The detached viewpoint does not interfere with the thoughts it is looking at. It does not avoid, resist, suppress or deny any thoughts. It lets the thoughts appear and disappear as they may. This is the secret to seeing things as they are, because a thought is altered the moment one interferes with it.
The following exercise is designed to get an experience of the detached viewpoint. It is easier to do so with relatively happy thoughts that are free of stress. Once you get familiar, hopefully you can practice the detached viewpoint with slightly more stressful thoughts.
Simply read an item from this list and wait for a response to come from the mind. Do not interfere with the mind. Do not make any conscious effort to recall. Let the mind carry out its functions in the most natural fashion.
You will know instantly if there is a reaction to that item in the mind. If there is a reaction, a response will follow in terms of a memory of that type. If there is no response on an item, simply move to the next item. You may go over this list more than once and find new responses. The idea is to learn to wait patiently for the response to come.
Go ahead and start on this process. If a response comes, acknowledge that fact to yourself. It there is no response within reasonable time, move to the next item. You might find this process to be a lot of fun.
Stay relaxed and keep the effort to a minimum.
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General Incidents
“Consider a moment when…”
1. You were happy.
2. You had just finished constructing something.
3. Life was cheerful.
4. Somebody had given you something.
5. You ate something good.
6. You had a friend.
7. You felt energetic.
8. Somebody was waiting for you.
9. You drove fast.
10. You saw something you liked.
11. You acquired something good.
12. You threw away something bad.
13. You kissed somebody you liked.
14. You laughed at a joke.
15. You received money.
16. You felt young.
17. You liked life.
18. You played a game.
19. You bested something dangerous.
20. You acquired an animal.
21. Somebody thought you were important.
22. You enjoyed a good loaf.
23. You chased something bad.
24. You were enthusiastic.
25. You enjoyed life.
26. You went fast.
27. You owned something.
28. You felt strong.
29. Somebody departed.
30. Somebody helped you.
31. You gathered something good.
32. You measured something.
33. You took a pleasant journey.
34. You turned on a light.
35. You heard some good music.
36. You controlled something.
37. You destroyed something.
38. You mastered something.
39. You were lucky.
40. You felt peaceful.
41. You saw a pretty scene.
42. You poured something good.
43. You acquired something that was scarce.
44. You made an enemy scream.
45. You had a pleasant seat.
46. You handled something well. (actual physical handling)
47. You moved something.
48. You watched something fast.
49. You were together with friends.
50. You occupied a good space.
51. Somebody loved you.
52. You enjoyed somebody.
53. You invented something.
54. You harnessed some energy.
55. You killed a bug.
56. You pocketed something.
57. You made progress.
58. You walked.
59. You saved something.
60. You stopped a machine.
61. You started a machine.
62. You had a good sleep.
63.You stopped a thief.
64. You stood under something.
65. You started a fire.
66. You went upstairs.
67. You were warm.
68. You went riding.
69. You were adroit.
70. You swam.
71. You stood your ground.
72. You lived well.
73. You were respected.
74. You won a race.
75. You ate well.
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