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

presuppose that you have not heard or understood, and you argueagainst your own imagination.MR. M. You mean that is why we argue?MR. O. I did not say 'why' but 'what'.MR. M. But you said earlier 'why'.MR. O. No, I said 'what'!MR. M. But yes, really you did earlier on. ...MR. O. [interrupting and looking at W.] This is your example—a goodexample. [Laughter.]MR. H. I find it takes longer than one thinks for the centre of gravityto be heard. Arguing goes so quickly that it is difficult to get thecentre of gravity.MR. O. Quite right, but do you wish to ask something?MR. H. It is necessary to wait. . . .MR. O. It means to be serious, not to speak before one understandswhat has been said to you.MRS. E. I argue if I think that a little right enters in. Could this be Mrs.E. who argues because she thinks she is right?MR. O. I think that this is a little outside the question.MRS. P. If we really could make inner stop, would we find that wecould understand a great deal more?MR. O. Why introduce new words? In every condition it is necessary touse as few words as possible. I did not use the words 'inner stop'; theword 'stop' was used only in connection with exercises.MR. W. I wish it were possible to give examples of the kind of arguingyou mean. I do not think I have grasped it yet.MR. O. You heard M.?MR. W. Yes, he said something while you spoke, but I did not seewhere the arguing came in.MR. O. You never can see when there is so much talk.MRS. J. I argue against the words and not against the meaning of thewords.MR. O. This is unimportant.MRS. H. I can give Mr. W. a good example.MR. O. Enough about that for the moment. There may be other ques­tions.MISS G. May I ask one more question about arguing?MR. O. I have just said it was enough—you did not hear?