Tutorial - Am I Thoroughly Awake

Tutorial - Am I Thoroughly Awake and Present?

The royal skill of integrity is presence. If you are totally aware and present in every fibre of your being, everything you do will be perfect, just as it is. By doing even one thing with full presence of mind, every other thing you do will immediately be enhanced.

The principle is very simple. Do A for A's sake not in order to do B. A is for A. B is for B. Each has equal dignity. Here are some exercises.

EXERCISE 1 - GO INTO THE BODY

Often we lose presence when we become stuck in our heads, absorbed in this thought or that. When you become locked in your Thought Tower simply go into the body and observe what's happening. Check any physical sensations. Note your emotions. Note the association of your emotions to physical sensations. For example, when you become frightened, in what part of your body does the fear materialize? Don't try to cut off the fear or anger (or joy or jubilation). Don't do anything special. Just be present to it. Hold steady. If something interesting starts to happen -- for example, your emotions or physical sensations start to transform -- watch that you do not return tothe Thought Tower, saying to yourself, "How interesting, how curious!" Hold the container. Simply continue to observe what is happening.

EXERCISE 2 - PREPARE THE ACTION LOG

You can use the preparation of an Action Logtm as an exercise in the practice of presence. Attend fully to each decision. If your mind diverts to another matter, simply bring it back, enjoy the process.

EXERCISE 3 - THE PHONE RINGS

A telephone call can be a very important opportunity to practice presence. The next time the telephone rings see it as an opportunity. Stop what you are doing, breathe in and out consciously three times before answering the phone. Continue this state of mind throughout your conversation. At the end of the conversation record your observations.

EXERCISE 4 - WATCH THE WORDS

Another player is before you. Without judging what he or she says, simply allow the words to make their imprint on your mind. Your mind is a mirror. Just watch the reflections.

Do the same thing with your own words.

EXERCISE 5 - LISTEN TO THE SILENCE

You can practice presence with silence. When another player says nothing resist your need to fill up the space. Words often are unnecessary. Usually the intervals are more important. Listen to the silence.

EXERCISE 6 - MAKE A DECISION!

Like most busy people you are probably faced with making five important decisions at the same time. Which should you choose? Try this.

Pause for second to breathe and to gather your integrity. Then ask yourself, "What decision does my integrity tell me is the most important for this situation right now?" Then simply attend to making that decision and forget about the rest. After you have completed the first decision, with full presence of mind go on to the next, and so on. The key is to trust in the process.

Note those situations where you are unable to complete all five decisions, but did one or perhaps two well. See if the remainder do not sort themselves out. Everything cannot be all that important all the time!

A Final Thought

Steal every moment to be present. Steal every moment in every situation to enjoy your life.