Constancy is difficult to describe, so I shall have another go . . . .

Constancy requires you to hold the strongest and most persistent

awareness that you can, of

everything you say

everything you do

everything you think

everything you remember

everything you dream

everything you feel

every image you create

every image that just arises

watching these as they happen inside you

watching them and then letting them go

watching when you cannot let them go

watching your mind wondering why you

cannot let them go

watching

watching

watching . . . . . .

Continuing with this for every minute, of every hour,

of every day with as few interruptions as possible

for the rest of your life

and afterwards for as long as necessary.

 

How is it possible to hold this kind of awareness, and do other things?

How can you talk to people, or do your job,

when you are watching yourself like this? ? ? Only you know what it's

like inside your head. It is very difficult to watch and do something at

the same time. However, it is possible. Start with simple things,

housework, watching TV, sitting on a bus . . . . . build up to more

difficult things, talking to others, driving, making love . . . . . . . .

in the long run, Constancy enhances all that you do.

It is usual to loose track of the Constancy, to forget all about it, it slips your

mind. Do not beat yourself up. Just start again. Recriminations are a

waste of time. The intention of doing Constancy is almost as important

as the actual doing it. It is the intention of Constancy that you take into

unconsciousness. when you are about to sleep, be it napping or in bed

at night, set up the intention to continue with Constancy even while you

are asleep. It helps to quietly count as you fall asleep. this technique is

called the "stepping stones". . . . .

 

when you wake up in the morning, try and re-start your Constancy

before getting out of bed, or before even moving.

I am sleepy again . . . .

Nodding off on top of a red London bus

I see myself slipping . . . . sliding into a dream. I slip into a river that

is always running . . . .when you are entering sleep, use the stepping

stones to keep your awareness longer. You will see yourself enter a

dream that is already happening. Dreams are happening all the time

inside you.

You join a dream, you don't have it like you have a meal.

Dreams are mostly the product of the automatic workings of the brain.

If you watch your dreams through Constancy you can develop an

important distinction. Dreams maybe meaningless, but the way you feel

about them is not. Do not spend too much time examining the events

of a dream, concentrate on the feelings that are evoked.

If you are thinking about the dream whilst awake, even if the feelings

have gone, watch out for what is called "residue". When the deeper

feelings emerge and then go away, they sometimes leave a temporary

lingering emotion, like the wake left behind after a ship has gone. always

look at such residue carefully, sometimes these residual feelings are

gateways. Watching the residues applies to all Constancy, not just

dream watching . . . . . .