Attention towards attention

Attention:

 Psychologists define attention as a cognitive-behavioral process of maintaining the focus on a particular stimulus neglecting other perceivable stimuli.

Division of the attention by the space and time:

In my childhood I used to get fascinated seeing the magnifying glass burning a piece of paper when kept beneath the sun. One day I competed with my friend for burning a dot on the paper in shortest time. We made 2 dots on the paper close to each other, Point A and B. I selected point A and my friend selected point B. I was unable to keep hand holding the lens still. When my hand moved near or distant from the paper the area of the focus widened and point B also came into the focus. when my hand moved sideways the focus shifted between point A and point B. The heating of the point A was ineffective and I lost the bet.

 I slowly understood that, for the Point A to be burned effectively, point B should not share the space or time dedicated to heat point A. In other words, the effective heating happens when the focus is undivided in terms of space and time.

Here the converging light can be equated to the attention. Attention has a tendency to spread in space and time. When the attention is fixed on a desired entity, it is called selective attention. If the attention also includes unwanted subjects along with the wanted ones it is called non-selective attention. When the attention is projected on a thing for a length of time, it is called sustained attention. If the attention cannot be sustained on the desired entity and is shifting on to other subjects it is called unsustained attention. We need to appreciate that space and time are two key aspects of the attention. Sharing of the space and time of the attention by unwanted elements leads to division of the attention. Divided attention is ineffective attention.

Focus and concentration: Most of the times these words are used interchangeably. When the attention is undivided in terms of space (ie Attention is only on the target) then it is called focused attention. When the attention is undivided in terms of time (Attention lies only on the target in the entire amount of time) then it is called concentrated attention.

Consciousness is the source of the attention

The converging light is the refracted product of the sunlight. In the same way the attention is the manifestation of the consciousness. The source of all the light is the Sun. In the same way the source of the attention for all the organisms in the world is the Universal consciousness. Attention is the ray of the consciousness.

Focus and will

The lens and our ability to hold the lens firmly determines the point of focus of the light. Our mind is just a lens which can direct our attention. Our hand holding the lens is like the will which help us effectively decide the point of focus. The problem with mind is, unlike the lens it won’t be still. Some times it tends to overpower the human will. Imagine if the lens decides the point of focus and start focusing autonomously overriding the hand. Most of the people end up in doing the things which relieve their pain or give them gratification instead of doing what they should do. This is because of their inability to hold the jolts of the pain and desires in the mind

Imagine a lens suspended to a pendulum and if it is allowed to focus on a point. Can we expect it converge it’s rays on that point? No.  The push of every small wind tends to disturbs its focus . In the same way a mind which is very vulnerable to the emotions is like a lens on a swing. It’s point of the focus keeps on changing.

Imagine a lens fixed on a compass. Can we expect it focus? No. Human attention is a ray of consciousness emerging in between the two poles of a magnet, desire and hatred (Raga & Dwesha). Attention is bound to deflect if the mind has strong polarization to desire and hatred.

The ability to direct the attention is decided by:

1 the capacity of the will to keep hold of the mind

2 the wisdom and discriminating capacity.

The aim of all the yogic principles is, to direct the attention on to the attention. It is something like the light from the lens converging on itself instead of the dot on the paper. If the light focuses on itself, it will reverse its course travel back through the lens and move towards the Sun. In meditative techniques the attention is made "one pointed". This helps the attention converge on itself. Then the attention transcends the mind in its journey towards its source, the Consciousness.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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