Discussion On The Flexible Use Of Intent
Amy Choi (Hong Kong, China)
Oct. 8, 2013
“Intent” is the scope or space which human consciousness can access to, imagine about or reach for. “Attention” is the scope of consciousness field identified by the human brain through senses of vision, hearing and touching/feeling. Learning to adjust and use “intent” with flexibility and ease is important to the balance of daily life. Knowing how to find the rhythm and space in casting our consciousness is the art of using consciousness.
The potential influence of “intent” is great. Where there is “intent”, there is influence. It does not matter whether intent is expressed through conscious imagination or subconscious activities (such as dreaming), or whether such activities are shown or manifested in behaviour or physical form. Try to consider two characters: one is Mother Teresa and the other is Hitler. I think their consciousness extends to the entire world and all mankind. One intends to help the world by trying to bring love to everyone. The other attempts to rule the world by force. The “intent” of these two people, same as that of many influential characters in the world, has a much larger “consciousness field” than that of common people. Its strength is also greater.
We can see from these two examples that “intent” itself does not differentiate between good and bad. Using “intent” is a personal choice hinges on conscience. That means, one can choose to do something good with dedication or something bad with dedication; the influence is tremendous all the same!
In modern world, many people have lost the ability to adjust their “intent”. For example, for those who are labelled as “attention disordered” have actually lost the ability to regulate sensory input and output, living in a fast-changing world with too much sensory stimulation. That is why they have lost their ability to maintain “consciousness field” and “attention”.
Even for common people, they may not have good grasp of the consciousness space suitable for themselves ¡V they are unable to cast it comfortably or even are totally unaware of it. For example, people would excessively think of or care for matters not requiring their concern. This is a situation of over casting of intention. On the other hand, they do not think about or do not have the ability to think about or take care of matters within their responsibilities. This is a case of weak casting of intention.
What are the requirements and steps for using consciousness with ease and balance? I believe there are three points as follows:
1) Adjust the vitality and the peaceful and healthy state of our body. When the body is in good condition, full of strength, one naturally gets what one intends to have. When the body is weak, too tired, one naturally is unable to get what one intends to get. Among the ways to train the body and consciousness, a traditional method I have tried is Qigong. Qigong stresses the flexible use of “physical form, spirit, intent and energy”. There are also many methods from elsewhere such as Yoga, Touch for Health etc. However, based on my observation, modern people are in an extremely yang (heightened) state in using their consciousness: thinking too much, brain working too actively and insufficient rest and sleep. For these people, settling in an extremely yin (relaxed) state, getting rest and high quality sleep is the most needed first step.
2) With the support of body energy and capability, the next step is to enhance the ability to be aware of one’s consciousness field; to be more aware of its existence, tightness and attainable scope etc. This is an aspect that can be trained. I have learnt and used NLP or Visioncircles in Educational Kinesiology. These are tools to enhance people’s awareness towards the signals of their vision, hearing and feeling.
3) With awareness, the next step is to raise one’s ability to cast consciousness field with ease and control. The way to do it is to adjust the extent, scope, brightness, tightness and intensity of attention to suit oneself best at the time. The question to ask is: what is the scope, rhythm and quality of consciousness I need most and would like to cast now?
I wish to become a person with consciousness and uses consciousness with ease. And you?
