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

an accidental idea—say 'does it fit or not?' It is long, long work, quitenew way of thinking.MR. D. The classification of an event, after it has happened, appears tome, with my imperfect understanding, to be more of academic interestthan of practical value. Will Mr. O. please explain this point further?MR. O. Everything repeats. If you classify after it happens, you mayknow it next time before it happens.MISS S. How can I stop myself being identified with the troubles of aperson I am very fond of?M R. O. There are many different ways. For instance, you can thinkhow if you are not identified you will better understand the nature ofthe trouble and can perhaps help in some way. This is one way.MISS S. Is it possible to use the energy of sex centre for the work?MR. O. Yes, but not in a direct way. By struggle with negative emotions,indirectly, you use exactly this energy. Negative emotions arebased on sex energy wrongly used.MISS S. Is designing things, clothes or houses, for instance, the sameform of activity as the inventing of the electric bell?MR. O. Probably.MRS. S. Is not the power of the athletic genius akin to that of the greatpainter, in that it is something one is born with rather than acquires?And is that why artists seldom have any athletic ability, while athletesseldom have artistic capacity?MR. O. Quite different results. Simply they are two quite differentthings. No connection.MRS. S. We have been told that things happen to us. We don't makethem happen. But do not people induce certain circumstances? There isthe original and adventurous man who always leads a dangerous life,and the stay-at-home who sinks by his own desire into a deep groove.MR. O. But in both cases the things happen. It does not mean that onecontrols or another controls. This is very easy to verify. If you try todo something against the way things happen, then you will seewhether you can do it or not.MRS. D. Is destructive energy used accidentally? For instance, if I burndown a house by accident?MR. O. How many houses have you burnt until now? If you bummany, then it can begin to happen by itself. I think the first time theremust be some intention.