Yoga - The quest for one-pointed mind

by Shameem Akthar All standing and balancing asanas help in strengthening confidence and a sense of balance, as well as concentration, helping the mind learn to become one-pointed It is said that the demon king Hiranya- kashyap hated Lord Vishnu so much that he kept thinking of him all the time. Conversely proportional to his hatred in terms of volume and intensity, his son Prahlada adored the Lord, much to the resentment of Hiranyakashyap. In the final analysis, Lord Vishnu decreed that both their respective hate and love would become two sides of the same coin of devotion. That focus was everything. That such dharana led to dhyana. Focus became worship. Before we get sidetracked by the novelty of the thought behind this interpretation, let us resume this columns topicconcentration. The yoga of concentration, also called dharana, is the sixth of the eight steps that lead to the final one of merger or samadhi. Dharana follows pratyahara, or the withdrawal of senses. This is not abstinence as some interpret, but an ability to shut out outside noise and our inner voices in order to keep our attention focused on the work at hand. Somewhat akin to what the Great Wall of India, Rahul Dravid, demonstrates every time the going gets rough for the Indian cricket team. His interviews reveal how he never allows past performances to affect his current moment of trial (except as tools of learning). He remains unfazed by recriminations, shutting out the gush of expectations that seems to crumble our players often, even shutting out the overwhelming fatigue, concentrating on one ball at a time. To demonstrate similar focus, we can refer to the example of Arjuna, when Dronacharya tests the skills of his wards by asking them to aim their bows on a target. Each one fails the teacher. They see everything else. Only Arjuna remains entirely focused, never taking his eyes off the targetnot seeing even his teacher. Akin to what another cricketing legend, Sachin Tendulkar, demonstrates when he enters the Zone. According to him, he sees nothing, hears nothing, not even the loping gait of the bowler; seeing only the ball whizzing towards him, he hears only its whirr. Such immense focus came to his advantage the day he played stupendously, after his fathers death, keeping aside even crushing grief. This then is pratyahara, the ability to withdraw the senses. This leads automatically to dharana which is actually worship or dhyana. Once pratyahara is learnt, the last three steps in yoga become more clearly visible. But they always remain a continuous effort. They always remain a journey, not a destination. Yet, for a relentless practitioner, the lines separating the last three steps of yogadharana, dhyana and samadhibecome blurred. That is why people who love their work use the clichd work is worship phrase so aptly. But the Gita admonishes us not just to focus on what we love, but also to complete what we do not likeby working at it dispassionately. Its here that

pratyahara helps dharana, by enabling us to unshackle our minds from the knots of emotions, keeping the focus intact and uncluttered. The Gita has proclaimed what management gurus, executive stress-busters, time management experts repeat ad nauseumto be in the here and now, focused, not worrying about whether you like a task or not, but just doing it. We unwittingly drag our feet over tasks we dislike or fear. Again, we feel stressed for having procrastinated, or when we dislike or fear a task. We feel bogged down and wait for the future when we would be relieved of such stress, fear and worry. But for most of us these negativities are continuous reality and a stress-free future remains only a mirage we hopelessly pursue. It is all very well to expound such fears from the comfortable perch of a column, but the reality of life calls for more compelling solutions. For this, one has to look towards yoga. And just as confidence workshops have games that release their participants from in-built fears, yoga too has devised various ways in which we can remove our distracting fears and mental fevers. Though the eight limbs of yoga denote a sequence, they are a continuous process with one step helping the other, some steps occasionally coming together to help you leap into freedom and joy. For this, we need to start at the beginningwith asanas. All balancing asanas teach concentration. You cannot assume a balancing pose while thinking how good you look, how your neighbour is eyeing you with envy, how your teacher is applauding. For, the minute you think any of these distracting thoughts, you will be flat on your face! To perfect a balancing pose (such as bakasana or crane pose) your mind has to converge completely into the drishti or point of attention. You can have no thought, even of elation. Each asana, in fact, is the first base of training for such concentration. It is here that the mind learns to become subdued. It is within the depth of a pose that you purge your mind from its relentless chattering, and learn to surrender to the moment. Pranayama or breathing practices go one step further to enhance this level of focus, which is why, despite being simpler to practise, they require immense discipline that remains a challenging prospect even for advanced practitioners. Then we cultivate this focus further with trataka or eye exercises, again requiring immense discipline, which, if cultivated well, are said to bestow the practitioner siddhis or powers. Even these must not distract a practitioner as he continues on his upward spiral path. Because, as Swami Sivananda rightly notes, this yoga is difficult to attain but easy to lose. Just as a sportsman, whatever his level of fitness or the record of his performance, can suddenly fail under pressure, so also, we too can falter if we lose our sense of focus. Nataraj asana As the name suggests, it is among several poses that replicate the moves of the dancing Shiva. For this version you need to have developed a sense of balance from simpler one-legged poses like Ekpada Pranamasan a (one-legged prayer pose). Stand straight. Bend right leg backwards, reach out right hand to hold right ankle. Inhale, raise left hand. Exhale, bend down, arm held out straight ahead. Keep your attention on your left

thumb, breathing normally. Repeat with other leg. As you become more confident in this pose, use your right arm to move the right ankle away from the body. This extends and intensifies the stretch of the leg. Most beginners tend to stand straight. The correct version is to bend as much forward as you can, since this helps you gain confidence and improves the sense of balance that begins to wither with age. All standing and balancing asanas help in strengthening confidence and a sense of balance, as well as concentration, helping the mind learn to become one-pointed. The suppleness of the limbs is a bonus.

The Happy Hungarian Watchmaker Part 1 Sitting Still

Copyright 2005 by Julian Kalmar. All rights reserved. (247 words)

Can you imagine living happily no matter what happens? Thirty-eight years ago a great master craftsman began teaching me how to do this. Unbelievably, it took me 36 years to truly appreciate his enormous gift. In 2002, a back injury sentenced me to living in bed 22 hours a day. I lost my business, a 6figure income, and the ability to move about freely. When a friend asked me how I could still be so happy, the value of the masters lessons snapped into focus: It had never occurred to me to be unhappy! The master, an old-world Hungarian watchmaker, began my lessons when I was four. He granted me the privilege of sitting beside him as he repaired watches and clocks. My first happiness lesson was to sit quietly, without distracting him from his delicate repairs. Amazingly, I succeeded almost without trying, for as the master worked something magical happened. A great love and peace filled the workshop, and I fell into the deafening silence that surrounded him. As I focused on his work, my stillness on the outside was soon reflected by stillness on the inside. All sense of misfortune, stress, and unhappiness melted away. The master taught me that focusing on your tasks destroys negative emotions. Negativity thrives when you focus on whats wrong. Focusing on your tasks suffocates the negatives by stilling your thoughts.

Focusing also improves the quality of your work, brings satisfaction in a job well done, and eventually profound joy. Over the years, Id seen the old Hungarian master craftsman fix just about every type of watch and clock imaginable. But I was always amazed at his uncanny ability to put the mechanisms back together. So one day I said to him, You know, for years I've watched you repair watches and clocks. Carefully you'd take them apart, clean them, and finally put them back together. How do you know where all the pieces go? Without hesitation, and with a wry smile, he said, "I don't always!" For a moment I was struck dumb, and then filled with roaring laughter. He was kidding, or so I thought. After wed finished laughing, he said, "Whenever you do something you've never done before, don't panic. You can do it. Look at it very carefully. Make notes. Draw pictures. Take it apart slowly. Take your time. Carefully watch how things go together." Not knowing how to do something can threaten self-esteem, confidence, and credibility. The masters technique converts these threats into opportunities. Admitting you dont know (but that youll find out), demonstrates intelligence and credibility. You also wont have to live up to a self-created illusion, so youll focus better on solving the problem. Using every available tool, including time, and other peoples know-how, youll work things out and learn a lot doing it. Unknowns will become a source of gratifying intellectual challenge. Your ego will shrink, and youll be proud of your new skills. Youll develop genuine confidence and self-esteem.

Watches and clocks contain many screws, gears, jewels and springs. In contrast to the complexity of these little machines, the way the old Hungarian watchmaker worked was profoundly simple. He fully focused on each part he touched as if it were the most sacred part in all the world. To him, in that moment, nothing else existed. He would pick up a part, place it carefully into position, and fasten it with care. There was no haste. Once the part was installed, there was an almost imperceptible pause while the master stopped to admire the perfection of the careful placement. Only then would he direct his attention to the next part, again devoting his entire being to it.

His single-pointed focus on one tiny part after another, created a beautiful serenity in his workshop. This was nothing less than a communion: The spirit of the master and the spirit of each part became inextricably and forever intertwined. It was a cosmic dance. Most of us race frenetically from one place to another, trying to do three things at once, and rarely giving full attention to anything. We do not properly honor our tools, possessions, time, or other people. Our rushing keeps us in a constant state of tension. Achieving the masters deep sense of peace and well being, requires doing only one thing at a time. By choosing to honor each thing, person, place, and time, we can live richly spiritual lives even during activities we once considered chores. During his watch repairs, the master craftsman was exceptionally careful. However, once in a great while, a little part would jump out from between his tweezers and fly onto the floor. The irregularities in the wooden floor made superb camouflage for the little parts, so finding them sometimes took half an hour. Slowing our searches was the very real danger of destroying a part by stepping on it. As a youngster, I wasnt allowed to move until the part was spotted. Later, when it was clear I could be careful, the master showed me a new way of searching. After visually scanning an area big enough for my body, the master had me lie down. Then, by sighting along the floor with one eye closed, the errant part became instantly visible! My new viewpoint made finding parts easy. So it is with life. Many of lifes difficulties result from poor viewpoints. We make things harder than they need to beand prolong our sufferingbecause we dont think of changing viewpoints. For example, does getting laid-off mean youre worthless? Or are you happy to advance into a better career sooner? Is stubbing your toe angering? Or could it be pleasing to learn greater awareness to help you throughout life? Is your teenager uncooperative, or is this a chance to improve your people skills and learn to choose your fights? Each difficulty is a doorway to a happier life when used as a cue to finding a better viewpoint.

Happiness lessons werent restricted to the masters workshop. Once as we drove to a store, a three-legged dog limped by trying to keep up with two other dogs. As a six-year-old I became terribly sad for the poor dog. When the master asked what was wrong, I told him. He said, Oh, dont worry about him, hes perfectly happy. Dont you see his wagging tail and happy smile?

Yes, I said, but hes lost a leg. I feel so sorry for him. Julian, that dog was probably hit by a car and was in terrible pain. A vet amputated his leg to save his life, said the master. I got a lump in my throat and started tearing up. Julian, if that dog felt sorry for himself, hed be hiding somewhere with his tail down. Look at him. Hes playing with his friends, tail in the air, sniffing things, and exploring. Hes too involved to care about his missing leg. People mope around for months if they lose a leg. They keep thinking about all the things they cant do. They suffer more pain by keeping it going in their minds. So that dog is smarter than most people. Hes doing what hes always done, and he probably doesnt even think about his leg. Pain cant be avoided sometimes, but suffering is a choice. We suffer when we dwell on past pain. So always try to be like that dog: Focus on what you want to do, and do it. One day I asked the master why his workshop always felt so peaceful. This is what he taught me. Julian, just like these watches and clocks, with all their gears, jewels, springs and screws that cant be seen from the outside, people have hidden mechanisms. What kind of mechanisms, I questioned eagerly. There are many. One of them is responsible for the peace in this workshop. Do you know why Ive asked you to be quiet while I work? So you can concentrate, I said a bit unsure. Yes, but theres much more to it. By focusing your mind and hands on the same task, peacefulness and joy are naturally produced. I create a tangible sense of peace and joy in this workshop using this natural hidden mechanism. Everyone can do this. Working with your hands also builds confidence in your personal abilities. You feel powerful knowing you know how to transform your world. For example, when Im faced with a broken watch, I dont know what Ill find on the inside. Thats a lot like life. Youll face a problem and not know how to fix it at first, so youll feel a bit nervous. Every time you solve a problem youll build confidence. Eventually you feel you can solve any problem and create anything you want in your life. Thats when life becomes easy. You simply decide what you want and focus your mind and hands to create it. Your future is quite literally in your hands.

One day I found the master craftsman looking at a machine, shaking his head. When I asked what was wrong, he said, A drop of oil is better than a bad mechanic. The machine ran, squeaking for 2 days, stopped abruptly and caught fire. A few cents of bearing grease would have saved several hundred dollars of repairs if the customer had paid attention. So it is with life. The world gives us clues constantly. Ignore the clues and we suffer enormously. The master went on to tell me about three types of clues that day: Sensory, emotional, and gutlevel. Sensory clues come from our 5 senses. Common examples include: something is different, out of place, or doesnt work the way it used to; the look on someones face; odd smells; unusual noises; body aches, and so on. Emotional clues include: anger, frustration, stress, guilt, rejection, fear, worry, or any other negative feeling. Gut-level clues are the ones you feel in the pit of your stomach. You feel it when youre doing something the wrong way, hurt someones feelings, make a wrong decision, or have unresolved concerns. Be they subtle, or slam-you-against-the-wall obvious, these life-clues tell us were doing something wrong. By stopping immediately, assessing, prioritizing, and taking action, you can follow the drop of oil approachcatching problems early, when theyre small. Ignoring these life-clues causes us to hire expensive, bad mechanics to bail us out. We cause ourselves needless pain and suffering. One day I found the master craftsman looking at a machine, shaking his head. When I asked what was wrong, he said, A drop of oil is better than a bad mechanic. The machine ran, squeaking for 2 days, stopped abruptly and caught fire. A few cents of bearing grease would have saved several hundred dollars of repairs if the customer had paid attention. So it is with life. The world gives us clues constantly. Ignore the clues and we suffer enormously. The master went on to tell me about three types of clues that day: Sensory, emotional, and gutlevel. Sensory clues come from our 5 senses. Common examples include: something is different, out of place, or doesnt work the way it used to; the look on someones face; odd smells; unusual noises; body aches, and so on. Emotional clues include: anger, frustration, stress, guilt, rejection, fear, worry, or any other negative feeling.

Gut-level clues are the ones you feel in the pit of your stomach. You feel it when youre doing something the wrong way, hurt someones feelings, make a wrong decision, or have unresolved concerns. Be they subtle, or slam-you-against-the-wall obvious, these life-clues tell us were doing something wrong. By stopping immediately, assessing, prioritizing, and taking action, you can follow the drop of oil approachcatching problems early, when theyre small. Ignoring these life-clues causes us to hire expensive, bad mechanics to bail us out. We cause ourselves needless pain and suffering. One day I found the master craftsman reading the newspaper and looking rather dismayed. Another colleague at the university died just after retiring. The master saw this over and over. Theyd retire and two years later theyd be dead. Julian, no matter what you do in life, when you retire, make sure you fill your life with meaningful activities. Six of my long-time work friends died because they didnt know what to do with themselves and literally died of boredom. I thought I understood, but the master continued. Whats less obvious is that most people are dying every day on the inside, because theyre not doing what they love. Oh, I must do this or that, they say, or I dont have time [or money]. In truth theyre so afraid of change, or they never put clear thought into designing their lives. They dont choose what they want, so life chooses for them. Some of them will face a major life changedeath, divorce, or illnessand suddenly Grandma goes skydiving, an executive quits the high pressure lifestyle to become a cabinet-maker, or quiet Aunt Suzie takes up white-water rafting. These are the lucky ones who woke up in time. The unlucky ones wake up on their deathbeds distraught over not having taken in more sunsets, spent more time with their loved ones, or found an hour a week to do what they loved. What do you really love doing, Julian? Spending time with you Grandpa, I said. One morning the master and I went to pick up a broken clock. The customers house was in a peaceful neighborhood. I jumped out of the car and I headed straight for the front door. Realizing the master wasnt behind me, I looked back. He was still standing beside the car with his eyes closed, so I walked back. When he opened his eyes I asked what he was doing. He said, Julian, have you ever been somewhere when someone arrived and created a disturbance?

Yes, I said. Did you notice peoples reactions? Some people said things under their breath, I replied. That disturbing person would have been better liked if they first took in the spirit of the place. What do you mean, I asked. Remember when we first arrived at the river last week and you marvelled at how quiet and peaceful it was? Yes, it caught me by surprise and I stopped to listen for a minute. It was wonderful. When you listen, youre taking in the spirit of the place. Sometimes the quietness or beauty of a place will make you stop automatically, but you can do it wherever you go. Whenever you arrive, just watch and listen. See how the place is. If the place is busy, stay out of the way. If the place is quiet, be quiet. If people are wary, take heed. By taking in the spirit youll know how to act, and with practice youll learn how to improve that place.

Once Swami Vivekananda was sitting on the beach reading. He finished the book soon. Then he started walking on the beach. He saw people had gathered at one place and watching something. A group of men were having a shooting contest. They had thrown big eggshells on the water and each contestant would aim his rifle at the shells and shoot. Every time waves on the water would move the shells and the contestant would miss his aim and the observers would laugh. The group leader would laugh and tell the contestant to improve. Soon it was the group leaders turn. He steadied the rifle on his shoulder. Everyone looked at him expecting a great shot. Everything was very quiet. The group leader aimed, shot and missed because the eggshell had moved with the wave. People laughed and Swami Vivekananda also laughed lightly. The group leader was angry. He said to Swami, It is easy to laugh at others. Why dont you shoot and show us? He held up his rifle to the Swami. Swami Vivekananda took the rifle from the group leader and steadied it on the shoulder and aimed. One shot and the eggshell was broken into tiny little pieces. Everyone clapped and nodded to him. The leader said, This could not be true. The eggshell broke by fluke. If you repeat this feat again then I will acknowledge you. Swami rested the rifle on his shoulder again. This time he broke one shell and while people were clapping he continued to shoot five more times and broke five more eggshells. Everyone was just stupefied. The leader said, You are very impressive. You must have spent a lot time at this. Swami said, Actually, this is the first time I took the rifle in my hands. It is not spending a lot of time on the shooting practice, but it is the one pointed focus I am good at. My teacher taught me meditation and many years of meditation made me good

focusing at anything. I focus at everything I do and I do it well. It helps me keep my balance. Swami Vivekananda used to read very fast and would remember everything he read. People would ask him, Swami, how do you manage to read so much, so fast and remember everything? Swami would reply, My Guru taught me to meditate one pointedly. Through meditation for many, many years, I have acquired the art of one pointed focus or sharp focus. With sharp focus I can do anything fast and do it well. Secret of Concentration

Concentration is the essence of all Knowledge; nothing can be done without it. Ninety percent of thought force is wasted by the ordinary human being and therefore he is constantly commiting blunders; the trained man or mind never makes a mistake. 1. Take up one idea, make that one idea your life; think of it, dream of it, live on that idea. Let the brain, muscles, nerves, every part of your body, be full of that idea and just leave every other idea alone. This is the way to success and this is the way great spiritual giants are produced. Others are mere talking machines. 2. This is the difference between man and the animals - man has the greater power of Concentration. The difference in their power of Concentration also constitutes the difference between man and man. Compare the lowest with the highest man. The difference is in the degree of Concentration. 3. Simply by the observance of strict Bramacharya all learning can be mastered in a very short time - one has an unfailing memory of what on hears or knows but once. It is owing to this want of continence that everything is on the brink of ruin in our country. 4.The very essence of education is concentration of mind, not the collecting of facts. We should develop the power of concentration and detachment, and

then

with

perfect

instrument

we

can

collect

facts

at

will.

5.The knowledge in the world is gained by Concentration of the powers of the mind. The strength and force of the blow come through concentration. There is no limit to the power of the human mind. The more concentrated he is, the more power is brought to bear on one point; that is the secret.

Success in life mostly depends on the power of Concentration. Clear thinking and intellectual understantding are very easy for a concentrated mind. Arjun could shoot at the target with his tremendous Power of Concentration.
A Karma Yogi has one pointed mind (Bhagavad Gita 2.41)
Posted by Srini on 22 December 2010, 7:13 am Those who are resolute in this path (of Karma Yoga) have one pointed mind. Many-branched and endless are the thoughts of the irresolute. Bhagavad Gita 2.41 You feed your energies to whatever you pay attention to. A karma yogi knows this and s/he does not dissipate his/her energies. A karma yogi takes up a worthy purpose, puts all his/her attention into the purpose and gets it done. Even physical science has plenty of examples to illustrate the power of focus and attention. When a paper is exposed to sunlight, nothing happens. But when the suns rays are focused using a lens into a single point of the paper, so much energy goes into the point that it burns. A piece of iron as such is nothing. But when the polarity of particles in the iron piece is aligned, it becomes a magnet. We know that the objects of pleasure and pain vary from person to person and time to time, ultimately pleasure and pain have no reality, these are just notions of mind created by habitual responses of the mind and associations. But when we pay too much attention to the thoughts that try to convince us that the pleasure and pain are real, the reality of pleasure and pain grows in our life. When pursuit of pleasure and denial of pain becomes the dominant reality of ones life, its one miserable life. A karma yogi knows this and so is focused only on the purpose at hand, he/she is not infatuated by the notions of pleasure and pain.

Swami Vivekananda says, Take up one idea. Make that one idea our life think of it, dream of it, live on that idea. Let the brain, muscles, nerves, every part of your body, be full of that idea, and just leave every other idea alone. This is the way to success.

Concentration
Concentration is the essence of all knowledge, nothing can be done without it. Ninety per cent of thought force is wasted by the ordinary human being, and therefore he is constantly committing blunders; the trained man or mind never makes a mistake. When the mind is concentrated and turned backward on itself, all within us will be our servants, not our masters. The Greeks applied their concentration to the external world, and the result was perfection in art, literature, etc. The Hindu concentrated on the internal world, upon the unseen realms in the Self, and developed the science of Yoga. Yoga is controlling the senses, will and mind. The benefit of its study is that we learn to control instead of being controlled. Mind seems to be layer on layer. Our real goal is to cross all these intervening strata of our being and find God. The end and aim of Yoga is to realise God. To do this we must go beyond relative knowledge, go beyond the sense-world. The world is awake to the senses, the children of the Lord are asleep on that plane. The world is asleep to the Eternal, the children of the Lord are awake in that realm. These are the sons of God. There is but one way

to control the senses to see Him who is the Reality in the universe. Then and only then can we really conquer our senses. Concentration is restraining the mind into smaller and smaller limits. There are eight processes for thus restraining the mind. The first is Yama, controlling the mind by avoiding externals. All morality is included in this. Beget no evil. Injure no living creature. If you injure nothing for twelve years, then even lions and tigers will go down before you. Practise truthfulness. Twelve years of absolute truthfulness in thought, word, and deed gives a man what he wills. Be chaste in thought, word, and action. Chastity is the basis of all religions. Personal purity is imperative. Next is Niyama, not allowing the mind to wander in any direction. Then sana, posture. There are eightyfour postures: but the best is that most natural to each one; that is, which can be kept longest with the greatest ease. After this comes Prnyma, restraint of breath. Then Pratyhra, drawing in of the organs from their objects. Then Dhran, concentration. Then Dhyna, contemplation or meditation. (This is the kernel of the Yoga system.) And last, Samdhi, superconsciousness. The purer the body and mind, the quicker the desired result will be obtained. You must be perfectly pure. Do not think of evil things, such thoughts will surely drag you down. If you are perfectly pure and practice faithfully, your mind can finally be made a searchlight of infinite power. There is no limit to its scope. But

there must be constant practice and non-attachment to the world. When a man reaches the superconscious state, all feeling of body melts away. Then alone does he become free and immortal. To all external appearance, unconsciousness and superconsciousness are the same; but they differ as a lump of clay from a lump of gold. The one whose whole soul is given up to God has reached the superconscious plane.

What is The Secret of Concentration? Have you ever caught yourself concentrating deeply on learning the three key points in a Scientific American article and suddenly found your mind daydreaming about whether you locked the front door and then visualizing yourself at Bloomingdales buying a birthday gift for your significant other? Concentration is being centered, focusing your attention on one goal, from Latin, with a center. You do it all the time, right? What is the opposite of concentration? It is distraction, wandering, spread out and scattering. When we are concentrating on reading or listening, the slightest distraction will trigger a change of focus and loss of concentration. Many students swear they cannot study without Heavy Metal music in the background, or is it Bach? Both cause distractions and destroy learning and memory. Distraction is the sound of a conversation twenty-five feet away, the audible hum of an air conditioner, heater or recycling electrical appliance. What to do? Wear a set of twenty-five cent earplugs while reading; it settles the issue. Profound statement: Any music playing loud enough for you to hear will cause your focus to be inhibited and concentration to wander. Concentration is Really Brain Dominance Homo sapiens spend their sixteen waking hours either focused on specific goals or unfocused and mentally wandering in random subjective thinking.

a) concentrating or b) daydreaming Daydreaming is watching five hours of TV daily including YouTube at the office, verbal chatter with family and associates, and self-talk, also known as stream of consciousness. When you are concentrating on your goals your left brain is dominant. When you are daydreaming your focus is mentally hearing, seeing and feeling random stimuli. Daydreaming includes worry, fear, anxiety and chronic stress. It is produced and directed by your right brain exclusively. The Secret If you are reading and want to concentrate and avoid daydreaming you must evict your right brain from mental dominance. It is easy and required a two-minute eye movement exercise that maintains concentration for 90 minutes. Eye Movement Restructuring is exercising the six extraocular muscles of each eye for concentration. After the first thirty seconds of eye movements your left brain is dominant and both hemispheres are in sync for learning, memory and concentration. Here is the gist of it - move your eyes as far left (without moving your head) as possible. Now stay peripheral left for a count of one, one thousand, two, one thousand, and three, one thousand. Return your eyes to center (focus forward). If you can complete a lateral left eye movement, you can execute a lateral right repositioning. Same as before: move your eyes to your extreme right; hold it for a three count, and return to center. Move your eyes toward the Northwest (your upper left) and remain there for a three count and return to center. Do the same toward Northeast (your upper right) for a three count and return to center. Remember; do not move your head. Finally, move your eyes downward to the Southwest (lower left) for a three count and return to center. Now move your eyes downward to the Southeast (lower right) for a three count and return to center. Remember; do not move your head. So What Mental movies, stream of consciousness and self-talk are right brain effects. Depression, test anxiety and panic attacks are exclusively right brain programs.

When you consciously make your left brain dominant by Going Lizard eye movements, you are using your left brain to dominant your right brain. Only one hemisphere (brain) can be dominant at any given moment. When you do the six eye movement exercises your left brain consciousness is triggered. Doing it KOs (cancels) whatever programming your right hemisphere is producing. Endwords This may be the most important personal strategy you learn in this life for survival and self preservation. It offers you mastery over your state of mind and concentration. You own the strategy to cancel chronic stress in its tracks. If you are experiencing daymares (mental movies causing fear and anxiety), Go Lizard and after two minutes you brain shifts dominance to your left brain for reason, logic and order, and away from depression. As soon as you begin the first extraocular eye movement you inhibit fear, anger and angst, and trigger relaxation and problem solving. You go Parasympathetic Nervous system and a release of acetylcholine for deep relaxation and inhibition of adrenaline and cortisol, the stress hormone. How come? It is because each cerebral hemisphere has its own specialization, and your brain cannot have more than one program operating at a time. Cognitive dissonance (mental conflict) grinds to a halt when one hemisphere becomes dominant. Imagine this as a computer operation: it is serial processing. One program must complete its operation before another program can institute its code. When you cancel a program in midstream (switch from right to left brain programming), it is an almost instantaneous execution. When you exercise your left brain programming by eye movement restructuring, you cancel the right brain programming of stream of consciousness (self talk). Your left brain cannot create depression, only your right brain. Switcheroo is choosing a new pleasurable mental program to run. Please focus on this: Feelings follow imagery. Your mental movies create your emotions. Change your negative, death and destruction mental visualization and your instantly change your feelings. Work on this one - energy follows thought. Wherever you place your attention (concentration) energy follows. When you think failure, loss, and rejection, you spray fuel on the fire. What to do? Go Lizard, do your eye movements and

cancel your depression by eliminating your frightening mental imagery; replace it with mental movies of success, improvement and personal growth. Think about it. It is our secret strategy. See ya, copyright 2007

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/458561