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

one definition. First each must be separate. The two put togethermakes it impossible to discuss this question.MISS L. Is the feeling of disgust with myself and unhappiness in mypresent state negative?MR. O. Probably.MISS S. When you like or dislike a complete stranger, has that anythingto do with type?MR. O. No, only imagination. In most cases based on associations.MISS S. But can we ever see type?MR. O. We can sometimes, but that is quite a different question. Forinstance, you can have experience of certain types and when you meetthem a second time or a third time, you may recognize them. That isthe only way we can come to an understanding of types. Suppose youknew somebody and saw how they act in certain circumstances. Lateryou meet somebody you think is like them and then you find him inthe same circumstances and you see he acts in the same way. Thatmeans you will have guessed right.MRS. S. I don't understand the working of centres. Suppose I notice adraught and shut the window, is it instinctive centre which notices thedraught, moving centre which shuts the window and intellectual centrewhich makes the connection between them?MR. O. Instinctive centre told you it was cold. Intellectual centre toldyou, necessary to shut window. Moving centre went and shut window.MR. B. My life seems to have become a series of more or less frequentjerks, of becoming suddenly aware how asleep or mechanical I havejust been. Is this a helpful form of friction? If so, can it be usefullyintensified?MR. O. If it helps you to remember yourself. Then it is helpful. If youidentify, it is wrong.MRS. S. In a moment of realization of my mechanicalness, it seemed asthough all my usual outlook was imagination. Now it seems to me as ifmy feelings at that moment were imagination. I want to know what isthought and what is imagination. Is it imagination to try to rememberthe thoughts and understanding of a previous moment?MR. O. Begin with simpler things. Then there can be no mistake.MR. T . Is it a feature of the different types of energy that a differentcentre predominates in each?MR. O. No, you cannot bring in centres. It is more complicated.