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inquiry based practice
December 2009 
Layers of Mind with TSK
Davidu
Reflections on Layers
Note the kinds of mental events that come up in the mind and their relationship: images and feelings, intentions, thoughts, judgments, etc. Which elements are dominant and which supportive? How do states such as tension, conflict, boredom, calm, clarity, or appreciation arise? Keep a journal in which you record your discoveries: an annotated catalogue or inventory of the contents of your mind.
My practice notes:
The activity was gathering information to complete a task by a certain time that I was not particularly thrilled about doing. My youngest brother passed away unexpectedly and I had to make final arrangements for his remains and personal property. So, I'm jotting down bits and pieces of information that I come across; phone numbers, addresses, calling and speaking to others and asking questions, requesting help in gathering additional information that I need, and using the computer to search for resources that will also aid me in this task.
Then, I widen focus from the task at hand -- the 'content' of experience -- and begin to include more 'background'; my senses feed into the expanded focus, the feel of my body, and the sounds around me, as I look up from the desk and out the window, widening my field of vision. This sensual input seems to open up experience and snap me out of my projections, away from the narrow content and intent of the task. While there is more open experience, I'm also aware of the content, but in a more spacious way.
Observing the 'emotional layer', I saw the activity as distasteful and full of sadness, and I was relieved to engage the TSK exercise to release my negative feelings about doing this task that I didn't want to do but had to, as I relaxed into the pleasing feeling of embodiment. The mood moved from a kind of dark, heaviness to a lightness of being more accepting. I realized there was much more space available for a 'fullness' of feeling, which aside for the distaste and even anger for the narrow task, and the sorrow over his loss, now included pleasure in the full recognition and feeling of my senses. I also recognized that an emotional tone had flowed and evolved from an attitude of pain and resentfulness and not wanting to do the task, to allowing the emotion the space to arise and unfold, to accepting not only the task, but the whole experience as it happened. The emothin evolved from sadness to, dare I say, a kind of happiness.
The 'background' layer, or level -- the overall sense of experience -- was a kind of 'roominess', where narrowness of focus shifts and opens to allow for more, and content or objects seemed to move in a less crowded way. The fixed nature of what I assumed as initially the case was not so static at all. And there was a realization that in the scheme of things, my little concerns weren't really that significant after all. While the task still needed doing, the controlling-self seemed to exert less influence and involvement in getting it done.
PRACTICE NOTES TABLE OF CONTENTS
Fall 2008 - Unit One: Inquiry, Space
October 6 - December 5, 2008
Davidu
1. Layers of Mind with TSK
2. Exploring Layers of Mind with TSK
3. Space of Memories of Layers and Contexts
4. Expanding with TSK
5. Expanding - Revealing the Field
6. Condensing Experience with TSK
7. Week 7, Generating Space
8. Tracing the Tendency toward Solidity
Balder
1. Layers of Mind (TSK Practice Notes)
2. Deepening Layers of Mind
3. Week Three: Exploring Space and Form
4. Week Four: Expanding Layers of Mind
5. Subject-Object Reversal (TSK Class 9)
Debyemm
1. Layers of Mind (TSK Practice Notes)
Winter 2009 - Unit Two: Thoughts, Stories, Self
January 12 - March 13, 2009
Davidu
1. TSK Course Two - Time (Thoughts, Stories, Self)
2. Week Two - Thoughts that Establish
3. I'm Telling (TSK Unit 2, Week 3)
4. Unit 2, Week 4 - Defining Stories
5. Models, Stories and Self - Week 6
6. The Founding Story of the Self (week 7)
7. Imposing Reality & the Cycle of Seeing, Week 9
Balder
1. TSK Online Course (Unit 2)
2. Watching Thoughts (TSK Class 2, Unit 2)
3. Telling Stories (TSK Unit 2, Week 3)
4. Telling Stories 2 (TSK Unit 2, Week 3)
5. Personifying Thoughts, Embodying Space (TSK Unit 2, Week 5)
Starlight
1. Adventures with Time, Space, Knowledge
2. Noticing Thoughts - TSK Exercise
3. once upon a time...tsk exercise
4. restoring multidimensionality...tsk exercise week 4
5. Memories, Models, Stories, Immediate Experience...TSK Exercise...
6. self interpretation...models...tsk exercise...
7. core self...tsk exercise...wk 7
8. self and world given...tsk exercise...wk. 8
9. Creating My Reality...TSK Exercise...wk 9...
Spring 2009 - Unit Three: Conducting Time and Knowledge
March 30 - May 29, 2009
Davidu
1. Objects of Desire - TSK Class 3, Unit 1
2. The Edge of the Future - Class 3, Unit 2
3. How Time Recreates - Class 3, Week 4
4. Time is Our Life - Unit 3, Week 6
5. My Summary of the TSK Class
Starlight
1. Objects of Desire...TSK class 3...unit 1...
2. on the edge of time...tsk exercise class 3...wk 2...
3. Time...Past...Present...Future...wk 3...
4. Opening up to Time...TSK exercise...class 3...wk 4...
5. Unending Flow of Time...class 3; wk 6...
6. Footprints in the Sands of Time...TSK exercise, wk 7...
7. Time Conducting Time...TSK Exercise...wk 8...
Access: Public
Hi, David, the first thing I want to say is simply that my heart goes out to you. I had no idea you had experienced this recent loss. I have never lost someone that close to me in my family and I'm sure it must be quite a painful time for you, brother.
I am glad this exercise has allowed the energy of the moment to shift for you, and has allowed you to move into a more open space of acceptance and awareness. Getting out of our own way is a beautiful thing!
I do plan on sharing my practice notes in a blog as well. I'll probably put something up today, and will link to you (and to Erin if she does so as well). As you've probably seen, I have already posted my first notes on the CCI website, but it's very quiet over there right now. I hope people step forward and begin to participate!
Best wishes, and a big hug,
Bruce
Thank you brother. Your kind thoughts are much appreciated. I am grateful to TSK in times like this also, for without my practice it would be much more difficult. The flow of time passes bringing with it everything new, and appreciation of how space allows helps immensely.
DDavid, I offer my deepest sympathy for the unexpected loss of your brother. It is so hard to lose someone so close, and so unexpectedly. Your notes, sharing your experience and how your practice was helpful to you, is very touching. I admire your sharing and ability to employ this practice so intimately.
I'll post my first week's notes later today (Thursday) - here and at the CCI site. We'll get some activity going :)
Sending you thoughts of comfort and compassion,
with a hug,
E.
Thank you for your thoughtful wishes, Erin. You've been a good friend. :-)
Looking forward to sharing and enjoying your practice notes.
D.
this is awesome David…i am working on a poem called layers of the mind that hopefully will tie into what you, Bruce, and Erin are doing…i would really love to be involved in this way, and want to use your photo here, and link my blog up to these posts as well when the poem is done…i have e-mailed you for permission to do so…and again, this entry was REAL…very warm and open…it really touched me that you would share your experience in this way…i am certain that it will help other's that have experienced similar things…always, star…
Thank you Star, looking forward to your poem. TSK is all about opening normal experience to new dimensions. I think your poem, like the pictures, and the practice notes, and the quotes from the teacher, and comments from readers, would all point toward new dimensions of experience.
I'm happy you're moved to participate in your own way, and thank you for your warm wishes.
Best,
D
hey David, i already posted a few poems that were inspired by this; am waiting on the Layer's of the Mind poem…for it to evolve…lol…Bruce still hasn't posted his experience yet, and so i am waiting to allow what he writes to inspire the poem further…awesome journeying…joy*
David,
Erin's post on Layers of Mind inspired me to experience my hike this evening in a totally different way.
Now, past dinner time, I come and find a shift within as I read here of how this unavoidable event of life layered over the challenge of completing the exercise and how it came to infuse each in a most remarkable way.
I can not understand from personal experience what it is like to lose a sibling. I can only imagine what it would feel like and in that imagining, of all the responsibilities layered on top of the grief, I send you my sympathetic efforts to understand what the heart knows, but the mind grasps imperfectly.
Thank you for taking on the challenge life and the task presented you, to share with us, the outcome.
Deborah
Unofficial Layers of Mind blog here - http://yhd52754.gaia.com/blog/2008/10/layers_of_mind_tsk_practice_notes. Thanks for expanding the definition for me with your life.
Deborah
Hi Deb,
Thank you so much for your kind thoughts. I'm glad you're following along in the course, and hope you will actually join in with the other attendees on the next unit. I will comment on your beautiful blog entry shortly.
Best wishes,
David