This is a non-standard Open Focus exercise that I like to practice.
As you know, space awareness is the heart of Open Focus practice. It is the quickest way to generate alpha synchrony in the brain.
It was easy for me to become aware of space during OF exercises when I was sitting still on a chair. On the other hand, it was always quite difficult to feel space outside and inside my body during my everyday activities (walking, driving, swimming).
I came up with following technique.
You could try it now.
Firstly, realize that your body is full of space (there is space between atoms that the body consists of and, more importantly, every atom is 99% filled with space). Watch this clip if you need to see a proof of this link.
Now look at your right hand and realize that your hand is full of space which is inside and between atoms. Your hand is also surrounded by space (which seems more obvious)
Now move your hand a few inches to the left.
Ok, you moved atoms of your body but what has happened to the space which is inside and between them.
Has it moved? Can space move when it is not an object?
So, in order to become aware of space when you are physically active imagine that only the atoms of your body are moving but the space around and inside you stays still. Imagine that space inside and outside of you is like a still background which cannot be moved. It means that from the atoms point of view they stay still to each other but space around them is moving.
Just try it.
For me it felt as though I was completely transparent and very light.
I would like to visualize this more precisely, so need a bit of clarification of the image. This is so important, because exactly as you say, it is not difficult to do OF exercises while sitting in a chair, but difficult to carry them out into the world with you.
In your last main paragraph, “only the atoms of your body are moving but the space around and inside you stays still.” But the last sentence seems to contradict the point that only the atoms are moving. “It means that from the atoms point of view they stay still to each other but space around them is moving.”
I hate to jog. So I decided to practice mindful meditation while jogging. I started with a focus on sounds ( Attention Training Therapy ATT). As soon as I turned off the main traffic artery, I realized bird and maybe cricket sounds all around. ATT is Open Focus with sounds.
Then I thought of this Open Focus space awareness exercise posted by Dr. Kopec. I focused on the space between the atoms in my body. We mostly consist of space between atoms.
I then became aware of the image photographed byVoyager from six billion kilos out from earth. In the photograph (known as Pale Blue Dot) earth is one pixel in the vast infinity of space.
I am an infinite speck of dust on a planet Carl Sagan referred to as a spec of dust in a shaft of sunlight.
What a wonderful jog.
Hi Joel,
You are right. Thank you for noticing it. Space cannot move.
Have you ever tried doing a 20-30 min Open Focus exercise before running. It will likely make a significant difference in the way you experience it. Stabilising the brain before helps a lot, especially towards the end of the run. I have a few ideas how it works. I may write about it soon.
I am working on very fascinating project related to OF these days which I am going to publish soon so stay tuned :)
Warm Regards,
Tomasz