The Method

(from the meeting of Alfred Orage, 31st May 1927)

The Method consists of two stages to be practiced in the following order: 1. Self Observation, Participation, Experiment. 2. Voluntary Suffering and Conscious Labor.

Self-Observation:

We have the five categories of gross behavior which are to be the first objects of SelfObservation. They are: Posture Gesture Movement Facial Expression Tone of Voice

They are exactly of equal importance. Take one of them and determine that you will finish that job. Know every gesture all day long. The result of observing the five forms of physical behavior will accomplish one thing: you can some time realize the meaning of I have a body. What is the nightly review? It consists of going over the behavior of your body in a series of pictures...

Participation:

This simply means taking part in this five forms of behavior. When you are speaking say I will speak a little more clearly than usual. Though the larynx will still be doing the same work you will be running along so to speak. Or in a posture say to body: No! Dont move from that posture. It may not be comfortable, but I put it there, and I will participate in that posture. There are two blood circulations one keeps the body going and the second is your own private property and with it you can participate in the activities of your body.

Experiment:

Wring the neck of any impulse to improve yourself. Be sure you are as a body utterly beyond hope of improvement. Experiment for the sake of seeing if you can change. Experiment only in matters of complete indifference let all matters in which you are concerned go without interference. When you awake in the morning open only one eye at first get out of the bed in a n unhabitual way, just for the sake of varying your behavior. In this case you send energy through a smaller pipe and it is thus a means of saving energy. It will surprise you to find how fresh you feel as such a day goes by. These experiments are part and parcel of this ancient and occult method that is so simple that it confuses most of us very greatly.

Voluntary Suffering:

Voluntary suffering is suffering the unpleasant manifestations of other beings. A snake, a mouse, a spider will produce a sharp emotional state in many of us. So some people will affect some of us. And voluntary suffering consists in controlling you facial expressions and other forms of behavior, or in concealing them, or in changing them. A man enrages me I want to strike him. But voluntary suffering requires that you respond as if he pleased you.

Conscious Labor:

Make a vow and keep it. To dress for a week in a different way from usual. To clear up an indebtedness you may have within a certain period. To write all the letters you owe. To do twice as much as you ever have in one week on some definite work. Be and exist purposively. Man is placed on this planet and put into the occupation of a body to develop Individuality, Consciousness and Will. Individuality by separating I and it. Consciousness by manifesting differently mechanical negative reactions. Will by always living purposively, always with an object, a purpose. You know the object, the means and you know that no one will help you in this world. Conscious effort is continuity in having always a purpose