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

MR. H. What part does the negative side of instinctive centre play inthe life of the body?MR. O. A very important part If we did not have it, we should eatpoisons, drink poisons, die in a very short time.MR. H. Is the following an example of emotional part of movingcentre? . . .MR. O. That cannot be answered. It is the wrong way to come to it.MR. H. . . I start to saw a log and for some time I have to pushagainst my own inertia. Then quite suddenly it becomes effortless andI have slipped into an easy, rhythmical movement.MR. O. You are not yet clear about parts of centres. You can observethem only by studying attention.MR. H. There are moments when I want to laugh. For instance,whenever I suddenly understand something further, or when for abrief moment I come to myself and see all the mass of sleep andheaviness I cling to so dearly, the difference between that and beingonly slightly more awake is so ludicrous that I at once want to roarwith laughter. Is it safe to trust this attitude?MR. O. That would be all right except for the question. The observationis all right, but you do not see the difference between questions andobservations. Questions must be short, and when you describe anobservation you must just describe the observation, nothing more.MRS. S Sometimes I observe myself considering or identifying andfind I do so because of a picture I have of myself. This picture hasmany aspects. Can I in this way come to know my false personality andby observing it, weaken it?MR O Very good, yes It is the only way, but only if you do not gettired Because in the beginning many people start very eagerly, butsoon get tired and begin to use 'I' indiscriminately without askingthemselves 'Which "I"?' 'Which part of "I"?' Our chief enemy is theword 'I', because we have no right to use it really in ordinaryconditions Much later, after long work, we can begin to call 'I' one ofthe personalities (like what has been called 'deputy steward') whichdevelops from magnetic centre. But in ordinary conditions, if peoplespeak to you and say 'I do not like', you must say 'which of your "I's"does not like?' With newer people you can do this, and in that way youremind them about this plurality in themselves, and also you mustconstantly remind yourself of this If you forget it for a time, it will be