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

normal sleep, but you cannot lose much. Unless it is very bad. Then itis pathological and must be treated.MR. R. If this is so, how can one prevent this wastage?If one can control the negative emotion of day-dreaming, does thiscurtail one's dreams at night?MR. O. What means curtail? It may increase, but then this does notmatter at all. Energy cannot be wasted to a great extent, so it is notimportant.MR. R. Would Mr. O. explain how different dreams occur and how itis that certain centres may be responsible for these dreams while one isphysically asleep?MR. O. This is not an important question. We have to speak aboutthings we can improve or change or control. Dreams are not important.MISS M . Last week Mr. O. said that being busy did not always meannot being lazy.MR. O. It is a form of laziness to be always busy.MISS M . In this case, would the activity of the person concerned be abuffer which prevents him seeing the side of himself which wants to belazy?MR. O. Quite. Yes.MISS M . Would it be right to define seriousness as being willing to seeourselves as we are without attempting to justify what we see? Orwould it be trying to see where our actions correspond or do notcorrespond to our aim?MR. O. Yes, very good, but if you put it shorter. Long definitionalways needs interpretation of some kind.MISS M . In the New Testament we are very often told to watch andpray. What is it in the system which corresponds to prayer?MR. O. Difficult to say what is meant, you know. Because New Testamentis written in one key, so to speak, and we speak in another key.This is first thing. Secondly, words in two thousand years change theirmeaning. This is a religious thing, that means there is recognized oradmitted the possibility of addressing higher powers. God. It is basedon that.MRS. S. Can we regard other people as impressions from which welive?