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GOING BROADBAND

Going Broadband

Broadbanding is a state of being on the lookout – to make sure it's safe. It is purposefully and actively receptive.

All the exercises are good to do for a half minute a day. Short regular periods of stimulation are a catalyst: A minute a day which is interesting or enjoyable is the best way to tell your subconscious "it's time to remember". Short periods reduce the concentrated work-load, make it easy, make it fun.

Switching It On

The ability to switch it on is the first step.

As a balance for focused activity, animals often only do it for a second. Look at any pigeon or blackbird while eating. This form of sensing is so vital for survival that they interrupt any delicious meal to do it. Notice how quickly they can change between doing what they want to do in their focused mode, to their broadband mode.

I feel, especially to start with, we should do it for ten seconds to a half minute, at a time. There are lots of reasons for starting with these short periods. Partly to create a feeling of urgency – it's got to be done now, and in a minutes time it'll be too late. And partly, to realise that you can turn it on any time, without doing anything to prepare for it.

Humans have no natural predators. Humans lack the motivation to go broadband. To generate motivation we need to enjoy something, and if doing this – even trying to do this – is enjoyable, then you will want to repeat it.

If you want to make it a priority, then instead of meditating with it, do it several times a day for half a minute.

Once you can do it, then you're welcome to do it – and you might want to do it –, hours long, but the ability to switch it on is the first important step. And basically, it's more fun to copy the short bursts of intensity which animals use.

Different Degrees

There are many different degrees and qualities of broadband seeing and listening, just as there are with focused seeing and listening.

Animals seem to have two distinct extremes. One while dozing with half an eye and ear open. The other is when it's alternated with focused activity and is a state of intensive alertness.

Start with Listening

I recommend starting with listening, it is far easier, and essentially practices the same thing.

The first aim is to combine seeing and listening together. Seeing seems to be primarily to do with integration, listening is more directly connected with nowness.

Please continue with Listening Out

Group Broadbanding
I've never tried this – but it's a nice extra idea: broadbanding with other people. I imagine doing it facing someone else would be difficult. Broadbanding is being on the lookout. Any sensible two animals would sit back to back. Any group would sit in a circle back to back ...

Please continue with Listening Out

Back to Chapter Three : Seeing and Listening