Liber III and Going Unconscious
-
Hello all, long time no talk...
I've been working at Liber III for several months now. And I'm finding it remarkably difficult.
Here's why:
Noticing when I say the target word and applying the razor is easy and good practice, when I'm on point.
However, the problem isn't remembering the target word, the problem is falling unconscious of the fact that I'm even doing the practice at all. This tends to happen later in the week, when I'm worn down by the "grind" of professional and personal commitments and less alert and rested. I lose the reins and slide back into the stream of unconscious living only to realize a day has gone by without monitoring my words at all, because I've been caught up in everything life is throwing at me and gone back into unconscious non-vigilance.
This is, I imagine, a major point of this exercise. But since I'm struggling to even get past the first step for this reason and complete a fully vigilant week, I'm curious if anyone has any tips in regards to the exercise?
93
Cygnus -
I'm curious what method you are using. Razors? Rubber bands? Something else?
My most amazing results with Liber III came due to the fact that at the time I had a very small circle of life - work, school, social - wherein only a few people at work weren't in the other two groups. That is, I probably only interacted on average with about only 12 people total during about a sixth month period, and I chose to tell all of them what I was doing. So yes, the lack of vigilance became obvious when they'd simultaneously yell at me "you just said it!" I was all like, "What? No I didn't." And they would say, "Yes, you said....such and such and such...." and I was all, "oh, yeah, I did say it."
I used the rubber band method. Zero tolerance on campus and all that.
So, if you have something you'd call a support group, I'd let them in on it.
-
I was using a pen. Once I got good I switched to a razor. I interact with a huge number of people every day, usually in stressful situations (corporate work). The razor isn't the issue—when I'm on point I don't make enough cuts for anybody to notice. The issue is when I go under and lose the thread of the practice.
-
As I think you have rightly concluded, you're right at the nub of the practice. Mindfulness - staying conscious and attentive - IS the practice.
I suggest breaking the practice down into small segments that can be individually mastered somewhat more easily, and then building back up.
First, practice without any 'punishment' behavior. Just practice not saying the word. There is a certain level you can reach without the fear incentives. Practice that first.
Second, since you are having difficulty keeping conscious of this for a long time, practice a shorter time. For example, if you are most alert in the morning, commit to the practice from 9 AM to noon for a week. Success will give you more power to grow the practice.
Third, if you're having difficulty even remembering that you're doing the practice, give yourself a reminder. For example, during the hours of the practice, tie a bright red string around your wrist. Every time you glance at it, you'll remember that you're doing the practice. In fact, you can also use putting on the string and taking it off as a signal to start and stop the practice, "putting on" and "taking off" your extra vigilance.
-
@Jim Eshelman said
"
Third, if you're having difficulty even remembering that you're doing the practice, give yourself a reminder. For example, during the hours of the practice, tie a bright red string around your wrist. Every time you glance at it, you'll remember that you're doing the practice. In fact, you can also use putting on the string and taking it off as a signal to start and stop the practice, "putting on" and "taking off" your extra vigilance."That's awesome. Great advice. Of course, now that I think of it, the rubber band on my wrist was my signal (and why I had the opportunity to tell people about it because they asked). (Of course, this was before the days when buying rubber bands to support causes was a thing.)
-
Gauging success in Liber III.
What constitutes "Complete Success" in Liber III (as in "He shall attain complete success in Liber III, Cap. I")—for each of the stages of Cap. I? Are there specific periods of time in which the practitioner achieves no slips (for each stage of Cap. I) to be successful?