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Wednesday, October 15, 2008

The Power of Concentration - By Remez Sasson





When I was a child, I was shown a fascinating experience, how a magnifying glass could burn a piece of paper when the rays of the sun were focused through it. The fire could start only when the rays were concentrated to a small point. When the magnifying glass was moved too far away or too close, the rays were not focused and nothing happened.This experience demonstrates the tremendous power of concentration.Concentration can be described as focused attention, the ability to pay attention to one single thought or subject to the exclusion of everything else, and as one pointed mind.When our mind is focused we do not dissipate our energy on unnecessary activities. 

Developing concentration is essential to anyone who aspires to take charge of his life. It is required in order to succeed in all walks of life. Without it our efforts are dissipated, but with it we can accomplish a great deal.Concentration has many uses. Concentrating on your activities makes you perform them better, faster and successfully. Focusing on work makes work more efficient. A better concentration makes studying easier, understanding faster, and improves the memory. It helps us to focus on our goals and achieve them more easily.The concentration power enhances our inner healing powers, and helps us to send healing energies into our and others bodies. It is required for developing psychic powers. 

It is a powerful tool for the efficient use of creative visualization and the power of imagination.When this ability is developed, the mind obeys us readily, and does not engage in useless dissipating thoughts and worries, and we experience true peace of mind. Concentration, which is actually mind mastery, is also a very important tool in practicing meditation. Without it the mind just jumps restlessly from one subject to another. Last but not least, it brings us faster to the brink of Spiritual Enlightenment.Now you understand why it is very important and worthwhile to develop and improve the ability to concentrate.I have found out that I could always find the time to exercise each day, no matter how busy I was. If I could do that, you can too. Forget all your excuses that you do not have the time, or you are too busy. 

Do not say that the circumstances are not proper, and that you cannot find a place to be alone in order to exercise.I have found out that while leading an ordinary life, with a job and a family, it is possible to find the strength and the time to develop this ability. It is possible to develop the power of concentration wherever you are. I believe that if you realize the importance the power of concentration, you will certainly find the time, energy and desire for it.Thoughts claim our attention incessantly, and waste our time and energy on unimportant and useless matters. They actually rule our life. We have become so accustomed to this slavery, that we take it for granted, and have become unconscious of this habit, except on certain occasions. While breathing we do not need to pay attention to each inhalation and exhalation. 

We become conscious of the process of breathing, only when we have some difficulty with breathing, such as when our nose is clogged due to a cold or when we are in an unventilated room.It is the same with thinking. We become conscious of the onslaught of our thoughts, and of our inability to quell them, only when we need to concentrate, solve a problem, study or when we have worries or fears. Look at the following familiar scene. You need to study something for your job or for an exam. You sit comfortably on the sofa with the book in your hands and start reading. After a while you feel hungry and go to the kitchen to eat something.You return to read, and then hear you people talking outside. You listen to them for several moments and then bring your attention back to the book.After a while you feel restless and switch on the radio to listen to some music. 

You continue to read for a little while, and then remember something that happened yesterday, and you start thinking about it.When you look at your watch, you are amazed to find out that one complete hour has passed and you have hardly read anything.This is what happens when concentration is not strong enough to ward off all disturbances. There are many situations in life, where a little concentration can make a great difference. Think, and find out where you could use more concentration. Imagine what you could have accomplished,if you possessed better concentration.Concentration is worth cultivation. All spiritual traditions talk about it. It is useful in many ways in our ordinary daily life, for studying or working, for meditation, developing psychic powers and for magic.A work that requires physical strength, such as carrying heavy loads for example, develops physical strength. 

Yet, it is not as going daily to the gym and training in a systematic manner. It is the same with concentration. Reading, studying and trying to pay attention to what we do, develop some concentration ability, but practicing concentration exercises diligently each day is something else, it is like training in a gym.Resistance to developing concentration In order to develop this ability we have to train our mind. Most people shun concentration and do not even want to try. They think that concentration is strenuous and tiring, and that it involves exertion and tension, which are difficult and unpleasant.One of the reasons for this belief is because most people did not like to go to school, when they were children. They preferred play to study.Teachers and parents expected them to study, do their homework and bring good grades. As children, they felt coerced and forced to do something they did not like to do. 

In this way, in the children's minds, study became associated with doing something against their will. Studying needs concentration, and as children are often reminded that they are not concentrating enough, they develop a loathing for concentration. It becomes associated with coercion, lack of freedom,doing something they do not like and which is against their will. When they grow up, it is no wonder that their powers of concentration are weak, and there is no desire to strain mentally.We acknowledge the fact that good concentration is a great asset, yet most of us do nothing to enhance it, mostly because we do not know how. Reading and thinking about the benefits of concentration and about the reasons why it should be cultivated can help us change our attitude to ward it.Concentration can be fun if approached in the right way. It should be practiced with joy, fun, optimism, and understanding of its great possibilities. It has to be approached in a positive manner and then success dawns.

The benefits of developing concentration Sometimes you can find strong powers of concentration in yourself. When you are decisive and sincerely want to excel in your studies, pass an important exam, or solve a problem, the power of concentration becomes available to you. This kind of concentration is raised because of some need, or desire. Developing it in a systematic way, brings it under your control, and grants you the ability to use it easily, with no exertion whenever you need it.Real and good concentration is developed gradually, through daily work, and with special exercises. 

It has to be approached in a reasonable and practical way.Consider what the power of concentration can give you:-Control of thoughts.-Peace of mind.-Self-confidence.-Inner strength. -Will power.-The ability to focus your mind.-Better memory.-The ability to decide and carry on your decisions.-Better functioning in daily life, whether at home or at work. -The ability to study and comprehend more quickly.-Stop being carried away with every passing thought.-Freedom from needless and annoying thoughts.-Think when you want to, about what you want to think.-Inner happiness.-Help in developing psychic abilities.-More powerful and efficient creative visualization and guided imagination.-True meditation.-Spiritual Enlightenment.-And much more…It seems too good to be true? Develop your concentration and find out for yourself!So what about beginning to develop concentration power today?

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