Third Day Note

A note of encouragement given to a Trainee on the 3d day of training from Dr. Hardt.

Dear Miguel,

The 3rd day is often "the Pits".
If today was not your worst day yet, then you are ahead of the game.

Having done all the easy things to enhance alpha on the first few days [sitting still, breathing slowly, relaxing, floating, going into the space of no thoughts, paying attention to the tones, etc.], there is now the opportunity and the necessity to implement some changes at deeper levels.

The ego usually responds to such an opportunity, with opposition and struggle using some of the well-known ego defense mechanisms. This struggle suppresses alpha and emphasizes Self,- . rather than Oneness. The ego will also usually look outside [rather than inside] for the causes of the lower alpha. Thus externals often get the blame: for example the chair might be seen as too hard, or too soft, or too high or too low, or the temperature may be wrong, too hot or too cold. Or there may be some fault found with some person or people or some things, all outside the self. You can be alerted to these tricks of the ego by noting the appearance in your mind of one [or more] of the 5 Hindrances: Doubt, Drowsiness, Distractibility (& Worry), Boredom, and Aversion [any form of Ill Will]. The ego struggles to maintain its control of you and seeks to undermine or suppress your efforts to awaken into a higher consciousness.

In the quest for higher consciousness, this struggle is classic, and usually breaks out just when the deep self is poised to emerge. So the ego tries to prevent this emergence by disrupting the processes of growth and transformation.

You will benefit by being watchful for, and by avoiding the 5 (or 6) Hindrances:

1. DOUBT
2. DROWSINESS
3. DISTRACTIBILITY [and WORRY i.e. all forms of FEAR]
4. BOREDOM
5. AVERSION [Any Form of ILL WILL]
6. FORGETFULNESS

I usually give people a 3rd day note to let them know that they are not alone in their struggle, and that others have been where they are now. And this note also brings the encouragement that you can win through this struggle to a higher and clearer awareness by persevering and opening your heart. By replacing self-importance with self-understanding you will gain self-realization,- a new awareness in which joy floods in like sunbursts

Trust in your heart, listen intently to the tones, excel in forgiveness and non-attachment, get plenty of sleep, and all shall be well. Your alpha shall wax abundant.

Warmest regards,
Jim