Definitions:
Reason, the ability to weigh up known facts.
Logic, the adding together of facts.
Analysis, dividing of facts.

(To offset any reflexive criticism from those trained in logic, I am well aware of the standardised categorisations of reason and logic - inductive, deductive...and others, but I am simplifying things here for the non-formally trained thinker. Simplifying things is one of my favourite pastimes.)   

The Logical Basis

Affirmations, assertions, recitations, chants, drills,... can be beneficial, detrimental or insignificant, depending on their design and method of application.

Here is one that some readers might like to play with.

With one of either of your hands make a loose V for victory sign, or what some call a peace sign, with the first to fingers extended and the others folded inward. It is not a ridged sign but a loose formation with the extended fingers comfortable curved, not straight, and their tips about an inch apart.

Then verbally say the following:

"Two plus two equals four."

On the first word when you say "Two", tap your two fingers together lightly on a table top, arm of a chair, or on the side of your thigh. Then raise your fingers off the surface.

Continue to speak the sentence, and on the last word when you say "four", tap your two fingers again on the table, the chair, or your thigh.

On this second tap, you may tap them slightly closer to you than the previous tap, so that the four contact places where your finger tips have tapped will roughly form to the corners of a presumed square as do the four dots on a dice on its number four face. This tapping in a slightly closer place is not essential or something to be too strict about, but it can be helpful.

What is important is the tapping with the two fingers on the first and last words and the recitation of the sentence as worded.   

Repeat the sentence with the finger tap as many times as you are comfortable doing, perhaps 10 times, or more times if you like, but don't be obsessive about it. As you recite the sentence and tap on the first and last words, take a pause between each repetition and gently draw breath. Let the concept and its effect settle into your mind. Do this exercise a few times a day or as you find beneficial.

As with all affirmations, you may vary the recitations so as to keep them impactful. Perhaps alternate saying it verbally and the saying it silently in thought. Or if saying it in thought, alter or alternate the internal volume between an imagined whisper and normal internal voice. Experiment, play with it.      

I term that sentence The Logical Basis. It is the first divisible sum. It is reason, logic and analysis combined at its most primary level. It provides the foundation upon which all further logic is built. Contemplate that.

With time and practice you will notice that the logical foundation of your mind becomes stronger. And from that stronger foundation, further logic is more easily exercised.

You may do the second tap on the second "two" if you like. Experiment with both ways. See if you can sense a different effect or if one is better. It is often good to do some things both right and wrong, to sense the difference between them and zero in on what is right and best.


All human skill is comprised of three layers

Every human skill that exists is comprised of three levels or layers.

First and innermost, are the governing principles that pertain to the skill. These are the laws of physics, or laws of bio-mechanics, or laws of mind that pertain the that particular skill. These are laws of nature like, the hand is quicker than the eye (move it fast and see it blur to almost being invisible); the hand is no quicker that the body (you cannot touch a wall out of arm's reach quicker than you can lean or step forward); one step backward is quicker than one step forward, but continuous steps forward are quicker than continuous steps backward; the startle is quicker than deliberate movement; emotion follows thought; values dictate the type of emotion stirred by the thought; values are subject to judgement; distance, motion and time are united, ....etc, all laws of physics, mind and nature.   

Second is the foundation layer. This is the layer from which all techniques are executed, from which all techniques stem from and return to. This layer is the anchor keys on the keyboard upon which the fingertips rest on and from which they strike any key and then return to their position; it is the body holds and positions in wrestling and judo from which the locks are executed; it is the guards of the fencer, from which he parries, cuts and thrusts, and to which he returns after every execution; it is right seating in the saddle from which the horse is controlled with various bodily commands; it is being right seated in the driver's seat of the motor car; it is the player's positions on the football field from which they play their respective roles; it is the seat of concentrated awareness in the head from which all our operations of mind, speech and body are controlled and from which we do our meditative work; and, Two plus two equals four, is the foundation from which stems all analysis and logic. It is not just a concept, it is a basis. No logic is capable without it, and no logic or analysis comes before it.

The third and most outer layer is the layer of techniques. Techniques are the individual movements that are executed from, or that stem from and return to the foundation. They are the movements of the touch typing fingers as they strike any key; they are the parries, cuts, thrusts of the fencer; the locks, strangles and strikes of the wrestler; the movements the rider performs to control the horse; the operation of the car's controls; the manoeuvres and tactics of the football players; and the meditator's work as he directs his attention on the task he is working on. And if engaged in reason, then the techniques are his ability to weigh up known facts, to add facts together, and divide of facts.

In every human skill, the techniques come from or emerge from the foundation layer and return to it. If the foundation layer is weak or lacking, then the techniques that come from it will be weak and lacking.

And in every human skill, when the foundation is correct, then the techniques will largely look after themselves. But without a sound foundation, techniques will be haphazard and ill connected.  

When we understand this three level layering of all human skill, it enables us to quickly learn new skills. We can watch experts performing their skills, look for the place or layer their techniques are coming from and returning to, peer through the blur of outer motion and confusing detail of technique and observe the underlying layer which is the foundation. We then see the foundation layer moving slowly and powerfully beneath the surface clutter and we can easily remember and copy the foundation layer because it is simple and basic. From there we identify our objective and can easily learn the techniques that take us to our objective, particularly if we know how to categorise them into their natural groups, always studying from the greater categories down to the lesser and more detailed. Whatever the skill, keep technique close to the foundation, and always operate within in accordance with the governing principals (natural laws) that apply to that skill. 

That is part of how I have learned so many skills and have worked so many contrasting fields, for I understand how skill is layered, and I can watch someone do something and understand and copy them very quickly. I am not showing off, just telling it as it is, for those who know me often ask how I learn things so quickly, and how I identify weakness and improve things, and that is part of how I do it. There is more, such as how to gather and order knowledge, but that will have to be in another post. This post is about logic and how to become more skilful at it, and about how skill and understanding is layered.   
      

rondele wrote on Nov 19^th, 2015 at 10:54am:

The trick is that no one of us, until incarnated, can really know who threw the first pebble! Were the today's terrorists killed by Christians during the Crusades? Are today's victims paying for their old carnages, voluntarily playing with their actual murderers?
I think that it's time of re-balancing the collective Karma, think of all the murders perpetrated in the last centuries, only forgiving our enemies, or experiencing their same destiny we can estinguish bad Karmas.

Oh my! Belief Systems Territories...guess if you've ever read Bruce's books!

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1796: just curious.....would you say its unprofitable, unnecessary, or you've just moved past what the current info can offer?

I ask, because at 46, I wonder if I have begun my own journey of "self discovery" too late. Incorporating the knowledge (if one can all it that) that I have slowly gained into my life is difficult and unwieldy. I have begun meditation and find I enjoy it, but it has its challenges. I have decided to forgo this whole "out of the body" approach in favor of a slower and hopefully less jarring way of understanding via lucid dreaming and proceeding from there. Just starting to get decent dream recall now. Baby steps, don't know how it will go.

doodad wrote on Nov 30^th, 2015 at 12:47pm:


The following may or may not be useful to you or others.

Possibly a mixture of those reasons and others too. For a while now I have preferred to find things out for myself. But that is just me, others may read books on the subject and that is good. Whatever your soul would have you do. 

Also, I am quite busy with my daily life lessons and work. I change careers and fields frequently and it takes a fair bit of study and personal adjustment each time. And between jobs and outside of work there are other matters to focus on too. Relationships with others are a major part of life, learning and service for each of us. I have many interests and involvements. Some of them require a lot of study. Also, there is always work to do inside myself. Our characters require regular maintenance and work, just like a motor vehicle does. My out of body and other occult type activities are now tools to help me with life's tasks, they are not the focus of my attention as they were in the past. Our most useful tools are our head with conscience, sound judgement and sensible thinking, and our heart, and our feet and hands.      

The first and foremost reason we are each here is for the lessons and duties within our physical living. Our material duties come first, and our spiritual duties apply to them. We should not get things arse about backwards.

Sometimes an individual may be drawn towards a period of inward contemplation and soul exploration. But sooner or later must come the time of application, of applying our spirituality to the world in which we live.

No, you have not left your journey of self discovery too late. No one has. But, there are stages in life, with each stage suiting a different kind of learning. And what we should do is not necessarily what we have been trying to do in the past, or what we wish we had done, or what we should have done, but what we should do is what needs doing now.

Look around you. Look at your family. Look at you relationships with others. Look at those you mix with and frequent. Look at you job, your work or your lack of work. Look at your community. What needs doing? What can you do? Where can you work? How can you serve?

Don't think about money. Don't think about your lack of opportunity or qualifications. Just commit yourself to your true Employer and ask to be put to work. And in the meantime, don't wait, put yourself to work in any way you can, no matter how menial or seemingly petty.

Remain committed to your true Employer and at their right time stepping stones will rise before your feet, doors will open, opportunities for service and learning will present themselves. Some opportunities will amaze you at where they take you, and others will amaze you because they were right next to you all along.   

Also, work on your character. Make it strong and virtuous as you can. Cultivate conscience, it is the organ at the inner upper pinnacle of your soul through which your God communicates to you. Realising this is faith. Cultivate faith. Begin with a quiet awareness of God within yourself. Every evening practice self assessment. Look at how you performed that day, what you could have done better, and how you intend to perform tomorrow. Don't let guilt or failure paralyse you. Regret and shame are the growing pains of soul. Keep on walking on. You are human and God knows that. There is no burden in all the universe greater than the burden of freewill. What human has learnt to wield it wisely? Ask forgiveness and understand and forgive others for their freewill burden too. Look after your relationship with truth and love, and all your other relationships will look after themselves. There is no failure, only learning. Practice saying heartfelt thankfulness for every lesson in every experience, no matter how pleasant or unpleasant, and for every little beauty, blessing, and opportunity.

As long as we live, our spiritual learning and growing continues. In some form, in some way, the lessons and the opportunities to learn and grow and serve are around us and within us right now. We just need to see them and apply our self to them. From there the ball starts rolling.      

   

   

Thank you both very much for the advice.

1796: I appreciate the time you took to write that. I have had some thoughts down similar lines, but hadn't put them together like that. Thanks.

Quote:


This I need to think about also as that is how I have viewed it up to now.

To 1796
I was shocked because this is Bruce's board and he has done a big job exploring BST, so I presume that we all have read his books!