Chapter Six

Three Levels of Work

Chapter 6 opens with the following comment:

“Presence is the only discernible ‘something’ which is nonphenomenal.”

This discernible something is based upon our development of a naturally operating “sensing mechanism.” We can learn more about that from chapter 12 of Practical Work on Self by E.J. Gold. You can get a copy here.

As we incorporate the discipline of the “invocation of presence” into our everyday life, it becomes as natural to us, as breathing. If we don’t do it, we begin to miss it. When that occurs it means the process is starting to become ‘second nature’ to us. That part is the first line of work – the beginning obligatory form. In Chapter 2 (page 15) E.J. says – “Awakening is not the end of work on self, it is the very beginning of work on self.”

EJ then discusses self observation and the idea of not identifying with the machine “I” when it does, what ever it might be doing. This becomes socially awkward. However, it you are holding a sense of presence and if you understand inwardly that you are not that., then you will find the proper words and the proper stance.

“Never will we be able to ‘just think ourselves out of this mess.”

When we die, we no longer have access to the tools available to us. As an incarnate human, we can avail ourselves of the transformational effects of the human biological machine. (See more about this topic here.)

It is as if we are given snippets of time to work on the development of the Being. Those snippets are called a human life. Part of our job is to maximize the time during incarnation, to develop the ways and means to assist our Being. Then, we can become a tool for the Work, and finally, we can work on behalf of all Beings, everywhere.