The Practice Of Becoming Present, also called self-observation, is sometimes referred to as an act of conscious labour. The term is a difficult one, because it seems to imply struggle and effort. Which is true. But the actual practice of this is far lighter, has greater delicacy, and when ‘successful’ is effortless. Then, it slips away and we’re back to the more effortful approach. (In my own practice, I find it useful to listen to myself while speaking. This constitutes a division of attention and opens up the range of my experiencing.)

There are degrees of being present. This is never habitual, established, and in place forever: becoming present is a constant practice. Firstly, we address our bodies, this animal we inhabit and which carries us through our lives. Are we present in our bodies? If we are, we notice the unnecessary points of tension, twitching, restlessness, movement. Relaxation is necessary tension, tension is unnecessary tension. Secondly, our feeling life: how are we feeling? Thirdly, the constant witterings in our head.

Intentional suffering: where we do what we see to be right, and necessary, for others, in the knowledge that when we do, they will get pissed and they will fuck with us. These are terms not conventionally found in the metaphysical treatises, but I am translating for contemporary readers.

Robert Fripp
2019
On The Road In The USA