The Fourth Way for the rest of us.

The Exercises

Information

The exercises are to give us practice in observing and meditating on our own lives. Each exercise is intended to be practiced for a minimum of one week. They are based on the exercises from Elizabeth O'Connor's book, Our Many Selves.

Members: 27
Latest Activity: Aug 14

Helpful Hints

1. Keeping a Work Journal is very helpful in practical work and can also be a good discipline.
2. A quiet time in the same place, around the same time each day will help you progress.
3. Start your quiet time with a meditative reading. Try to hear what the author is saying and give your own thoughts and feelings time to be heard.
4. Remember your aim and understand you are exposing yourself to the possibility of change. When we listen to ourselves or others we take this risk.
5. The steps of the inner life are only for those who are conscious of a level different from the one on which they live.
6. Pressing our work on someone not on this journey is slavery.
7. If it's not broken don't fix it. Each exercise should be added to the last not replace it.

Discussion Forum

#3 Observe When You're Critical 10 Replies

Started by James Parkinson. Last reply by Bodhi Greenman Jul 12.

#2: Acknowledge Negative I's 14 Replies

Started by James Parkinson. Last reply by James Parkinson May 21.

#1: Observe your different I's 17 Replies

Started by James Parkinson. Last reply by James Parkinson May 14.

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Comment by William on December 19, 2008 at 5:49pm: Great. Thanks.

Comment by James Parkinson on December 17, 2008 at 9:44am: I've done the exercises a number of times over the years, William. I like to start with the first one and the progress through. I think they build on one another and work better that way.

Comment by William on December 16, 2008 at 1:04pm: This looks like a good practical place for me to start. Question: should I pick up on the latest exercise or start at #1 ?

Comment by Ulrich Schnell on September 17, 2008 at 2:29pm: It is somehow comforting that there are so few comments on these exercises.

At first sight I thought "Oh good! practical straightforward exercises." I realize though that it takes quite a bit of voluntary suffering to actually put my vanity on the line and share with you what I find on the way.

I will try...

Comment by Colin Blundell on March 21, 2008 at 12:23pm: James' exercises are brilliant! They are just the kind of practical Work that's needed to apply 4th Way ideas. I'm looking forward to the time when 13 bits of homework appear here!