This exercise is inspired by a similar exercise, called TR0, developed by Hubbard in Scientology. This exercise is different in the sense that it is designed for meditation unlike in Scientology. In this exercise it is not necessary that you should have the same person to confront every time.
Meditation Exercise:
Confronting
Purpose:
To learn to be there comfortably in front of another person. The idea is to BE there comfortably in a position three feet in front of another person, to BE there and not do anything else but BE there.
Pre-requisites:
Complete Exercise: Being There.
Instructions:
You sit in front of another student, a comfortable distance apart—about three feet. You both sit facing each other with eyes open, neither making any conversation or effort to be interesting. This is a silent drill. You sit and look at each other and say or do nothing for some hours if possible. Or you may do this exercise in 20 minutes sessions until passed.
You must not speak, blink, fidget, giggle or be embarrassed or go blank. You must confront all reactions fully without avoiding, resisting, denying or suppressing them. If a reaction is overwhelming, simply close your eyes to assimilate that experience fully. Then open your eyes and continue with the exercise as before.
It will be found some students tend to confront WITH a body part, rather than just confront; or they use a system of confronting, rather than just BE there. Confronting does not mean that you do something to the other person. The whole action is to become accustomed to BEING THERE three feet in front of another person without apologizing or moving or being startled or embarrassed or defending self. Confronting with a body part can cause unwanted pain or sensations in that body part being used to confront. The solution is just to confront and BE there.
End of Exercise:
When all social mechanisms are discharged, and you can just BE there comfortably in a position three feet in front of another person in all sincerity, this exercise is passed.
NOTE 2: If you find the sitting meditation difficult to do then do the walking meditation exercises for a while, and then come back to this exercise.
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