There has been considerable confusion arising in our community lately about the nature and purpose of the simple exercise with attention that we call Self-Directed Attention.
That’s my fault. Let’s see if I can clear away the confusion.
Author: John Sherman
Podcast Episode 21: Just One Look and Self-Inquiry
In this episode, John Sherman speaks about how the practice of Self-Inquiry, when engaged in from a spiritual or magical thinking foundation, is crippled. Therefore, the best course to self-reliant human life is to simply look at yourself, your presence here, in the manner of Just One Look and follow with the practice of Self-Directed Attention.
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Podcast Episode 20: Our Journey with You So Far
In this episode, John Sherman talks about the Just One Look Method and how it has proven to be extremely effective. He explains that our goal now is to find a way to bring the suggestion to look at yourself to all human beings everywhere who are willing to try it for themselves.
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Spiritual Understanding
Carla and I have come to an understanding that the non-dual spiritual teachings that seem to be everywhere in one form or another in these times are worthless at best.
There are millions of us who have believed in them and trusted them to ease the misery of worry and fear that is the lot of the vast majority of us. We do so because we are told that the wisdom to be revealed upon our acceptance and surrender will bring an end to our war on our own life, which is caused by ignorance.
Podcast Episode 19: A Free Mind Is an Open Mind
In this episode, John Sherman speaks about how nothing compares to a mind that is freed of the context of fear and then gains the ability to decide for itself what to believe and what not to believe based not on fear but on self-reliant understanding.
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The State of the World
We cannot help but pay attention to the sorry state of human affairs in our time. And there is no reason to turn away from the facts of the world’s current descent into madness, murder, and torture. This is, after all, the world we live in.
But there is no reason to allow our attention to be pulled to the fear-driven drumbeat of misery and helplessness that appears in a mind still under the effects of the fear.
Something can be done after all. We can work together to bring an end to the worldwide epidemic of neurotic personal fear that is the one true cause of all human violence against self and others.
This advice holds true for everyone, whether or not they have done the act of looking at yourself. If you haven’t done the act of looking at yourself yet, please go to our website now and start on the path out of a fear-driven mind immediately.
Podcast Episode 18: The Brain, the Mind & the Fear
In this episode, John Sherman speaks about how the mind works by using neural impulses from the brain to create understandings and actions.
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Podcast Episode 17: Let’s Not Throw Away Our Shot!
In this episode, John Sherman speaks about how right now we have it in our power to bring an end to the baseless foundation of fear that is
all that stands in the way of human sanity.
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Why Practice Self-Directed Attention?
The Just One Look Method is a two-part process. Those two parts are the act of Looking at Yourself and the Self-Directed Attention Exercise.
The act of Looking at Yourself resets the mind and triggers a period of recovery in which the mind restructures itself, in a context that is no longer based on the fear of life itself. For the process to start, just one look is enough.
The second part, the practice of Self-Directed Attention, is fundamental in the recovery.
Podcast Episode 16: Hard Times
In this episode, John Sherman speaks about the dangerous situation humanity faces today and encourages all who have experienced the effects of Just One Look in their own lives to help us bring it to the world.
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Podcast Episode 15: Mind Matters
In this episode, John Sherman speaks about how you can acquire a true understanding of the power of a human mind free of fear and confusion, and learn to use that power to shape your relationship with your own life as it unfolds.
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These Times
I will not pussyfoot around the situation facing humanity today.
I am seventy-four years old and I have seen a lot of drama in my own life and in the lives of humans everywhere. In the 70s, I robbed banks and destroyed the means whereby working people were being made poorer every day. In the course of things, I was shot, put on the FBI’s Ten Most Wanted list, and imprisoned for almost 20 years in federal prisons.
Podcast Episode 14: You Can Change Your Mind
In this episode, John Sherman speaks about a simple method that gives you the tools to change your fearful mind into a mind that is sane, fearless and self-reliant.
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Podcast Episode 13: What to Do After the Looking
In today’s episode, John Sherman speaks about the two paths that are available to you after you have done the act of looking at yourself.
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Podcast Episode 12: Attention Is the Key
In today’s episode, John Sherman speaks about the importance of the Self-Directed Attention work and how it relates to the act of looking at yourself.
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Podcast Episode 11: The Importance of Self-Directed Attention
In today’s episode, John Sherman speaks about the importance of starting a practice of Self-Directed Attention as soon as possible. He explains how it is extremely helpful during the recovery period and how it allows you to play an active role in the healing of your mind.
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Podcast Episode 10: An Interview with John Sherman
In today’s episode, John Sherman is interviewed by Nurit Oren (Hungary). John talks about how he arrived at his method for ridding oneself of the fear of life. He shows how to perform the act of looking at yourself and explains the practice of self-directed attention. The interview was recorded on April 20, 2016.
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The Difference Between Self-Directed Attention and Mindfulness Meditation
Today I’m going to make one more attempt to answer questions about the similarity between what we call Self-Directed Attention and Buddhist Mindfulness Meditation. I can understand why there would be some confusion about the apparent similarity of the two practices, but they are actually diametrically opposite to each other.
When I speak of Mindfulness Meditation, I am referring to the practice that originated from Tibetan Buddhism. What I say here may apply to other versions of Buddhism, but I have personal experience with Tibetan Buddhism and I understand the outlook and the purpose of their practices, so that’s what I can speak about.
I am going to try to state as clearly as I can what the purpose of Tibetan Buddhist Mindfulness Meditation is, and then compare that purpose with the purpose of the practice that we call Self-Directed Attention. And from now on, I’m going to say just Buddhism.
Podcast Episode 9: Walking Wounded
In today’s episode, John Sherman explains how the Just One Look Method is different from anything else you have ever tried.
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Podcast Episode 8: Surviving Recovery
In today’s episode, John Sherman explains how a steady practice of self-directed attention will not only see you through the difficult time of recovery but will actually shorten the length of your recovery.
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