Contemplation and Stopping Internal Dialogue
Original Source ↗During the practice of stopping Internal Dialogue (6 months), there were initially interesting effects, such as the "wavering" of the surface I was focusing on. Now, there is a sensation of a "film" over my eyes – I begin to see separately with each eye, perceiving something like a film on them. My eyes start to water and blink, and then everything ceases. Is this my delusion or...? Insufficient data.
What is the connection between contemplation and stopping Internal Dialogue?
The connection lies in the fact that every thought, every activation of Internal Dialogue, triggers a reflexive movement of the pupils. All contemplation practices are built upon this principle. Still the movement of the pupils, and the world will stop. How does one achieve this?
The first stage is to learn not to blink. Lie down, gaze into the air – into the space between the ceiling and you. Let your gaze wander freely. You are relaxed, your eyes are relaxed, you are thinking of nothing. Focus your attention on relaxation, on "dissolving" the urge to blink – "softening" the irritation and tension in your eyes. Never mind what you see (a flickering surface, ripples spreading, darkenings, pulsings in sync with your heartbeat). All of this is trivial. With your breath, you "dissolve" the tension in your eye muscles. Ah! You blinked! You lost this round! No matter. Rest, then try again.
Eventually, strange sensations will begin to appear. Tactile concepts will intertwine with contemplation – such as the softness and tenderness of your gaze, its "slipperiness," "wetness," "creaking." Noises and colors will emerge. Then, a shock! You see multi-colored spirals of energy rising from your body. That's also a delusion! Learn not to fall for these games of the Tonal.
And then you will awaken, you will come to yourself, emerging from some altered state, and you will understand that you had stopped Internal Dialogue. And you will remember what you were doing in the second attention. Do not think that the transition will be gradual. It happens exactly like this: you come to yourself (into the first attention) and remember what was there.