question about noticing

[gil-galad]

Hi
I have 2 questions about noticing

1, I have read at several places that Frank describes "noticing" as an "exercise for beginners" or a "preliminary exercise before using a rundown". This confused me a bit because I thought that "noticing" (passively observe the blackness in front of my closed eyes and notice whatewer takes palce within) is an effective phasing tecnique and one can phase to F3 by using noticing only. Can someone tell me if I am right? Can I get to F3 by using noticing only?

2, When I do the noticing exercise, I observe the blacness in front of my closed eyes and notice whatever I see (light patterns, swirling shapes,...). When I see some more distinctive thing I sometimes think "What an interesting shape" or "what a nice colour" and things like that. This helps me keep my attention on noticing. Otherwise ( as Frank suggests) I do not get too curious and observe these things passively.

All in all, when I do the noticing exercise I do not keep my mind totally empty and allow myself to occasionaly comment on things. Is it all right to do the exercise this way? Or should I do it more like a mediattion when I try to keep my mind empty and passively observe the object of meditation (flow of breath, blacness in front of closed eyes) and do not comment on them? Thanks for answering

[Xanth]

Hi
I have 2 questions about noticing

Hi there. 

1, I have read at several places that Frank describes "noticing" as an "exercise for beginners" or a "preliminary exercise before using a rundown". This confused me a bit because I thought that "noticing" (passively observe the blackness in front of my closed eyes and notice whatewer takes palce within) is an effective phasing tecnique and one can phase to F3 by using noticing only. Can someone tell me if I am right? Can I get to F3 by using noticing only?

Yup!
You can use noticing as your sole method for phasing. 

2, When I do the noticing exercise, I observe the blacness in front of my closed eyes and notice whatever I see (light patterns, swirling shapes,...). When I see some more distinctive thing I sometimes think "What an interesting shape" or "what a nice colour" and things like that. This helps me keep my attention on noticing. Otherwise ( as Frank suggests) I do not get too curious and observe these things passively.

The point of noticing is to get your awareness more and more fixed within the blackness.  The deeper within it you get, the deeper within you you go and the further from your physical senses you become.

All in all, when I do the noticing exercise I do not keep my mind totally empty and allow myself to occasionaly comment on things. Is it all right to do the exercise this way? Or should I do it more like a mediattion when I try to keep my mind empty and passively observe the object of meditation (flow of breath, blacness in front of closed eyes) and do not comment on them? Thanks for answering

Don't keep your mind totally empty, because that's VERY hard to do .... just remove all surface thoughts.
When you read quietly to yourself, those words you hear are "surface thoughts".  That's what you want to quiet down.
As for the rest, a passive awareness is just that... you sit there and don't react to anything you see, just accept it with a air of mild curiousity that allows you to go deeper and deeper.

I hope that didn't confuse you further.  LoL

~Ryan

[personalreality]

I've been playing with this lately and I can get myself to start becoming totally immersed in the "blackness" but there's like an automatic reaction to pull back.  been having trouble getting over it.

[Xanth]

I've been playing with this lately and I can get myself to start becoming totally immersed in the "blackness" but there's like an automatic reaction to pull back.  been having trouble getting over it.

It's your physical eyes.
They're seeing a change and trying to steal a glance at it.
This causes you to snap out of it.

Gotta relax the eyes more and stick to a passive awareness.

~Ryan

[gil-galad]

Thanks for the quick reply

[personalreality]

how do you suggest relaxing the eyes?

[Xanth]

how do you suggest relaxing the eyes?

Try what is suggested here: http://www.astralpulse.com/forums/welcome_to_out_of_body_experiences/my_eyes_want_to_come_open_help-t2310.0.html;msg15026#msg15026

For the most part, become aware of just how much tension we all carry in the muscles of our faces.
This includes the muscles of the eyes.

Give you eyes a good look around in a circle too.
Then close your eyes tight, tense them... and then allow them to relax.

~Ryan

[personalreality]

ok

[SereneMelody]

Gotta relax the eyes more and stick to a passive awareness.

I've actually been having a problem with that as well. When attempting phasing/projecting, my eyes sometimes slightly open, and it ruins the experience, so I have to start over. It can be bothersome.

[The Present Moment]

The eyelids require a muscle contraction to stay closed. Use a sleep mask if it bothers you too much. I'm always impressed at how many people notice this tension when trying to project. 

[personalreality]

a MindFold is good for that problem because it allows you to be in complete darkness with your eyes open.

www.mindfold.com

[Xanth]

a MindFold is good for that problem because it allows you to be in complete darkness with your eyes open.

www.mindfold.com

I was going to design my own at one point... but, damned if I have the time for that!  LOL
I think I'll just buy that one. 
It's not too expensive.

~Ryan

[personalreality]

It's only $20 and they send you a pair of nice earplugs too.

[Palooza]

I wrap a scarf around my head. That keeps my eyes closed and also covers my ears. It actually works awesome for me. Haha