A Record of Meetings held by P.D. Ouspensky - HolyBooks.com

You cannot begin with 'doing'. Even struggle with habits is usefulonly as material for observation. Habits are in four centres. If youconquer a habit in one centre, others do not know it. A man decides tochange his thinking. But he is accustomed to sit in a certain way. Heassumes his customary posture—and thinks in the old way. He did notthink of another centre, and yet he is in the power of three othercentres.MRS. W. You give attention to one centre only?MR. O. Yes, you cannot control all four.MRS. W. I fell into other ways easily visiting friends, but at home I gotback to my old ways again.MR. R. It is possible for people to get very depressed when they findthey have no consciousness or 'I'. A man lives in a fool's paradise,happy and healthy. Otherwise you go mad.MR. O. Madness is a physical illness, it cannot be changed by psycholo­gical methods. .. . One must know what one wants—to sleep or toawake. If it is to sleep—better not touch this man. The first thing is todecide.MR. R. When you are aware you are asleep, you awake?MR. O. For a moment only.MR. R. But then you take steps to become conscious?MR. O. Certainly, if it happens during this moment, one must realize itand adapt some mechanical practice to awake him.MR. R. If we throw away imagination, we must get some reality inreturn.MR. O. Unfortunately no one cares to compensate us. Only we ourselvescare.MR. P . Is it interconnection of habits that makes it difficult to find negativeattitudes? That is, attitudes with which negative emotions are connected?MR. O. Many negative emotions are connected with positive attitudes. Ifwe had more negative attitudes we would have less negative emotions.MISS P . How?MR. O. Attitude is intellectual. Realizing that all people are asleep, forinstance, helps to have less negative emotions.MISS P . Attitude connected with emotions is connected with triads?MR. O. Leave triads.MR. L. If one is pleased or dissatisfied with daily work, does it meanone is identified?