Deep Dive: Concentration

(1.21) The true method of concentration is to become so identified with your object of thought that you are conscious of nothing else.

Your object of thought should be what you are passionate about creating with your life. Passion, in this context, comes from within. It can not depend on people or conditions. You, alone, are responsible for maintaining your passion and developing it.

If your passion supports the plan of nature-which is to become conscious of itself-you have discovered your ideal state.

Do your actions reflect that you are absorbed in your passion? How much of your time is dedicated to practicing, visualizing, and developing, your object of thought?

(1.28) Concentration operates by the development of perception, wisdom, intuition, and sagacity.

Concentration is the cake. Perception, wisdom, intuition, and sagacity, are the ingredients.

Perception is maintained by our predominant mental attitude.

(2.8) Our environment reflects conditions corresponding with our predominant mental attitude.

Wisdom is developed by inductive reasoning.

Intuition is the voice of our authentic Self, which can more easily be heard when we silence internal chatter.

Sagacity is introspective discernment.

(6.26) Concentration is the highest personal achievement that can be acquired. It is the distinguishing characteristic of every successful person.

(6.28) Concentration is so important because it allows us to control our thoughts. And since every thought is a cause, every condition is an effect. Therefore, if we control the cause, we control the effect.

Again,

(1.6) Our ability to think is our ability to act upon the universal and bring it into existence. The result of this action and interaction is cause and effect. Every thought is a cause. Every condition, an effect.

(6.27) Concentration may be acquired by practicing mental exercise.

Mental exercise may be cultivated through mindfulness, visualization and memorization.

Mindfulness is an awareness our experience while it is happening.

(5.1) Visualization is the process of creating mental pictures.

Memorization is the foundation of recall. A scattered mind has trouble recalling what has been memorized. As a mental exercise, developing recall will remain a consistent tool for measuring your ability to focus in addition to being the tool to restore focus.