It sounds like another way to describe Bruce's concept of how the Perceiver and Interpreter work.  He says that letting go of the first image allows the Interpreter to have more information pulled in that the Perceiver is continuing to gather.  Continuing to let go and see what else comes in is the process of getting to the next nearest similar thing. 

Your description of how you use this concept sounds like you are very visually oriented and that it works to your advantage in implimenting this process to a T.  I think I'll borrow some of your ideas.

Hi PM and guys. I relate to what you describe through my experience as a meditator taught via the Tibetan Buddhist tradition. The 'observer' perspective you describe Thomas is probably as I'm sure you know one aspect of the state of non-discursive (no thought) emptiness or pure awareness the meditator is hoping to cultivate the ability to rest in.

A related state is where we develop the ability simply to passively observe thought without getting sucked into identifying with it.

With time, and in the right state of mind this becomes something that's more easily done, and in fact eventually starts to carry out into normal life.

The thinking mind can become a tool that sits quietly on the shelf until we choose to use it. The result is that our awareness is not sucked unintentionally into narrowly focusing on whatever ego driven stuff it's chattering about, and so we remain truly 'open'. Open in terms of perception and analysis. Including to extra-normal experience and how we interpret it. (when dominated by a system of thought we lapse into seeing and concluding only that which fits with our preconceptions)

The 'reset' technique rings bells too. We're not always able to hold the state of 'no thought' when meditating, so it's often suggested that we gently brush aside those thoughts that do arise. Gently, and without getting frustrated or we create the very problem we try to solve.

When doing this there's often this short period of absolute crystal clarity that dawns just after becoming aware we're thinking - just after acting so that it stops.  Which I guess is your reset in action.

I've mentioned it before, but if we can get past our preconceptions about it Buddhism is an absolutely amazingly refined source of meditation 'how to'. Most Tibetan groups (the likes of Shambhala, Rigpa and so on) are more than happy to have people attend beginners classes with no requirement for commitment for a very nominal fee. There's lots of books out there by people associated with these groups too...