conditions, needs, demands and challenges of
existence, what we face and what we are confronted with, and how to deal with them. We are
able to consider what takes place, what enters the mind and we become aware of within a
clear conceptual foundation and framework. Making it easier to sort out, order and
arrange, consider and make sense of the experience, perceptions, sensations and feelings,
thoughts and ideas that enter the mind and awareness, the conditions that lie behind them,
and how to deal with them.
A comprehensive, clear and detailed conceptual foundation and framework of understanding
make it easier to make choices and decisions, informed and considered choices and
decisions, define necessary and appropriate goals and objectives, and consider, plan,
organize and manage required behaviour and actions. One no longer has to consider them in
a vacuum, outside of a clear context, without guides and direction. One is less likely to
act on feelings and emotions, first impressions and instant reactions, acting in reactive
and defensive ways. It will be easier to establish clarity of mind and understanding about
one's experience, perceptions, sensations and feelings, the conditions that lie behind
them, and how to deal with them.
With a clear picture and understanding of our mental faculties, our natural mental
potential, natural mental powers and abilities, their extend and limits, and how to
develop and use them one has a better understanding and picture of what by nature we are
mentally able to do and what we cannot do. It avoids trying to do what one feels one
should be able to do although one never seems to be able to accomplish. One is less likely
to set oneself up for inevitable failure. It reduces stress, anxiety, frustration and
depression resulting from unrealistic expectations and assumptions about one's mental
powers and abilities, what one thinks one should mentally be able to do and accomplish.
A comprehensive and independent conceptual foundation and framework of understanding,
established individually in the mind and mental existence, derived from and rooted in
one's own experience, make it easier to deal with, respond and adjust to change, changing
conditions, demands and challenges, in our own mental and physical existence and
development and in the world around us. Changing conditions, demands and challenges no
longer challenge, threaten or call into question one's sense of self, one's sense of order
and stability, clarity and coherence, certainty, security or confidence. They no longer
challenge, threaten or call into question the fundamentals of one's existence. One is also
able to accept, deal with, respond and adjust more easily and effectively to changing
socio-cultural conditions, beliefs, views, values and conventions. One is less dependent
on them for one's identity, one's sense of self, one's sense of order and stability,
clarity and coherence, certainty, security and confidence, one's mental needs and mental
stability are no longer tied up in them. It reduces worry, fear, stress, anxiety,
frustration and depression about change and changing conditions in the world around us and
how to deal with them.
|
|