2004-11-05-A Lesson on Attention

Session

Lesson

Let us begin by paying attention to whatever this word conveys to you -- what the true meaning of the word is. There are many different meanings a single word can convey. One can be courteous and pay attention to a speaker, or one can be in-attentive, and forget from one word to the next what is being said. In this way words of importance may be lost forever, or linger as ‘energy in the air,’ and a feeling arises that something worthwhile might have been said, but cannot be recalled due to this inattentiveness. Normal everyday attention is often lost due to the stresses of life, and absent-mindedness sets in, because one has too many things to do and draws a momentary blank in the mind. These moments are a sign that one needs to pay attention and practice self-discipline in this area of being in present-centered awareness, so one remains attentive to what is happening and can attend to matters at hand.

Delving deeper into attentiveness is a craft to be learned. Human beings are only attentive when something catches their interest, which happens when they read a book that keeps them spell-bound. During most other activities they might be engaged in, the attention level waxes and wanes, and afterwards it is hard to get back on track as something of importance, as in lectures, was missed.

Now here is where the ‘meat of the word’ resides: How many pay attention to their ‘heart-speak?’ The heart represents the true conscience of the brain, for 'deep down,' your heart will tell you the truth content about what is being said, and what it is you are paying attention to, unless this gift of the heart has been ignored for so long that it has become encrusted with superficiality, and lip-service without too deep a thought about the truth content. When practicing present-centered awareness, one learns to better discern truth-content as truth always resonates deep down in the human heart, provided one has become an independent thinker. Now I lead you even deeper, because this is the meat and drink of life: That you pay attention to any un-easiness you experience anywhere in your body, because your heart has something to tell you.

This un-ease is designed to bring your attention to an unresolved problem, which may have been 'swept under the carpet,’ as you did not want to deal with any unpleasantness at the time. These matters of un-easiness desire some attention, which you can pay when you take the time, and you can ‘look at them’ in the Stillness, with peace and love in your heart to start the process of forgiveness, either towards yourself or others. Only when you live with love in your heart towards self and all others, are you freed from un-ease, and can you pay proper attention the your spiritual growth, which was stunted by un-lovingness, and your holding onto grudges. Sweep the floor of your heart clean each evening, so you will have a restful and refreshing sleep, and if you need help, well, you know by now, Who to go to, as I am waiting and always paying attention to you. So, what are you waiting for?