The ONA Foundation

About the Word

One of the primary characteristics of animal life is movement. One's ability to be mobile allows for a greater variety of experiences—and we Humans are the most mobile species on the planet, with the ability to travel through the air, sea, and even into space, with correspondingly greater ranges of experience than are enjoyed by the less mobile species.

The flip side of the coin involves stillness. It is no great triumph for a tree to be still, but for a Human stillness brings a special concentration to the movements that cannot be stilled: The beating of the heart, the breathing of the lungs, the flowing of blood in the veins and arteries.

The trick is to find a balance in life between movement and stillness. Movement to bring us to the experiences, stillness to savor and understand them.

Balance impacts the System of Mobility in another way, in that all ancient studies of movement have found that effective, graceful movements rotate around the body's center of gravity. That center is, of course, located beneath the navel. Thoughts trigger movement, lead us to experiences, and are the result of those experiences. Thus, thoughts—thinking—are also associated with the System of Mobility.

At A Glance

Beneath the navel is the body's center of gravity. Graceful and effective motions always rotate around this center. Awkward motions do not, although the compensation for the awkward movement—if it doesn't end in a fall—ends with the body's being in balance, after all. The trick is to understand and practice graceful, balanced movements so that one is in control of one's motions.

Because movement brings experiences, and experience brings information, the statement of this System is I THINK, associated with the Mental Field and Mental Inner Aspect.

The Importance of Mobility

Balance is a keyword associated with Mobility, because without it, there is no useful motion. With it, you also find a balance between movement and stillness.

Movement brings you to experiences, stillness gives you time to ponder them; and the experiences give you something to think about. Those thoughts then lead to further movement.

Thought -> Movement -> Experience -> Stillness -> Realization -> Thought is the circular path you follow throughout your life; and it is the System of Mobility that paves that path.

I THINK

The active intelligence that creates statements of Mobility is in the form of I THINK.

I THINK comes in a variety of forms. I THINK statements are made which apply to the Mental Inner Aspect, the Mental Field, and the System of Mobility. Inner Aspect statements refer to the way the brain accesses or processes information; Field statements refer to experiences and observed facts, and System statements motivate one to newer experiences.

Please note the difference between I FEEL statements (third Field) and I THINK (fourth Field) statements. I THINK refers to beliefs that have not been experienced; I THINK refers to beliefs that have been experienced.

Facts taught in schools or by teachers are mostly not directly experienced. One of the confusions in this world is that such information, which is actually a belief, is acted upon as experienced fact. It is a wise (and far more flexible) person who remembers that handed-down information is, at most, a belief, and not a fact.

Examples

Why Aren't Experienced Facts Stated As I know?

Primarily because your experiences are usually not subjected to rigorous proofs. You may watch the Sun rise in the East each morning, but how East? Dead on, or slightly to the north or south? Is there variation, day by day? And, while your experience tells you that this has happened in the past, you don't really know it will happen tomorrow—that's a belief.

Two plus two is not 4 in base two or base three.

And parts of Mexico lie farther north than parts of the United States.

Mental Inner Aspect

The fourth Inner Aspect is the Mental. This is implemented as the outer portions of the brain.

People have long been puzzled by scientists' insistence that the brain holds the information of your life. How can it hold so much, they ask? And then, you hear about someone who loses a portion of their brain in an accident or through surgery, and find they have lost some specific ability—the ability to name colors, for example, or to recognize faces—but still seem to remember all the details of their lives. How can this be, if the brain is a container that holds memories the way a drawer holds socks?

The answer is simple. The brain does not, itself, hold anything. It is, rather, a switching device that access information stored in the fourth energy field surrounding the body. That field contains memories, experiences, encoded as field patterns. It is the brain that provides access to that field.

The brain both places information into the field and reads what's already there. How the brain does its job depends on the wiring of the neurons that make it up; and studies have shown this wiring is affected by some experiences (especially traumatic ones), and the way the brain is typically used. In other words, a musician would typically be able to memorize a new melody more easily than someone who seldom listens to music.

So, your experiences so far, including any injuries you may have suffered, the type of books you read (or if you read), even the kind of work you do, contribute to the structure of the brain and, therefore, the manner in which it stores and accesses information.

Thus, people can say with some accuracy, "I THINK logically" or "I THINK emotionally" or "I THINK better when I'm under pressure."

Exercise 4-a

Write down four Inner Aspect I THINK statements (referring to your thought processes), Mark statements that indicate effective thinking with I+. Mark statements that indicate poor thinking with I-. Neutral statements may be left unmarked.

Unhealthy Inner Aspect

If you have an unhealthy third inner aspect, you have trouble storing or retrieving information efficiently and accurately. Forgetfulness, inaccurate memory, and frequent "Freudian slips" are all symptoms of fourth inner aspect problems. "I can't seem to think straight" is what a person with these problems might say.

Energizing your Mental Inner Aspect

Get Enough Sleep

The fact is, most people have times when they "can't think straight", are muddled, or can't focus mentally. Typically these experiences come when you haven't had enough sleep, have had too much to drink, or are distracted by noise or other kinds of stress.

So, to improve the health of your fourth Inner Aspect—the outer brain—get enough sleep, avoid excessive drinking, and avoid stress.

One of the first thing experts will tell you about sleep is that there is no "magic number of hours needed for adequate sleep." Not only do different age groups need different amounts of sleep, but sleep requirements are also individual. Sleep needs are just like any other characteristic you are born with, the amount of sleep you need to function best may be different for you than for someone who is of the same age and gender. Pertinent to you may be that you are absolutely at your best sleeping seven hours a night, someone else may truly need nine hours to have a happy, productive life.

This is so obvious that it is a wonder that anyone would have these problems. Yet, many people go on missing sleep, partying, and tolerating enormous levels of stress—in spite of the fact that, if you could think more clearly, you could probably get our work done faster and so have more time to sleep; would therefore be under less stress and therefore in need of less partying as a means of release.

The fact is, the effects of insufficient sleep, etc., are so pronounced, and people think so ineffectively in such a condition, that it creates a vicious circle: Not enough sleep causes poor thinking, which causes poor performance, which causes lack of sleep, etc.

For example, insufficient sleep duration is linked with:

• Increased risk of motor vehicle accidents

• Increase in body mass index—a greater likelihood of obesity due to an increased appetite caused by sleep deprivation

• Increased risk of diabetes and heart problems

• Increased risk for psychiatric conditions including depression and substance abuse

• Decreased ability to pay attention, react to signals or remember new information

It won't get better until you finally put your foot down and make time for that sleep that you individually need. Remember, to procure the right amount of sleep you need for you. Once that is made up, you can expect your thinking to be back up to speed.

Another aspect of this that is essential is making sure you are sleeping during the times best for you. People travel all over the world today. Your own bio-rhythmus may need to be sleeping at a place where the sun is still shinning and thus you are tired more. Try resting during the time your body needs it most. This is some times called jet lag. If you have lived your whole life in one area and move to another, your internal clock may be off by hours and you need to pay attention to this so you are getting sleep when you really need it.

A general rule of thumb is to note that as the day progresses the Human body begins to want to relax. One peek for some is at 4 pm when the internal clock of many people want to have a short break or rest. Don't force yourself to go full force at that time if it comes up for you. Take the break! Another time to be aware of is as the sun is setting energy levels are winding down after dinner whatever hour that might be for you take a walk to unwind and then relax. from then on you will go through a cycle for a need of deeper and deeper sleep until about 2 am when the body starts to cycle out of it again and becomes more awake around sun rise.

These are natural body cycles and in the world today people have over ridden these with working shifts during the darkest part of the night and sleeping during the day. Caffeine and other substances are used to keep awake. Be aware that these take a toll on the body and the brain. It is best to use natural substances that are not drugs or powerful elements that can reek havoc on the nervous system as an over abundance of caffeine can. Sleep aids such as valerian root, various herbs and tryptophan may be better solutions. Then again when possible try abiding with the Earths rhythmus and cycles and you can try to adjust to the natural sleep cycles that work best for you.

Challenge the Mind

Since the brain is a dynamic organ whose structure is altered by the way it's used, it makes sense to challenge the mind in order to make it more effective. Reading of any sort improves the brain, but especially non-fiction and science fiction are useful. Learning anything new strengthens the brain. Doing puzzles, especially of the brain teaser sort, is also effective.

Avoid Aluminum

A connection has been shown between cooking with aluminum pots and pans, and the later development of Alzheimer's disease. Certainly, the epidemic of Alzheimer's comes forty years after the introduction of aluminum cookware and some researchers refute the correlation. Most of what you don't need or want is to have any heavy metals leeching into your food while it is cooking. Some cook ware does this even if it is not aluminum anything you don't want in your food don't include! Find cookware that won't do this.

As of this writing, there are some promising treatments on the horizon for Alzheimer's, but none yet in place. Best shown results have been through proper diet and proper mental and physical exercise. Your best bet to avoid it is to avoid the cause. Cook in well coated iron, stainless steel, earthenware, or Teflon-coated cookware that is not leeching into the food being cooked. Pitted or flaking coated pots or pans may end up in your food. Cooking in glassware works really well such as Vision Ware.

Mental Field

The fourth Field is the Mental. Since fields hold information in the form of energy patterns, this field holds experiences. You can say "I THINK that…"

Part of learning to work with System Four is distinguishing between what you know and what you believe. Many people think they "know" something (such as the superiority of one of the political parties or religions, or the guilt or innocence of a celebrity on trial) but, in fact, have not actually experienced these things. Beliefs are stored in the Third Field; experiences, in the Fourth.

This is important to distinguish because beliefs are defended emotionally, while experienced information is accessed rationally. As a Human, it is normal for you to have to make decisions based on beliefs interacting with experience. You can do this best when you know that the experiences you have had back up your rational or beliefs. That may require some thinking about what you believe is true for you and see if it can stand up to the test. In other words, are there others that agree with your thinking? Who disagree? Note their agreements and objections and ultimately decide for yourself. The following exercise may help.

Exercise 4-b

Write down four Field I THINK THAT statements (referring to your facts), Mark statements that generally agree with "what everyone knows" with F+. Mark statements with which few people would agree, with F-.

Unhealthy Field

If your memory of events is consistently at odds with the memories of others, this is a sign of an unhealthy Mental Field. The problem is yours if everyone disagrees with you; if only one person does, they have the problem (and the advice here is, tape or video record all your dealings with them!).

You will also need to identify whether the problem is in the storage medium (the Field) or the recording/access device (the Inner Aspect). Inner Aspect problems show up immediately ("You said that a moment ago!" "I did not!") while Field problems tend to affect older information more than recently-received information.

Energizing your Mental Field

Keep alert to memories you have of shared experiences, with which many others disagree. Your recording may be faulty. On the other hand, suspect memories you have that everyone seems to share—They may have been absorbed from TV or movies.

Verifiable information, evidence, and experience are the keys to monitoring whether your Mental Field recordings are accurate. If you find that others frequently or consistently disagree with your memory of events, the wise course would be to consider that the Mental Field is in need of strengthening..

Cultivate friends who will tell you honestly what their memory is of shared experiences. One person remembering things differently is not significant, and it is not uncommon for five witnesses to an auto accident to later describe five different accidents. But if you have five friends who remember that you wore red that day, and you remember wearing blue, it is likely that it is your memory that is faulty, rather than all of theirs.

Mobility as a System

To the ancients, there were many principles of movement. The one that all others seemed to follow was the concept of a center from which all other movement radiated. When you contact this part of yourself, you can move in perfect harmony with your own surroundings. In the Orient, specifically China and Japan, the concepts of movement are taught in Tai-chi and marshal arts of all sorts. These people understand that anyone who masters this art of movement is also a master of the craft of their lives.

Traditionally, this center of balance is located in an area beneath the navel in the Human body. When you allow yourself to experience moving from this area it may feel strange at first. With practice, though, you find that this is the most efficient and graceful way to move.

You have the ability to move yourself and the things around you so that you are in harmony with your surroundings. When moving to the beat of a drum you can feel the rhythm that attunes you to others. You are connected to others and all those things in earshot of the beat by its rhythm and flow of sound and vibration. Similarly, you can attune yourself to your own rhythm and that of your surroundings. Thus, you learn this ability to move from a centered point within you that can harmonize with others and the environment.

So what things get you moving? What gets you going and wanting to move? If you don't follow through with something there may be a reason in your thinking process that you have not examined. It begins with how you think about moving and how you move in coordination with all things. In this next exercise lets look at how you think about those things that first motivate you.

Exercise 4-b

Write down four System I THINK I statements (referring to your motivators), Mark statements on which you are likely to follow through with S+. Mark statements with which you are unlikely to follow through, with S-.

Unhealthy System

An unhealthy System of Mobility can be characterized by effects such as these:

• Clumsiness

• Broken bones, stubbed toes, bruises, cuts

• Stated intentions are not followed by movement, or

• Movement precedes intention

An unhealthy System of Mobility is indicated by a break or imbalance in the Thought -> Movement -> Experience -> Stillness -> Realization -> Thought cycle. Thus, intention ("I THINK I will take my bath now") is not followed by appropriate action (the subject gets sidetracked and starts the laundry, or is distracted by something on the TV as he or she passes by and stops to watch). This hallmark of distraction leads inevitably to broken bones, stubbed toes, and all manner of bruises since the mental is not focused on the intended experience.

Energizing your System of Mobility

To improve the health of your System of Mobility, you must learn and practice a discipline that requires concentration and focus in regard to movement. There are several such practices available.

T'ai Chi

Any of the martial arts will do, but T'ai Chi was designed to be a "moving meditation" and does not require great physical prowess to practice. It also has the advantage of being non-confrontational. In this discipline, the practitioner assumes certain balanced poses, and transforms them into other balanced poses.

Hindu Mudras, Belly Dancing, Hula Dancing

Mudra (English: ; Sanscrit: meaning "seal", "mark", or "gesture"). Some mudras involve the entire body, most are performed with the hands and fingers or feet and toes. In , mudras are used in conjunction with yogic breathing exercises. It can be correlated that mudras stimulate and access the acupuncture energy meridians of the body and their points. A brain research paper published in the National Academy of Sciences in November 2009, demonstrated that hand gestures stimulate the same regions of the brain as language. Each of these dance techniques tells a story, requiring the practitioner to remember a fair amount of information accurately.

Gymnastics

If you are already physically fit, or wish to be, gymnastics can strengthen your System of Mobility and your physical body at the same time.

Ballroom Dancing

Also a good form of physical exercise, this method of strengthening the System of Mobility works best for couples. This also assists in your ability to coordinate with someone else in accomplishing movement goals.

Finding Your Mobility

Referring to the Systems chart in Workshop Zero, please note that the parabolic plane for System Four extends from a center located beneath the navel.