{"id":4527,"date":"2013-10-29T17:31:30","date_gmt":"2013-10-30T01:31:30","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/eugenehallidayarchive.com\/?p=4527"},"modified":"2025-01-23T19:09:32","modified_gmt":"2025-01-24T03:09:32","slug":"17-working-part-2-who-is-working-dont-look-at-me-officer-i-was-nowhere-near-it","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/eugenehallidayarchive.com\/?p=4527","title":{"rendered":"17. Working (Part 2). Who is Working? … \u201cDon\u2019t look at me Officer! \u2026 I was nowhere near it!\u201d"},"content":{"rendered":"
\n

Man is the only creature who can refuse to be who he is.<\/p>\n

Albert Camus.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n

The contents of this post consist entirely of my attempts to respond in more detail to the question, \u201cWho is doing the Work?\u201d – posted in the \u2018comments\u2019 section, at the bottom of my previous post.<\/p>\n

(NOTE: To go to my previous post and the associated comments thread, click (here<\/span>)<\/a>. Scrolling to the bottom of this post will take you to the ‘Comments’).<\/p>\n

Even though I<\/b> do have a number of ideas about what I<\/b> mean when I say that I am \u2018Working\u2019, I realize that I have never clarified any of my views on this subject – or how it was that I arrived at them – to anyone else, at least not in any detail…And although the post below is rather long, I have still only managed to provide a brief sketch. Be that as it may, here then are a \u2018variety of my views\u2019 on the subject of \u2018Work\u2019.<\/p>\n

Before going into the ‘Who’ however, there is another question – \u2018What is Work?\u2019 \u2013 that, in my view, must come first; because I find that I can\u2019t say anything in any really meaningful way about this \u2018Who\u2019, until I can place it in very particular <\/b>situations.<\/p>\n

But, if I were pushed into answering this question right now – from the point of view of my own cultural background (which is Judaic\/Christian) – then my (one-word) answer here, at least in the sense that I understand the word \u2018Work\u2019, would be, \u201cJesus.\u201d<\/p>\n

But, for the moment at least, that answer might appear to be almost \u2018flippant\u2019 … …  Almost\u2026<\/p>\n

\u25ca\u25ca\u25ca\u25ca\u25ca\u25ca\u25ca\u25ca\u25ca\u25ca\u25ca\u25ca\u25ca\u25ca\u25ca\u25ca\u25ca\u25ca\u25ca\u25ca\u25ca\u25ca\u25ca<\/p>\n

For me, the major defining characteristic of ‘Working’ is that it is a process,<\/b> and not a \u2018thing\u2019 or an \u2018idea\u2019 (a \u2018think\u2019)\u2026 So it cannot then, by it\u2019s very nature, be defined – except in the broadest of terms\u2026<\/p>\n

Rather \u2013 Working can possess any number of meanings. Each of which is dependent upon which section of the \u2018task at hand\u2019, you happen to be Working on, in the moment …<\/p>\n

This meaning of Work is also, rather obviously I believe, intimately connected with the psychological make-up of the \u2018who\u2019 that is attempting to do this Work.<\/p>\n

So from my perspective then, Working can only \u2018actually\u2019 be described, at, or from, \u2018point\u2013to-point\u2019… If, indeed, \u2018described\u2019 is the correct word to be used here… And this also applies to any attempt at coming up with the \u2018who\u2019… In fact, I find it helpful to use a variety of labels for ‘who’ here. .. such as: ‘Naughty Bob’… ‘Happy Bob’ … ‘Introspective Bob’ … “I’m really going to give it my best shot this time Bob’ … ‘Look – this time I’m serious here – Bob’ … ‘No – honestly – this time I am really, really, serious about this – Bob’ … ‘BoH-bee-zZzz -K’… etc. … which all helps me in dismantling any notion I might harbor that ‘at the end’ there will be a ‘who’ that is going to eventually emerge from all this… A sort of ‘unchanging, all-knowing, eternal, smiley, super-Bob’ who – just like all the other members of the elect here who have somehow managed to ‘make it’ – is now eternally united with Margaret Thatcher, The Queen Mother, Winston Churchill, and Karl Marx…<\/p>\n

Not my favorite idea at all, I’m afraid…<\/p>\n

So – as I also maintain that ‘the name of the game’ here is the introduction of \u2018change\u2019 (or better \u2013 \u2018transformation\u2019) to \u2018being\u2019 \u2013 the question as to who exactly this \u2018Who\u2019 is then, now clearly becomes far more complicated to answer than we would all, perhaps, have liked…<\/p>\n

But, if it\u2019s any comfort here, examining these resistances, or difficulties, to providing any (evolving) description of what takes place to beings when they do actually get round to doing a bit of Work produces great steaming mounds of personally produced \u2018raw material\u2019, that can eventually \u2013 amongst all sorts of other useful things that it can do here – provide an extremely clear account of what it was that Eugene Halliday meant by his use of the term \u2018engram\u2019\u2026<\/p>\n

This might – for the moment perhaps – appear to be another subject entirely to that of Working\u2026 But I believe that this reaction to Eugene Halliday\u2019s material \u2013 which is to say that the difficulty almost everyone I have come across has had, in applying their subsequent understanding of Eugene Halliday’s concepts, such as \u2018engrams\u2019, to their own situation – is crucial to any understanding here, of this ‘Work process’\u2026<\/p>\n

And even though the individual pieces themselves\u2026 those talks and essays etc. that Eugene Halliday was almost continually, \u2018putting out there\u2019 \u2026 are invariably (reasonably) clear to \u2018see\u2019 (rather like the individual pieces of a jig-saw puzzle). Getting an appreciation of the whole picture is another matter entirely. Particularly as – before you start attempting to join the pieces together \u2013 you discover that you have not been provided with a box that has a nice copy of the ‘finished picture\u2019 on the lid (There goes another of my cheesy metaphors! :-)).<\/p>\n

But I believe that it is always at least possible here, to come to some personal <\/b>evaluation of the \u2018situation as it now stands\u2019 (by, say, answering a question to yourself such as, \u201cHow did that last bit go?\u201d) \u2026 And then – having arrived at one answer or another here \u2013 of being aware that this immediately opens up the possibility of being able to ask the next question.. Which is of course – \u201cOK then! \u2026 I got that bit \u2026 I think…  So far, so good!\u2026 What is am I supposed to do now? \u2026 Next?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u25ca\u25ca\u25ca\u25ca\u25ca\u25ca\u25ca\u25ca\u25ca\u25ca\u25ca\u25ca\u25ca\u25ca\u25ca\u25ca\u25ca\u25ca\u25ca\u25ca\u25ca\u25ca\u25ca<\/p>\n

Attempts can be made at \u2018explaining\u2019 Work from any number of viewpoints \u2013 but these will only ever be little more than lifeless theories unless they are rooted in actual experiences \u2013 no matter how cunningly contrived these \u2018explanations\u2019 happen to be\u2026<\/p>\n

But, that said, I can also see that it is possible to have a belief about the possible reasons for Working in the form of a sort of overview of it, \u2026 For example – if you like – \u2018We Work, because doing so will (eventually) set us free.\u2019 \u2026 (But in this particular case though, I would caution, \u201cDon\u2019t hold your breath!\u201d)\u2026<\/p>\n

\u25ca\u25ca\u25ca\u25ca\u25ca\u25ca\u25ca\u25ca\u25ca\u25ca\u25ca\u25ca\u25ca\u25ca\u25ca\u25ca\u25ca\u25ca\u25ca\u25ca\u25ca\u25ca\u25ca<\/p>\n

Viewed as a process though, it becomes much easier to see that \u2018the who\u2019; \u2018the what\u2019; \u2018the how\u2019; and \u2018the where\u2019 of Working, are all so intimately related that it becomes almost impossible to explore the answer to one, without simultaneously taking into account all of the others.<\/p>\n

So – from this perspective then \u2013 this \u2018Who\u2019 that we are interested in revealing to ourselves, depends very largely upon \u2018what\u2019 it is that needs to be done in that moment..<\/p>\n

Indeed, this fact – that I am faced with a choice of what to do at every moment – is one of the major reasons why I believe that there needs to be any \u2018who\u2019 here at all… In the first place… for anyone to wonder (wander) about!..<\/p>\n

Because, if there were no choice here; that is, that any Work that needed to be done could only ever be done in one way – then there would only ever be a need for one \u2018who\u2019 here; or there could be lots of \u2018who\u2019s\u2019, but they’d all be doing this identical, one, same thing\u2026. Which seems rather pointless to me\u2026 Although, I suppose, we could all be doing ‘the-same-but-different’ thing … But if that were the case, then we’d all have to be Irish, because they’re the only ones who can understand what things like this mean – and we’re not.<\/p>\n

Because we are all finite – and so we are all, in one sense then, incomplete – it can easily be seen that in identical circumstances, I will be required to do something quite different from you (you may have to \u2018stoop under\u2019; while I may have to \u2018jump over\u2019, for instance)…<\/p>\n

This \u2018who\u2019 and \u2018what\u2019 for me, both depend intimately then, upon what point it is along the journey (the \u2018where\u2019) that the \u2018who\u2019 here, happens to be at.<\/p>\n

The \u2018upside\u2019 to this perspective on things for me, is that questions and comments, such as, \u2018What have you stopped for?; \u2018You\u2019ve missed a part out!\u201d; and “That\u2019s the wrong way!” etc. all become much more immediately obvious – and so much simpler – to appreciate.<\/p>\n

So now, in my case, the original question of \u2018Who is Working\u2019 (as I begin to focus on it then) quickly becomes for me, far more complex; taking the form of – \u201cWho is it here that is \u2018becoming\u2019?\u201d; \u201cWho is it, specifically, that is now involving themselves – here and now – in this particular part of this process?\u201d\u2026 And this allows me to factor in, not only this \u2018who\u2019, as an evolving<\/b> \u2018who\u2019 – but also situate this \u2018who\u2019 in the ever-changing background of a \u2018what\u2019 (located at a specific place); and at a \u2018where\u2019 (at some point in the time-process)\u2026<\/p>\n

Which all serves to give me a much greater \u2018purchase\u2019 on the original question…\u2019Who is Working\u2019\u2026Believe it or not!<\/p>\n

All this also means that \u2013 not only stating exactly \u2018Who\u2019 is Working\u2019 has suddenly become difficult, except in general terms – but also that ‘a set of instructions’ as to \u2018how to Work\u2019 cannot now be given – in any practical detail – by any \u2018teacher\u2019 – or they can only be given in the broadest of terms.<\/p>\n

Because, in the actual, practical, matter of Working (which, in my view, is the same thing as the actual, practical, matter of living) this will be incredibly complex, and uniquely different for each individual – particularly where it concerns the quality of these experiences; and also that the \u2018task at hand\u2019 changes – both in its form and function, and from from moment to moment – to a degree that is dependent entirely upon the \u2018position along their evolutionary path\u2019 that the being attempting to Work happens to find themselves at in that particular moment\u2026<\/p>\n

\u25ca\u25ca\u25ca\u25ca\u25ca\u25ca\u25ca\u25ca\u25ca\u25ca\u25ca\u25ca\u25ca\u25ca\u25ca\u25ca\u25ca\u25ca\u25ca\u25ca\u25ca\u25ca\u25ca<\/p>\n

It is possible, from time to time, to recognize someone else who has actually been Working, by the way in which they relate any of their experiences of the process involved to you. And, in these instances, it is possible to have a little rest and a chat with them \u2013 before moving on.<\/span><\/p>\n

I can sense when others are \u2018recalling their own personal journey\u2019 and so are relaying their own actual, lived, experiences to me \u2026 There is an emotional engagement with the recounting which I believe is almost impossible to fake – at least not for very long.
\n<\/span><\/p>\n

However, a complete lack of embarrassment on the part of those relaying these experiences, or a sense that they are being guided in some way by my reactions to their tale, will almost certainly mean that – no matter how convincing they might sound \u2013 they are almost certainly lying, or that they are self-deluded, and are ‘acting’ \u2026 or at the very least, embellishing most of this account of theirs, in order to make it more \u2018interesting\u2019, \u2018mysterious\u2019, or even \u2018sexy\u2019…<\/span><\/p>\n

Thus – the only one, really essential, requirement here when \u2018listening in\u2019 to all this  –  is a sense of humor.<\/span><\/p>\n

From ‘NOCTURNAL EMISSIONS’<\/span>
\n ‘Random Dribbling from the Twilight World of the Undead’<\/span>
\n by Bob Hardy<\/span>
\n (A series of fragments from Bob Hardy’s notebooks – from the late-1970’s to date)<\/span><\/p>\n

\u25ca\u25ca\u25ca\u25ca\u25ca\u25ca\u25ca\u25ca\u25ca\u25ca\u25ca\u25ca\u25ca\u25ca\u25ca\u25ca\u25ca\u25ca\u25ca\u25ca\u25ca\u25ca\u25ca<\/span><\/p>\n

So, its more for me then, that \u2018Working is a process that – freely interacting with – will result in the further development of an evolving \u2018Who\u2019; rather than a sort of static \u2018Who\u2019… who  just \u2018beavers away\u2019 at stuff … getting older by the minute.<\/p>\n

Interestingly – in my own case, back when I was first introduced to Eugene Halliday\u2019s material by Ken Ratcliffe in the mid 1970\u2019s – the very first word that I felt impelled to work with, was process<\/b>\u2026 This word was not suggested to me by anyone else\u2026 It seemed to just \u2018come to me out of the blue, as it were\u2026 And I have never been able to quite figure out why\u2026 Not back then, or now\u2026 And I\u2019ve often wondered about this since\u2026 (I still have the notes that I made back then, as well)\u2026\u2026<\/p>\n

\u2026But it has just dawned on me  – as to possibly – why\u2026<\/p>\n

\u25ca\u25ca\u25ca\u25ca\u25ca\u25ca\u25ca\u25ca\u25ca\u25ca\u25ca\u25ca\u25ca\u25ca\u25ca\u25ca\u25ca\u25ca\u25ca\u25ca\u25ca\u25ca\u25ca<\/p>\n

I will also say that I am \u2018on board\u2019 with much of the content of that posted comment \u2026 I agree that Working can be intensely irritating \u2013 but that this is exactly what you need in order to Work\u2026 And it is your intuition here that will provide the inspiration for you to Work. i.e. \u201cAlthough I know this is going to take a great deal of effort I really believe that I will achieve this goal,\u201d or, “I have a strong sense that I must do this.” etc. … You shoulder your particular problem, and attempt to move forward – as you are able. Your intuition will provide some \u2018light\u2019 for you here, and give you a guide as to whether or not you are moving in the right direction.<\/p>\n

I would also agree that Work can seem to be carrying on \u2018without you\u2019 \u2026 and so there is always the problem here of one\u2019s ever-present, \u2018inertic self\u2019…<\/p>\n

\u25ca\u25ca\u25ca\u25ca\u25ca\u25ca\u25ca\u25ca\u25ca\u25ca\u25ca\u25ca\u25ca\u25ca\u25ca\u25ca\u25ca\u25ca\u25ca\u25ca\u25ca\u25ca\u25ca<\/p>\n

But – re the part of this comment that reads – \u2018An intelligence that transcends my personal egotism\u2019<\/em>\u2026  I\u2019m not really sure what is meant here\u2026 This seems to be implying that (say in my case) it wouldn\u2019t actually be me who would be doing this Work \u2026 And that\u2019s the opposite of what I do believe \u2026 Because central to any claim by me that I have actually done any of this \u2018Work\u2019, is my active experience of having done it! \u2026<\/p>\n

I have never had this sense of \u2018otherness\u2019; this \u2018intelligence that transcends my personal egotism\u2019 – in this way.<\/p>\n

Whatever state(s) I do experience, it\u2019s always me that\u2019s having these experiences – although this state may sometimes seem \u2018better\u2019 than others (say one of resolute calmness, or focus – as opposed to experiencing depression, or irritation); and those accounts, by others, who claim that \u2018something or someone else\u2019 is having these experiences instead, just don\u2019t \u2018add up\u2019 at all, for me..<\/p>\n

In my case then, I\u2019m either having an experience, or I\u2019m not; if someone else (or some ‘thing’) is claiming to have the experience instead (but, ultimately, in situations like this, how would I really know if they were?), then I\u2019m OK with that; and I have no problem with sharing experiences\u2026 But when it comes to \u2018doing\u2019 – I\u2019m either the one \u2018doing the doing\u2019, or I\u2019m not\u2026 Of course I can also \u2018hold your coat\u2019 and watch you \u2018do it\u2019 \u2013 but then my experience in this particular case would be one of \u2018holding your coat and watching you\u2019.<\/p>\n

I couldn\u2019t really see me maintaining the view that I do – that Working is the only thing we are really here to accomplish – if I thought Working was just \u2018a really good idea\u2019, or \u2018an interesting, sound, metaphysical concept\u2019: or \u2018the nectar of the Gods\u2019; or of \u2018being touched\u2019 by somethin(g\/k) \u2018else\u2019; or \u2018a code of behavior that it would be \u2018really good\u2019 to live by\u2019 – when I can manage it; or when I\u2019m in the mood to; or when I get around to actually doing so; or something like that\u2026<\/p>\n

And although some of the states I do experience seem to me to be \u2018far more together\u2019 than others, and the degree (or force) with which I can experience them, ranges from \u2018hardly noticeable\u2019 to \u2018overwhelming\u2019, I have never had the experience of being \u2018occupied\u2019 by \u2018another\u2019\u2026. (Although two of my past friends did develop paranoid schizophrenia later in life, and it clearly seemed – to them at least – that they were \u2018occupied\u2019)  … So – as far as I\u2019m concerned then – it has<\/b> to be me<\/b> that does this Work.<\/p>\n

But then I suppose a great deal would also depend on what is meant here by the term \u2018ego\u2019\u2026<\/p>\n

I use this word in a very specific way, and I don\u2019t really understand it most of the time when others use it\u2026 Eugene Halliday use of the term seemed somewhat ambiguous, or even contradictory at times, to me \u2013 So I tend to \u2018screen it out\u2019\u2026<\/p>\n

And where I hear it used in common speech? \u2026 Well, it seems to be able to be applied to almost anything, and anybody, indiscriminately \u2013 and this makes it almost pointless for me to attempt to use it as a meaningful term, when I’m speaking to others   \u2026<\/p>\n

From my own understanding, it seems to me that when others use this term they are almost invariably referring to their self-constructed \u2018social mask\u2019 \u2013 or, as I prefer it (and using the term in its Jungian sense) \u2018Persona\u2019\u2026 This persona is, for me: \u2018Who it is that that beings are presently invested in presenting themselves as \u2013 both to themselves and to others\u2019\u2026 And this is not, for me, the ‘ego’…<\/p>\n

So I would need more background here before I could comment further \u2013 at least on this bit.<\/p>\n

That said \u2026 whether or not any other part of this response is what it is that you had in mind Richard, is another matter entirely!  \ud83d\ude42<\/p>\n

\u25ca\u25ca\u25ca\u25ca\u25ca\u25ca\u25ca\u25ca\u25ca\u25ca\u25ca\u25ca\u25ca\u25ca\u25ca\u25ca\u25ca\u25ca\u25ca\u25ca\u25ca\u25ca\u25ca<\/p>\n

To continue on then \u2026<\/p>\n

This is (obviously, I believe) a very \u2018deep\u2019 subject for me. But I do appreciate that the way in which I view some aspects of it (and fret over others) might seem odd to someone else\u2026 Especially, when I add here, that I don\u2019t believe it\u2019s necessary to understand the \u2018who\u2019, \u2018how\u2019, \u2018what\u2019, \u2018when\u2019, \u2018were\u2019, and \u2018why\u2019 of Working, in order to Work\u2026 In the same way that I don\u2019t believe it\u2019s necessary to know how a watch works, in order to be able to use it to tell the time\u2026 And so I can appreciate that there are those out there who might wonder, \u201cWhat\u2019s the problem here? \u2026 What is there to know?… Why can\u2019t you just get on with it?\u201d\u2026<\/p>\n

So then, if others don\u2019t chose to nit-pick away at this subject to the same extent that I do, I\u2019m OK with that\u2026<\/p>\n

But – in my particular case – I find that understanding something of the \u2018who\u2019, \u2018how\u2019, \u2018what\u2019, \u2018when\u2019, \u2018were\u2019, and \u2018why\u2019 of Working, helps me to keep \u2018having a go\u2019 here, at least.<\/p>\n

\u25ca\u25ca\u25ca\u25ca\u25ca\u25ca\u25ca\u25ca\u25ca\u25ca\u25ca\u25ca\u25ca\u25ca\u25ca\u25ca\u25ca\u25ca\u25ca\u25ca\u25ca\u25ca\u25ca<\/p>\n

All these questions re \u2018Working\u2019 were difficult for me to get a handle at the beginning, However, I eventually came up with a variety of ways of approaching them \u2026 and some of these approaches were reasonably straightforward.<\/p>\n

For instance, where it concerns, \u201cWhere do I start Working? \u2026 I now have an allegory that takes me immediately \u2018straight to the starting line\u2019 \u2013 if I can remember it in time (and at the time) that is!<\/p>\n

\n

(A) doctor doesn\u2019t start with a book of cures, and then go hunting for a disease. He starts with somebody who has got something wrong with them; he diagnoses the disease; and then he looks for a cure.<\/p>\n

Alex Elmsley.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n

The \u2018somebody\u2019 here, is me; and the \u2018something\u2019 here, is what it is that I must Work on\u2026<\/p>\n

This allegory also made it much easier for me to focus on Working primarily on myself; and at the same time to tone-down my attempts at \u2018offering good advice in this area\u2019 to others\u2026 Such as (using a cheerful, confident, tone of voice) – Quote, “Just ‘be here now’ \u2013 That\u2019s all there is to the whole business really!” Unquote\u2026 etc. et al.).<\/p>\n

\u25ca\u25ca\u25ca\u25ca\u25ca\u25ca\u25ca\u25ca\u25ca\u25ca\u25ca\u25ca\u25ca\u25ca\u25ca\u25ca\u25ca\u25ca\u25ca\u25ca\u25ca\u25ca\u25ca<\/p>\n

I\u2019ve tried, in this post, to cover the important aspects of my response to this comment from as many angles as I could. But I would first like to remind readers of this blog that  – almost from the very beginning here, some eighteen months or so ago \u2013 I pointed out that arriving at a position where I could even structure questions re \u2018Working\u2019 correctly, was one of the major reasons for my continued interest – for at least the first few years – in studying Eugene Halliday\u2019s material – because I didn\u2019t really \u2018get it\u2019\u2026<\/p>\n

Almost at the beginning of my first post here then, in March, 2012, I was attempting to describe my introduction to, what was, at the time for me – some 35 years ago, this vague idea of \u2018Working\u2019 \u2026 And I wrote:\u2013<\/p>\n

\n

What is the essential nature of this \u2019Work\u2019? \u2026 Well that, for the moment at least anyway, is the \u2018Million Dollar Question\u2019..<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n

But I have always believed that if you can frame any question correctly, then you\u2019re already over halfway to your answer. So that was my approach\u2026 I was attempting to clarify what it was that I was striving to get an answer to \u2026<\/p>\n

Much of the content of my initial posts were concerned with describing how I attempted to move from a purely intellectual interest in Eugene Halliday\u2019s ideas, to the dawning realization that they were all really a load of useless waffle – at worst a psychological toxin and at best a load of time-wasting hot-air – if I failed to involve these ideas essentially<\/b> in my actual life, as I was living it moment to moment, as often and as well as I was able\u2026<\/p>\n

So uncovering the \u2018essential matter\u2019 of these questions for me (that is, the \u2018what\u2019; the \u2018who\u2019; the \u2018how\u2019 and the \u2018why\u2019, of this \u2018Work\u2019 and \u2018Working\u2019) – and as a consequence, making the attempt to embody my own limits to the applications of these terms in my actual situation (or, if you prefer – the meaning of these terms for me in the \u2018here and now\u2019) – became the real name of the game for me..<\/p>\n

As a result (but I don\u2019t think this will really help right now) I have come to the conclusion that my (current) response to the question \u2018Who is working?\u2019 would be that, \u201cEverybody is working.\u201d \u2026. Although I would also claim, \u201cNot everybody is Working.\u201d<\/p>\n

I\u2019ve introduced this (rather short) answer, immediately above, here, because I believe it allows me to immediately bring into play two other important ancillary questions early on – \u201cWorking for whom; and Working for what purpose, exactly?\u201d \u2026 Pondering over these two questions does, in my experience, also throw some valuable light on \u2018Who is Working?\u2019<\/p>\n

\u25ca\u25ca\u25ca\u25ca\u25ca\u25ca\u25ca\u25ca\u25ca\u25ca\u25ca\u25ca\u25ca\u25ca\u25ca\u25ca\u25ca\u25ca\u25ca\u25ca\u25ca\u25ca\u25ca<\/p>\n

When I first started writing this post I did so by attempting to supply a direct answer to this question (but not the answer I\u2019ve given just above) However I soon realized that I would be assuming anyone reading, and so hopefully, subsequently understanding this post, would need to have shared a great deal of the same background here as my own.<\/p>\n

So – as to a bit of this background of mine then\u2026<\/p>\n

My present position here is a result of – not only my own extended reflexions upon \u2018What is this \u2018Working\u2019 thing all about?\u2019 – but also (obviously I believe) incorporates elements of what I take to be Eugene Halliday\u2019s position (and a number of others \u2013 including Gurdjieff) on the subject.  So here\u2019s a \u2018rough sketch\u2019 of some of this material\u2026<\/p>\n

Any understanding that I arrived at initially where it concerned Working, followed from my early decision to work on acquiring an ‘active language’; and to foreground two of Eugene Halliday\u2019s concepts. These were:<\/p>\n

    \n
  1. All that there is \u2018Sentient Power\u2019 \u2026 (a term I do not substitute the word \u2018God\u2019 for by the way – because I can\u2019t get it to fit; and I find that attempting to do so only confuses things hopelessly for me)<\/li>\n
  2. This Sentient Power can Work for the development of the potential in all being (but I don\u2019t refer to all that it \u2018does\u2019 as  \u2018loving\u2019).<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

    So, I would not claim then that, \u201cGod had \u2018just entered the building\u2019,\u201d if I viewing something amazing in the natural world, but instead I would say, \u201cThis is an example of one of those amazing things that Sentient Power can become.\u201d \u2026 And I would not, in the past, say things like, \u201cThat was done with love,\u201d if – for instance – I felt I\u2019d had a particularly good night on the piano..<\/p>\n

    So, let\u2019s just say here, for the moment at least, that I\u2019m very cautious indeed about substituting these terms (\u2018God\u2019 and \u2018Love\u2019) when I\u2019m mulling over something here with myself\u2026 However, I will use these terms when I\u2019m talking with others about these concepts, if it can\u2019t be avoided. But \u2013 if given the choice \u2013 I would prefer not to… Messy – and not very straightforward I know – but that\u2019s how it is for me I\u2019m afraid\u2026<\/p>\n

    \u25ca\u25ca\u25ca\u25ca\u25ca\u25ca\u25ca\u25ca\u25ca\u25ca\u25ca\u25ca\u25ca\u25ca\u25ca\u25ca\u25ca\u25ca\u25ca\u25ca\u25ca\u25ca\u25ca<\/p>\n

    \u2018To work\u2019 is to \u2018order power\u2019. And for this ordering to take place, this power must be in motion.<\/p>\n

    We refer to our awareness of this \u2018power-in-motion\u2019 as \u2018energy\u2019.<\/p>\n

    So \u2013 if, say, you are presently \u2018feeling frisky\u2019, then this would not only be an example of your awareness of \u2018sentient power as \u2018energy\u2019 \u2013 but also that you had qualified it to yourself by giving it the label \u2018frisky\u2019  … It is also crucial here to appreciate that there will also always be an evaluative component present of, \u201cYes!… \u2018Feeling frisky\u2019 is just what I need right now,\u201d or of, \u201dOh No! \u2026 Not now!… I\u2019m trying to get some sleep!\u201d – or of some evaluative component in-between.<\/p>\n

    You must also bring up this \u2018energy\u2019 in yourself (as it were), and it is you who must then direct it.<\/p>\n

    This energy ‘comes up’ in you either: as a result of you involving your Will here, in order to Work; or, as a consequence of your innate desire(s) ‘getting the better of you’\u2026 [This is a subject that constitutes a completely separate, and lengthy, topic on its own I\u2019m afraid] \u2026<\/p>\n

    So then, it is you<\/b> (and not any other being – either immanent or transcendental) who has the responsibility for initiating this \u2018getting things moving here\u2019, in order for you to Work\u2026 And it is also you <\/b>alone who must do all<\/b> the Work here – with all your \u2018warts and all\u2019.<\/p>\n

    You cannot wait until you\u2019re \u2018suitably prepared\u2019 \u2013 because there\u2019s no such point in time when you will ever be \u2018ready\u2019 in this way; there is no ideally favorable \u2018stars in the right position\u2019 point at which it would be better for you to begin either \u2013 because there is no such place \u2018out there\u2019\u2026. You cannot – by one means or another – enlist any celestial (or otherwise) \u2018help\u2019, because all that any other being can ever do for you here is point the way to the entrance door (which is all that I believe Eugene Halliday ever did) \u2026 And that door is going to stay closed until you yourself get up of your behind and onto your feet… And it is you<\/b> who must then do the knocking at that door, in order to pass through \u2026<\/p>\n

    Nothing here will ever be achieved by relating that you \u2018knew, or sat at the foot of, Eugene Halliday\u2019, or claiming that you ‘understand’ concepts such as \u2018All there is, is sentient power\u2019; or that \u2018we\u2019re all going to be reflexively self-conscious at the \u2018end of evolution\u2019\u2026 … None of that is Working\u2026 Because if it was, then there wouldn\u2019t actually be anything to do…except to sit in your armchair – or (if you want to tart it up a bit) ‘adopting a yoga pose’ and ‘meditating’.<\/p>\n

    So here, I would say that, \u201cAll that Eugene Halliday ever tried to do for others was to attempt to get them to begin to Work.\u201d \u2026 And would quickly add that – although an appropriate feeling of gratitude here would be just fine – the rest of it… the real<\/strong> part… the Working part<\/strong> … is entirely up to you … entirely up to you… ever last bit of it.<\/p>\n

    \u25ca\u25ca\u25ca\u25ca\u25ca\u25ca\u25ca\u25ca\u25ca\u25ca\u25ca\u25ca\u25ca\u25ca\u25ca\u25ca\u25ca\u25ca\u25ca\u25ca\u25ca\u25ca\u25ca<\/p>\n

    You can only ever do any of this Work in the \u2018here and now\u2019, and you must do it purely from your own efforts.<\/p>\n

    And\u2026 Oh Yes \u2026 Eventually you will (inevitably) fail \u2013 no matter who you are, or how you go about all this \u2026 That cock is going to crow in your life (at least) three times whatever you do \u2026 And you must be \u2018just fine\u2019 with that before you even begin your attempts here\u2026 Just like you must be fine with the sure fact of your inevitable demise\u2026 This is something that you would be better coming to terms with, here\u2026 and now \u2026 and also sooner, rather than later\u2026 Because if all this is done as some sort of desperate attempt to \u2018get something\u2019, then it won\u2019t Work\u2026<\/p>\n

    One of the very few things that I try to do every day, is to contemplate my own death for a few minutes … and that seems to put things in some sort of perspective for me … it gets me looking at things in the right way… Often enough though, I will soon forget even this very quickly, and instead identify with the situation that I presently find myself in, and thus become dominated by it  … But, anyway, I appreciate that starting your day like this might not suit everyone…<\/p>\n

    \u2018Resignation\u2019 then, is one of the (real) \u2018names of the game\u2019 here\u2026<\/p>\n

    You must generate – within yourself – enough positivity to perform this Working\u2026 And you must do it for \u2018doings sake\u2019, and do it in the \u2018now\u2019… As opposed to, say, attempting to figure out ways of \u2018banking it\u2019 – ‘just in case you might need it later’\u2026<\/p>\n

    \u25ca\u25ca\u25ca\u25ca\u25ca\u25ca\u25ca\u25ca\u25ca\u25ca\u25ca\u25ca\u25ca\u25ca\u25ca\u25ca\u25ca\u25ca\u25ca\u25ca\u25ca\u25ca\u25ca<\/p>\n

    You will always experience resistance to your efforts at Working – because if you don\u2019t  – then you\u2019re not Working \u2026<\/p>\n

    And where it concerns your awareness of this resistance?<\/p>\n

    Even the \u2018brand new\u2019 energy that you have initially acquired; that you have \u2018called up\u2019 from yourself in order to begin Working, will be \u2018tinged\u2019 with some element, or with some quality, or other..<\/p>\n

    Because, briefly, in order for it to be experienced by you as actually being available (“Where is it?” … “Oh there it is!”) it must possess some degree of \u2018quality\u2019…For you to experience this awareness. (To have this experience of it \u2018being there\u2019)\u2026<\/p>\n

    Let us, for example, use the element – our ‘tinge’ – of violence or turbulence (very normal) here\u2026 This \u2018quality\u2019; this initial \u2018adulteration\u2019 of sentient power as \u2018energy\u2019, (which will probably not – for the moment at least – be focused by you on any particular object \u2018out there\u2019), will be continually attempting to influence your efforts to Work here \u2026 almost before you are ready to begin.<\/p>\n

    I make use of an allegory for Working, from my own cultural background here (\u2018European Judaic\/Christian\u2019) to get a sense for me of what all this entails\u2026Which is that of willingly shouldering one\u2019s own \u2018cross\u2019, and then attempting to move forward with it.<\/p>\n

    \u25ca\u25ca\u25ca\u25ca\u25ca\u25ca\u25ca\u25ca\u25ca\u25ca\u25ca\u25ca\u25ca\u25ca\u25ca\u25ca\u25ca\u25ca\u25ca\u25ca\u25ca\u25ca\u25ca<\/p>\n

    My general impression is that Working – for the majority of human beings that I have come across anyway – is something \u2018to be avoided at all costs\u2019… Although laboring (\u2018going to work\u2019) in order to \u2018make some cash\u2019, seems to be fine, at least now and again\u2026 Regrettably, for the majority of people though, this is, invariably, not the same thing, at all as Working (although it can be – but very rarely, in my experience).<\/p>\n

    Which is one of the reasons that I take as much care whenever I can, to differentiate between \u2018work\u2019 and \u2018Work\u2019.<\/p>\n

    \u25ca\u25ca\u25ca\u25ca\u25ca\u25ca\u25ca\u25ca\u25ca\u25ca\u25ca\u25ca\u25ca\u25ca\u25ca\u25ca\u25ca\u25ca\u25ca\u25ca\u25ca\u25ca\u25ca<\/p>\n

    But luckily (you might say), for anyone taking all this on; in order for them to actually do any Working\u2019 they must first affirm this choice of theirs to do so, within themselves; and so, of course, they can also chose to say \u201cNo,\u201d to this Working\u2026<\/p>\n

    I maintain then, that we all have a freely-willed choice here.<\/p>\n

    The attempts at avoiding Work; the legion of excuses; states of delusion, and of illusion, that are brought into the service of justifying this \u2018No\u2019 are \u2013 for me \u2013 quite magical to behold; and do (rather surprisingly, you might think) actually serve to reinforce my own view as to what it is that is really going on down here \u2026 With the result that I actually find myself further empowered in my own determination to Work \u2026 \u2026 Sometimes \ud83d\ude42  \u2026.<\/p>\n

    Which is a rather neat example – in my opinion – of something good (something that reinforces my \u2018Yes\u2019), coming out of that veritable legion of \u2018No\u2019s\u2019 that I find \u2018out there\u2019.<\/p>\n

    \u25ca\u25ca\u25ca\u25ca\u25ca\u25ca\u25ca\u25ca\u25ca\u25ca\u25ca\u25ca\u25ca\u25ca\u25ca\u25ca\u25ca\u25ca\u25ca\u25ca\u25ca\u25ca\u25ca<\/p>\n

    Here\u2019s a pretty straightforward example of Working \u2013 and I would guess is a relatively simple situation that many people have found themselves in, at one time or another\u2026<\/p>\n

    If you find yourself with a surplus, and you decide to give (some of) it away in order to help others, this is not, in my view, an example of Working\u2026 But if you have something that you have a strong desire to hang-on to; and you – none the less \u2013 still give it to someone else who you believe needs it more than you do – this I do see as an example of Working\u2026 Or, at the very least, I would see that this act as an example of \u2018moving in the right direction\u2019\u2026<\/p>\n

    So I would maintain that Working is not necessarily some elaborate, involved scenario done on a special day of the week, under special circumstances, and requiring the wearing of a purple robe; or some grand celestial scheme, involving powerful Angelic or Demonic forces, or some other visitation from \u2018outside\u2019; or anything like that\u2026 But (thankfully) can, more often be any number of – to others – seemingly insignificant, or unimportant, activities..<\/p>\n

    And I don\u2019t believe that what it is that you must do in order to Work, arises from being somehow presented with a finite number of \u2018tasks\u2019 or \u2018tests\u2019 (by some celestial being or other) that you are subsequently required to complete before you inevitably exit the world\u2026 Subsequently \u2018going on\u2019 to receive some sort of reward for your efforts here (or some suitable booby prize for your lack of it) either\u2026 As soon as you sort one thing out, very soon you will simply get another… But I am persuaded that you are only ever presented with one thing at a time to Work on. And although this could be taken as a contradiction to a great deal of what I have maintained here up to now – actually it isn’t … And you’d know this if you’d ever had a go at Working…<\/p>\n

    It\u2019s more the case for me, that the more you can \u2018see\u2019 here, the more choices you have in your life – and so the more opportunities that you have to freely engage in Working\u2026 But that you can chose to do whatever it is that you are able to do \u2026. or not\u2026.<\/p>\n

    Regrettably, there is a \u2018determined ignorance\u2019 here, that can easily be seen in the world – not only where it concerns the ignorant \u2018impoverished masses\u2019 but also in academically educated \u2018folk of privilege and rank\u2019 \u2013 in freely choosing whether or not to Work.<\/p>\n

    And I would claim that, although in reality, we are all in this – equally – together, the situation that others are in quite often seems to us to be more desirable than our own – in its presentation to us of \u2018real\u2019 opportunities for Working \u2026<\/p>\n

    With the result that, rather than help someone a couple of hundred yards away \u2018down the road\u2019, which might see us becoming involved in something tacky, difficult, time-consuming, and with more than a comfortable element of real uncertainty – both as to the outcome, and how much of \u2018our valuable time this is all going to consume\u2019 – when it isn\u2019t really convenient. We prefer, instead, to send our old shirts and socks to the local charity shop\u2026 That\u2019s the one with the really appealing photograph of a starving child (or a kangaroo – but more usually a silver-backed gorilla) from the \u2018third world\u2019, in the window\u2026 and that the \u2018Charitable Concern\u2019 (and Co.) in question is very busily attempting to raise money for \u2013 minus administrative costs of course!<\/p>\n

    \u25ca\u25ca\u25ca\u25ca\u25ca\u25ca\u25ca\u25ca\u25ca\u25ca\u25ca\u25ca\u25ca\u25ca\u25ca\u25ca\u25ca\u25ca\u25ca\u25ca\u25ca\u25ca\u25ca<\/p>\n

    People with my background – who are not only the heirs to a wealth of cultural history here, but who now also possess the means to easily access it via the internet (rather than, say, waltzing off to some remote and exotic corner of the world in order to \u2018discover the real truth\u2019) can quickly put ourselves in the position where we are really able to appreciate a view of the world in which we are continually being offered opportunities to Work. Because we possess so many inspiring accounts of others – from our historical past – who have devoted their life to doing so\u2026 And so we can freely decide to take part here also  \u2013  by deciding (or ignoring, and so not deciding) that we will attempt to emulate them, if we are able.<\/p>\n

    And, in my particular experience here, I have also come to appreciate that this myth I chose to live by, has at its root the idea that if I freely chose to ignore these opportunities to Work when they are first presented to me, then they will be presented to me again and again throughout my life \u2013 but a little more insistently each time – until eventually (if I continue to ignore them) they will completely overwhelm me, and I will die without ever having accomplished anything Real during my limited time here; that I will have done no real Work; and that I never, in fact, \u2018really\u2019 existed \u2013 So there’s no \u2018Hell\u2019 then, in my scheme of things, because there would never be anything of any being to send there\u2026. So it\u2019s either \u2018get somewhere as you are willing and able \u2019, or \u2018ceased to exist completely\u2019, for me I\u2019m afraid\u2026<\/p>\n

    And appearing – from the point of view of others – to have clearly achieved some measure of \u2018success\u2019 down here, isn’t really what it’s all about either, in my book…Although I would quickly add that success is by no means an automatic obstacle to Working – it’s just that it’s probably the most common form of (easily observable) engramic identification.<\/p>\n

    Even so – on a lighter note for a second here – surely all this makes you<\/strong> a deliciously exciting place to \u2018hang out in’ for a lifetime  doesn\u2019t it? \u2026 It can even be a bit of a real adventure – if you want \u2026 \ud83d\ude00<\/p>\n

    \u25ca\u25ca\u25ca\u25ca\u25ca\u25ca\u25ca\u25ca\u25ca\u25ca\u25ca\u25ca\u25ca\u25ca\u25ca\u25ca\u25ca\u25ca\u25ca\u25ca\u25ca\u25ca\u25ca<\/p>\n

    To repeat again – most importantly for me then, is the idea that Working is something that only you<\/b> can do. You must chose to do it, and you must take the full responsibility for it\u2026<\/p>\n

    So not God, not Jesus, not The Buddha etc. al. not any other agency whatsoever, can do any of this Work for you\u2026 You have to do it yourself. And only those who do this Work can ever gain the profit from doing so.<\/p>\n

    I believe that this Working is the only way I have of contributing here, of \u2018giving anything back\u2019 for the amazing experience I have had of actually having lived \u2026 And that these \u2018fruits\u2019, that this \u2018harvest\u2019, is actually required of you… And at the end you must bring to the table whatever it is you are able (\u2018it\u2019s the thought that counts\u2019)\u2026<\/p>\n

    You can Work at any and every moment. So there is no such thing as \u2018a time to Work\u2019 then\u2026. The only thing that you can do is to decide whether you will (or will not) Work now.<\/p>\n

    \u25ca\u25ca\u25ca\u25ca\u25ca\u25ca\u25ca\u25ca\u25ca\u25ca\u25ca\u25ca\u25ca\u25ca\u25ca\u25ca\u25ca\u25ca\u25ca\u25ca\u25ca\u25ca\u25ca<\/p>\n

    What you have to Work with, initially at least, is your talent(s)\u2026 This talent will get you ‘a hand in the game’, and – if you\u2019re lucky – can also get you into lots of interesting trouble, if you chose to \u2018push the envelope\u2019 here, rather than \u2018play it safe\u2019\u2026 \ud83d\ude42 \u2026 And this is where I position the idea of \u2018profit\u2019 or \u2018increase\u2019 (again, my cultural background helps)\u2026 Because you can always practice your talent, and so – in theory at least – get better at it\u2026<\/p>\n

    Thus, you can Work almost anywhere at anytime (and you certainly can do so if you are in a real relationship with someone); and you can also structure your time here so that your attempts at Working bear fruit in an area that you have an interest in cultivating (your \u2018talent\u2019)\u2026. And so, in a strange way \u2013 your strength here is somehow your weakness \u2013 because it will automatically limit you to those particular endeavors required in exercising your talent… But from another perspective (and one that is mentioned in that \u2018comment\u2019) this could be seen as a \u2018mercy\u2019.<\/p>\n

    \u25ca\u25ca\u25ca\u25ca\u25ca\u25ca\u25ca\u25ca\u25ca\u25ca\u25ca\u25ca\u25ca\u25ca\u25ca\u25ca\u25ca\u25ca\u25ca\u25ca\u25ca\u25ca\u25ca<\/p>\n

    But of course you are also continually \u2018ordering power\u2019 anyway \u2013 and usually for any number of purely selfish reasons\u2026 \ud83d\ude42<\/p>\n

    \u25ca\u25ca\u25ca\u25ca\u25ca\u25ca\u25ca\u25ca\u25ca\u25ca\u25ca\u25ca\u25ca\u25ca\u25ca\u25ca\u25ca\u25ca\u25ca\u25ca\u25ca\u25ca\u25ca<\/p>\n

    And who can<\/b> work?  Well any sentient being can work\u2026 Animals and plants can work \u2013 because they can \u2018order sentient power\u2019 \u2026. I\u2019ll go even further here, and claim that every thing that is in motion provides an example that \u2018<\/b>working is occurring in that place’ (So that I do – from this perspective at least – support a pan-psychic view of things) – because every \u2018thing<\/b>\u2019 <\/b>\u2018that comes to be\u2019, does so as a consequence of this \u2018ordered motion of sentient power\u2019.<\/p>\n

    Although every \u2018thing that there is\u2019 provides me with evidence of working, not every \u2018thing\u2019 is itself \u2018Working\u2019\u2026 Because \u2018W<\/b>orking\u2019 (which is what I claim all sentient beings can do) is not the same thing as \u2018w<\/b>orking\u2019\u2026<\/p>\n

    W<\/b>orking – by its very nature \u2013 involves both, reflexive self-consciousness, and the act of \u2018free-willing\u2019. Both attributes that are (as far as I am concerned) ones that only human beings possess.<\/p>\n

    And, as my position here is not the same as others I have met who claim to be \u2018followers\u2019 of Eugene Halliday, let me – once again – make myself absolutely, unequivocally, clear here\u2026 We are already reflexively self-conscious (but most of us chose not to be, for most of the time) and we all possess free will (but most of us would rather deny that we do, because we can\u2019t handle the response-ability of having it)\u2026<\/p>\n

    You do not (and cannot) then, \u2018practice acquiring reflexive self-consciousness\u2019 somehow, until you can ‘do it’\u2026 (\u201cDo you know darling, I think I had it there for a few seconds! \u2026 Oh Damn!… It\u2019s gone again!…) …<\/p>\n

    But, if you like, what you can<\/strong> practice – anywhere and anytime – is \u2018getting out of the way of it\u2019.. \ud83d\ude42<\/p>\n

    \u25ca\u25ca\u25ca\u25ca\u25ca\u25ca\u25ca\u25ca\u25ca\u25ca\u25ca\u25ca\u25ca\u25ca\u25ca\u25ca\u25ca\u25ca\u25ca\u25ca\u25ca\u25ca\u25ca<\/p>\n

    Here now is a particular, and direct, example from me now, of, \u201cWho is Working? \u2026 that can now, hopefully, be appreciated as having arising from the context that I have outlined above.<\/p>\n

    \u201cI would say, for certain, that Eugene Halliday Worked as much as he was able.\u201d \u2026<\/p>\n

    Although I would quickly go on to add here that, in my opinion, his various talks, writings, and works of art, represent only one aspect of this Work of his\u2026 And that these do constitute – in part at least – the fruits of his Working; or, to put it another way, they \u2018bear witness\u2019 to the fact that he had Worked.<\/p>\n

    So, although I would claim that I have observed Eugene Halliday in his attempts to Work (by hearing him speak in person, say) I do not mean that the only time I believed he ever Worked, was during the odd Sunday evening, every month or so – when he spoke in front of a hundred and fifty people or so\u2026.<\/p>\n

    What I will add here though, is I believe that there would certainly have been periods when he wasn\u2019t<\/b> Working\u2026 Because – for any finite being – there needs to be time to quantify, and qualify, to gather, resistance; and this, then, needs to be \u2018experienced in the now\u2019 in order provide the \u2018matter\u2019 of Work \u2026 (And don\u2019t forget here, \u201cNothing for nothing, and very little for a half-penny.\u201d)….<\/p>\n

    \u25ca\u25ca\u25ca\u25ca\u25ca\u25ca\u25ca\u25ca\u25ca\u25ca\u25ca\u25ca\u25ca\u25ca\u25ca\u25ca\u25ca\u25ca\u25ca\u25ca\u25ca\u25ca\u25ca<\/p>\n

    Although I believe then, that Eugene Halliday Worked a great deal, and that his attempts to devise accounts of \u2018what it is that\u2019s going on\u2019 are – for me at least – extremely helpful in my own attempts. This does not mean I believe that how he Worked is the way that everyone else should Work \u2026 This is just how he Worked. .. And an understanding (or even a \u2018vague appreciation\u2019) of his \u2018metaphysics\u2019 and methodologies, is not at all necessary for anyone who decides that they will attempt to Work themselves.<\/p>\n

    And, in this sense, as to the contents of Eugene Halliday’s talks and essays – I would maintain that, just as the majority of what he had to say would have been incomprehensible, until the late eighteen hundreds, it will also become obsolete in the very near future \u2026 So sadly, not \u2018eternally true\u2019 for me either then, but – happily for me – fine for \u2018here and now\u2019.<\/p>\n

    Regrettably though – because Eugene Halliday did put his ideas ‘out there’, and because they were so powerful, those impressed by these ideas have subsequently invented all sorts of fantastic accounts of, not only what he was doing, but also what these attempts of his at Working made of him as a person\u2026 Which – as I have said on other previous occasions – tells you a great deal more about them, than it does about Mr Halliday<\/p>\n

    \u25ca\u25ca\u25ca\u25ca\u25ca\u25ca\u25ca\u25ca\u25ca\u25ca\u25ca\u25ca\u25ca\u25ca\u25ca\u25ca\u25ca\u25ca\u25ca\u25ca\u25ca\u25ca\u25ca<\/p>\n

    Here, perhaps, is (another) one of those odd ideas of mine\u2026<\/p>\n

    Until you have come to some understanding in all this – you can have no real way of knowing whether or not the person that you have just walked past who is sweeping the street, is Working more efficiently than Eugene Halliday ever was\u2026<\/span><\/p>\n

    From ‘NOCTURNAL EMISSIONS’<\/span>
    \n ‘Random Dribbling from the Twilight World of the Undead’<\/span>
    \n by Bob Hardy<\/span>
    \n (A series of fragments from Bob Hardy’s notebooks – from the late-1970’s to date)<\/span><\/p>\n

    It is almost always the case – in the \u2018greater world out there at large\u2019, that Working is an activity which is only ever ascribed to someone who can put words together impressively – and then proceed to make a career out of it almost, by trotting them out whenever the chance arises; or who \u2018wears a big hat\u2019 and is ensconced in \u2018impressive surroundings\u2019 – preferably an ancient, venerable building \u2026 (\u2018foreign\u2019, and\/or \u2018exotic\u2019, can also helps a great deal here)\u2026<\/p>\n

    But I would caution here that, \u201cIt is only ever a dog\u2019s world \u2013 and particularly so if you\u2019re a dog.\u201d \u2026 And that you are only ever going to experience here what it is you really are – which to a large extent will depend almost entirely on how much Work you have done; even though – no matter how much you do, you will never get to realize fully who your really are, any more than you can ever know what is really <\/b>going on down here… Because that would mean you could stop Working then \u2026 Wouldn\u2019t it?<\/p>\n

    \u25ca\u25ca\u25ca\u25ca\u25ca\u25ca\u25ca\u25ca\u25ca\u25ca\u25ca\u25ca\u25ca\u25ca\u25ca\u25ca\u25ca\u25ca\u25ca\u25ca\u25ca\u25ca\u25ca<\/p>\n

    My primary interest in Eugene Halliday came about when I gradually realized that what he was \u2018doing\u2019 was \u2018the thing to do\u2019 for me (I\u2019m afraid I can\u2019t put it any clearer than that)<\/p>\n

    Most importantly though \u2013 this did not<\/b> mean to me, that what I had to do was \u2018get to know what Eugene Halliday knew\u2019; or, \u2018Do what Eugene Halliday did, the way that he did it\u2019.<\/p>\n

    All this became much easier to appreciate when I realized that what Eugene Halliday was doing, was striving to Work as much as he was able\u2026 (As Zero Mahlowe – someone who lived with him for twenty-five years – put it to me, somewhat exasperatedly, a couple of years ago, \u201cEugene\u2026 just… Worked!\u201d)…<\/p>\n

    And, incidentally, this view that I came to have of Eugene Halliday provided me with a much clearer example, and a practical understanding of, the \u2018ego\u2019: what it \u2018is\u2019; what it is \u2018for\u2019; and how it functions in all of this\u2026 [And also, how it was that a number of people came to imagine that Eugene Halliday didn\u2019t have one\u2026 An ego, that is]\u2026.<\/p>\n

    Incidentally, until this idea of the \u2018ego\u2019 is \u2018cleared up\u2019 experientially by those \u2018who quite like the idea of doing some Work\u2019, no Work will be done by them\u2026 ever\u2026 Because anything they do manage to accomplish here will only ever be \u2018snaffled\u2019, by that part of them that wants to parade about in an attempt to impress other folks \u2013 who are, of course, doing exactly the same thing themselves \u2026 (The words to Work on here – by the way – are \u2018worship\u2019 … and \u2018idol\u2019 .. (and \u2018idle\u2019 perhaps – if you can see it)…).<\/p>\n

    \u25ca\u25ca\u25ca\u25ca\u25ca\u25ca\u25ca\u25ca\u25ca\u25ca\u25ca\u25ca\u25ca\u25ca\u25ca\u25ca\u25ca\u25ca\u25ca\u25ca\u25ca\u25ca\u25ca<\/p>\n

    To continue \u2026<\/p>\n

    I would say for certain then that, “Eugene Halliday was Working.\u201d \u2026<\/p>\n

    And as the title of this blog is \u2018Inside the Eugene Halliday Archive\u2019 – I think it might be a good idea if I now focused further on explaining – in a little more detail – just why I would say so .<\/p>\n

    I had decided a long time ago, to ground any attempt of mine to supply an answer(s) to topics like this as firmly as I could in my own experiences \u2013 rather than to just simply highjack someone else\u2019s ideas\u2026<\/p>\n

    As a consequence then, my own method of attempting to achieve some clarification in these ideas, is not just to focus upon \u2018defining the term used here, and\/or research its etymology\u2019 (although I usually do include this approach in my initial \u2018pass\u2019 at any answer)… But has far more to do with investigating that particular group of terms (which would almost certainly be different for each different idea here) which inevitably, invariably, and immediately arises – as soon as I focus further on ‘this idea that has captured my attention\u2019 in order to begin this attempt by me, to investigate its current meaning…<\/p>\n

    It is these terms, I believe, that constitute the initial intellectual component of my personal relationship to these terms – at any one particular time\u2026<\/p>\n

    In justifying the meaning to my claim – that \u2018Eugene Halliday was Working\u2019 – as an answer to the question, \u201cWho is doing the Work?\u201d – I would have to say right away then, that this justification would depend upon what I \u2018was after\u2019 here at the time… As this would determine \u2018where it was in the moment’ that I had decided to began looking for the answer\u2026<\/p>\n

    This approach might sound a bit strange, but it\u2019s how this all works for me\u2026 Different points of departure by me then, would result in me gaining different perspectives (although these different perspectives would hopefully – in the end \u2013 all prove to be intimately related to each other in any single topic)\u2026<\/p>\n

    I don\u2019t want to go into any more detail as to  \u2018these points of departure\u2019 of mine now, because my thoughts on this process have become very involved over the years\u2026 And I don\u2019t see that my elaboration – on what has become, essentially, a hermeneutic technique of mine \u2013 would add that much here at the moment\u2026 So I\u2019ll just stick with attempting to clarify my claim that, \u201cEugene Halliday was certainly Working.\u201d…<\/p>\n

    I worried away endlessly at the question, \u201cWhat was Eugene Halliday actually doing<\/b>?\u2019 for years\u2026 And, although it is obvious, from reading his essays and listening to his talks, that what he was doing was, in some sense at least, fairly self-evident \u2026 That is: answering questions; providing information re \u2018matters esoteric\u2019; introducing his own – in part – unique way of dealing with \u2018meaning\u2019; etc\u2026 That was not, at all, what I was after\u2026 I was after something more \u2018basic\u2019 here \u2013 and I needed a language – that came ‘from myself’ – that I could use to \u2018center him\u2019 on\u2026<\/p>\n

    So I attempted to \u2018see\u2019 him from a number of perspectives \u2026 And in order to do so, I devices a methodology that made use of \u2013 what I have come to refer to as – \u2018groups\u2019; or \u2018sets\u2019; or \u2018classes\u2019 of terms in order to clarify matters here to myself\u2026 (If anyone is interested, there is an (obvious) \u2018mathematical and philosophical connection\u2019 to this method \u2013 but it\u2019s not important that this be understood at the moment)<\/p>\n

    What I will do here then, is go through one of the early sets of those terms that I worked on, as an example\u2026 As I believe that this is relevant to what it is that I am trying to clarify at this point.<\/p>\n

    The particular set of terms that I began with – those I though would help me to, initially, gain some insight into \u2018Eugene Halliday as a being who was Working\u2019, were – \u2018mysterious\u2019; \u2018mystical experience\u2019; and \u2018mystic\u2019\u2026<\/p>\n

    \u2018Mysterious\u2019.<\/b><\/p>\n

    <\/b>It is mysterious to me that my wife almost always knows when I have been embellishing \u2018the facts\u2019\u2026 And even if there is (in part at least) a rational (all the way down \u2018biological\u2019) answer to what it is that she does, nonetheless I still find this ability of hers to be a bit \u2018mysterious\u2019 – even \u2018spooky\u2019\u2026 But when I hear Eugene Halliday speak, or when I read something of his, (which I would claim provides me with concrete evidence that he was \u2018Working\u2019) I don\u2019t find this material \u2018mysterious\u2019 at all\u2026<\/p>\n

    Some of it I don\u2019t perhaps understand at the time; or I might not be too familiar with the source material that he refers to; or it might all seem somewhat contrived to me, from time to time\u2026.  but I have never experienced it as \u2018mysterious\u2019 \u2026<\/p>\n

    I would claim that I found almost all of Eugene Halliday\u2019s material – at least the material that he actually \u2018put out there\u2019 himself – to be extremely clear. In fact I would describe this material as being – at times – almost too straightforward for me…<\/p>\n

    And so one yardstick that I would make use of, in order to determine whether or not I believe that someone is Working, is to assess the degree of clarity that the \u2018fruits\u2019 of – what I consider to be – their attempts at Working, have for me\u2026.<\/p>\n

    Which also means, of course, that there could be any number of people out there who are Working – and so producing material – that I am just not able to  \u2018get\u2019; and as a consequence then, I could go on to open my big mouth and maintain that these people were not Working – when others would believe that it was blatantly obvious that they are \u2026 … Somewhat tricky this, then! \u2026 (But fine by me, all the same\u2026 as it all adds to the fun down here).<\/p>\n

    \u2018Mysterious\u2019 is a term I tend to reserve (if I\u2019m being polite) for those who – for example –  like to talk about ‘seeing UFO\u2019s’; or who claim that they enjoy the occasional \u2018out-of-body\u2019 experience\u2026 So it is a term then that is, in the main, definitely a ‘no-no’ \u2018for me, at least where it concerns Working.,,, And I would be extremely reluctant to apply the term \u2018mysterious\u2019 to anyone that I believed was \u2018Working\u2019 – although I would be quite happy to apply it to any number of New Age \u2018gurus\u2019 out there.<\/p>\n

    So – if I can now use my favorite metaphors here of a \u2018journey\u2019 and a \u2018place\u2019 – the term \u2018mysterious\u2019 marks a \u2018border-line\u2019 for me. And it is one of the \u2018limits\u2019 of my understanding of just who is, and who is not, Working.<\/p>\n

    Which leaves me with the option here to allow that it just \u2018might be the case\u2019 that someone who, initially, appears to me to be \u2018somewhat (suspiciously) mysterious\u2019, could indeed later turn out to be – in my (now revised) opinion – in fact, Working\u2026<\/p>\n

    Briefly (!) \u2026 The Material produced by those who I would maintain are Working then, has to have this \u2018clarity\u2019 for me\u2026 But that they just might be (perhaps) \u2018a tad mysterious’ at the \u2018border\u2019 \u2026<\/p>\n

    I will admit though, that \u2018Mysterious\u2019 can often be \u2018intriguing\u2019 for me \u2026if I’m in the mood…   \ud83d\ude42<\/p>\n

    \u2018Mystical experience\u2019.<\/b><\/p>\n

    This term is far more of a hornet\u2019s nest for me than \u2018mysterious\u2019. As it appears to be used as a label to describe anything from Saul\u2019s \u2018Road to Damascus Experience\u2019, to the claims of New Age Seekers-after-truth, such as Eckhart Tolle, and his (quote) \u2018inner transformation\u2019.<\/p>\n

    A vital component of these experiences, it seems to me – on the part of those who claim to have experienced them \u2013 is that they are almost impossible to pass on to others in the form of a coherent account.. And frequent use is made of words like ‘ineffable’ and ‘unutterable’  … which does have the added advantage here of discouraging plebs like me though, I suppose.<\/p>\n

    It is almost as if the rule here is, \u2018If the experience could be described, then it wasn\u2019t a mystical one\u2019\u2026 A state of affairs that invariably results in the sound of a very loud (virtual) alarm-bell, going off inside my head.<\/p>\n

    These incomprehensible accounts are particularly beloved by – for example – the followers of people such as Madam Blavatsky etc. and indeed, seem to me, to constitute an essential component of their ‘leader’s’ allure\u2026<\/p>\n

    In fact, I find that the more mixed together: cabala; astrology; tarot; vegetarianism; collective nude-bathing; anything with the word \u2018Brahman\u2019 in it; Native American spirit chiefs; numerology; yoga; sacred geometry; King Arthur and Avalon; Hobbits; Led Zeppelin; Ozzie Ozbourn; Egyptian mummies; Carlos Castaneda; Telepathy; the \u2018after-life\u2019; Psionics; and the odd martial art \u2018killer-move\u2019, the more likely those doing so will be considered to be \u2018in the know here\u2019, and so become \u2013 possibly – the recipient of \u2018much funding\u2019 or adulation \u2026 …  \u2018Way to go!\u2019 then.<\/p>\n

    Hysterics such as Aleister Crowley were famous for these \u2018stream of consciousness\u2019 accounts \u2013 many of which contained accounts of meetings with beings possessed of weird and exotic names, such as Choronzon\u2026. (There never seems to have been a \u2018George\u2019 or a \u2018Deirdre\u2019 about in these accounts of \u2018other worlds\u2019 \u2013 unless, of course, the writer happened to be someone like James Joyce).<\/p>\n

    Established Western churches have been smart enough to refer to these \u2019experiences\u2019 as \u2018visions\u2019 – which allows them the intellectual breathing space to decide whether or not they were beamed down to their various recipients by the \u2018goodies\u2019 (so allowing these hallowed institutions to lay some form of claim to them) or the \u2018baddies\u2019 (in which case… well \u2026. just burn everyone involved here … ‘for their own good’, of course ) \u2026All of which I think is ‘really smart’.<\/p>\n

    So I would say that this is an \u2018area of experience\u2019 which is saturated with the bogus claims of anyone – from your common-or-garden charlatan, to your \u2018full-on\u2019 hysteric\u2026 And thus \u2026 extreme caution is advised…<\/p>\n

    But this viewpoint of mine doesn\u2019t mean that I don\u2019t believe anyone ever had a \u2018genuine mystical experience\u2019 \u2013 quite the reverse… I can also appreciate why it is that those who have had a \u2018genuine mystical experience\u2019 might find it difficult to relay their accounts to others\u2026 Because it seems to me that many of these authentic experiences were \u2018freebies\u2019\u2026 That is – that they just \u2018happened\u2019 \u2026 and that no special preparation was necessarily required in order to experience them. ..(An \u2018Act of Grace\u2019 if you prefer).<\/p>\n

    So, from my perspective at least, it is hardly surprising then, that the overwhelming majority of those claiming to have had these experiences would find difficulty in describing them; as these recipients possessed no \u2018active\u2019 language to do so… And that if they wished to subsequently describe these experiences of theirs, then they first had to Work at developing their own active language \u2018in the time process\u2019 in order to do just that – like the rest of us down here would have to.. (The development of Boehme\u2019s account of his experiences here is a fascinating case in point here for me. As, in my opinion, he starts off with the [privately printed, and publicly circulated without his permission] extremely confusing ‘Aurora’ and then goes on – becoming more and more lucid in his writings – as he gains more experience here.)\u2026.<\/p>\n

    Rather, then, usually these people were \u2018victims\u2019 of these experiences if you like, and so, more often than not, passive to them\u2026 And I imagine that they were really just as bewildered by what had happened to them, as those who were attempting to follow the various explanations\/descriptions that they were attempting to provide.<\/p>\n

    The big \u2018no-no\u2019 of course, is that we are here firmly in the domain of the charlatan; the self-deluded; and the outright liar… Because, devising ways of making up these experiences in attractive language is relatively easy to do so, for those with the \u2018gift of the gab\u2019; and this also has the advantage that there are legions of mugs out there who are only too glad to, not only be simply entertained, and enthralled, by these accounts, but also to part with large sums of cash, in order to do belong to the corresponding, resultant, club (cult).<\/p>\n

    NOTE: This viewpoint of mine re ‘mystical experience’ puts me in the situation where the only way I would be happy to elaborate further here would be to launch into an extended explanation of – what I take to be – the difference between cases where \u2018the ego has been assimilated by the \u2018self\u2019 (a quite different entity from the \u2018Self’ for me); and \u2018the \u2018self\u2019 has been assimilated by the ego\u2019\u2026 Which I\u2019m not going to do right now\u2026(But if anyone’s interested – let me know)..<\/p>\n

    People who I would see as having had a genuine \u2018mystical experience\u2019 would include Jacob Boehme and William Blake\u2026 Those who I would view as not having had a mystical experience would include Dante, Goethe, Shakespeare, Milton, William Law \u2026 and Eugene Halliday\u2026<\/p>\n

    \u2018Mystic\u2019.<\/b><\/p>\n

    In short then, I don\u2019t believe that Eugene Halliday ever had a \u2018mystical experience\u2019 \u2026 And in my view, of the three terms here, it’s the last one – \u2018mystic\u2019 – that comes closest to saying something useful about him for me\u2026 But in order to support this claim of mine, I would have to tell you what I mean by ‘mystic’ in this particular case \u2013 at least what it is that constitute my \u2018limits of the application of this term\u2019 here.<\/p>\n

    The mystic, for me, is someone who creates a state in others – usually by making use of language, (either in speech, or in writing) – of believing that there needs to be some supremely important redirection in their life activity… This affect is, primarily, due to the result of the listener or reader being inspired (with the associated, subsequent experience of a sudden flow of conscious ‘positive energy’) by the web of ideas created in them that the experience of listening or reading here, has induced in them.<\/p>\n

    There is also a definite sense for me, from listening or reading, that the ‘mystic’ is looking<\/strong> both inwardly and outwardly (or perhaps ‘panoramically’ would be better) almost simultaneously …. That they can ‘see’ …. That they are describing something.. And also, importantly, that they are only describing one part of ‘it all’ at any one time … These parts would, for example, constitute the various subjects of Eugene Halliday’s talks, or essays …. This effectively means that we only get a part – and not the whole – at any one talk, or in any one reading of his… But also, confusingly for us perhaps, we can also sense that each of these ‘parts’  form part of  this greater ‘whole’ here…<\/p>\n

    Another important aspect here for me, is that any impression of the production of – what might be called – ‘theology’, arises only out of what is being presented at the particular time of the talk or essay. There is then the absence, or minimum amount here, of ‘mysticism’ present… A subject, that – when all is said and done – is just another bag to hold yet more theories and dogmas … just another ‘ism’, if you like.<\/p>\n

    The ‘mystic’ then, is characterized by me as presenting material that arises from personal experience<\/strong>. It is a ‘seeing’ that, at the same time as this ‘seeing’, confers the necessary energy required for producing a clear description of what it is that is ‘seen’…. Hence this ability of his to ‘talk from scratch’ etc…<\/p>\n

    The Work that – as a consequence of this ‘seeing’ – is being done here, by Eugene Halliday, is in the tying down, by him, of what it is that he is ‘seeing’, and the resultant re-presenting of it in some form of cohesive structure (in Eugene Halliday’s case, this would be his active language)<\/p>\n

    In my experience, what is being described by Eugene Halliday is often not of any particular ‘religious importance’ (although I think it was blindingly obvious that his focal point was a decidedly Christian one) and neither did this ability of his to ‘see’ provide him – as far as I’m concerned – with any, so-called, ‘psychic powers’ (whatever they might be) – although many of his ‘followers’ that I have met, appeared to like playing around with inventing suggestions that ‘perhaps’ he did have the odd one or two; or, at least, seemed genuinely troubled (or puzzled) that he couldn’t, say, walk through walls, or read people’s minds…<\/p>\n

    Rather then, I will say that Eugene Halliday did produce in me this clear sense that an integrative process and a unification – together with a sense of purpose and a state of conviction and positivity – was taking place ‘in him’ …. And that’s as near to admitting the possibility of the existence of an ‘inner-human spirit’ that I’m prepared to go… At least in print … \ud83d\ude42<\/p>\n

    Most importantly in my view – where it concerns anyone else’s attempts to Work – Eugene Halliday cannot give his ‘eyes that see’ to others here… He can only talk, or write, about what he<\/strong> can see; and his words will have little meaning for those who lack at least some rudimentary vision in this area.<\/p>\n

    However, I have come to realize that there are those, like me, who – while we have great difficulty in articulating what it is that we can see – are reasonably certain that what Eugene Halliday is clearly describing, is also ‘out there’ for us… Maybe it is dimly lit, or fragmented, in our case, but – none the less – his talks and writings serve to confirm that it is ‘the same place’..<\/p>\n

    I do not mean to imply here that we must all somehow be ‘mystics’ here, in order to appreciate Eugene Halliday’s Work (I am not implying then, that there needs be some experience of an ‘election of grace’ in this sense here)… Only that the ability ‘to see’ seemed to have been experienced by Eugene Halliday as the prerequisite to this process of integration and reconstruction that he, as a consequence, went on to share with others…<\/p>\n

    Neither do I mean to minimize -what I believe was – his own sense of indubitable certainty here; but rather to take some comfort from his ability to overcome any difficulty that he had in clarifying this experience of his.<\/p>\n

    \u25ca\u25ca\u25ca\u25ca\u25ca\u25ca\u25ca\u25ca\u25ca\u25ca\u25ca\u25ca\u25ca\u25ca\u25ca\u25ca\u25ca\u25ca\u25ca\u25ca\u25ca\u25ca\u25ca<\/p>\n

    The richness of his consequent conception(s) here are, I believe, his true legacy to the rest of us … and these then constitute, for me, the ‘fruits of his labor’.<\/p>\n

    Preventing the appropriation, and commodification, of these ‘fruits’  of Eugene Halliday’s by others; and providing a way of rooting out any distortions and biases (including my own) that arise from others, is essentially what my attempts at providing an archive of Eugene Halliday’s original material has been all about for me.<\/p>\n

    Oh! … And by the way, creating this Archive wasn\u2019t an example of \u2018me Working\u2019 (How I wish it was!)\u2026 But was just an example of \u2018me working\u2019… Something that almost anyone could do – if they could be bothered, that is…. Also, I should add here, that in my opinion – regrettably – neither is ‘giving a talk’ an example of Working… And I mean ‘giving a talk’ on any subject… Take your pick: The Old Testament; The New Testament; Egyptology; Yoga; Atlantis; Gnosticism; Tai-Chi; Art Classes; Acting, etc etc etc. Because … obviously … if it were – then every teacher and lecturer in the world would be Working … Wouldn’t they?…<\/p>\n

    And this can be a major problem – that Working has absolutely nothing whatsoever necessarily<\/strong>  do with anything<\/strong> … Indeed, for me, Working is only, ever, ‘It aint what you’re doing, now; it’s the way that you’re doing it’, now’ … you might say.<\/p>\n

    \u25ca\u25ca\u25ca\u25ca\u25ca\u25ca\u25ca\u25ca\u25ca\u25ca\u25ca\u25ca\u25ca\u25ca\u25ca\u25ca\u25ca\u25ca\u25ca\u25ca\u25ca\u25ca\u25ca<\/p>\n

    You have the opportunity to appreciate that Eugene Halliday responded ‘in the now’ to many of the questions that were asked of him, at many of his recorded talks… Because you have access to hundreds of examples of him doing so in the Archive … So why not stop for a moment and try to let that sink in… And ask yourself if you could ever do something like that, as you ‘are’ now … and if not, why not…<\/p>\n

    And then, for a little exercise here, why don’t you listen to one of his talks, and keep saying to yourself – every 30 seconds or so – “All this is completely unprepared,” for the hour plus that the talk takes to listen to… … … And then see how you ‘feel’ about that…<\/p>\n

    I believe that this could help you … if you’re really serious about Working yourself – that is.<\/p>\n

    \u25ca\u25ca\u25ca\u25ca\u25ca\u25ca\u25ca\u25ca\u25ca\u25ca\u25ca\u25ca\u25ca\u25ca\u25ca\u25ca\u25ca\u25ca\u25ca\u25ca\u25ca\u25ca\u25ca<\/p>\n

    \n

    There is no magic in words, though, it must be confessed, they often exercise a psychological influence so profound and far-reaching that they seem to possess a miracle-working efficacy. Some persons live all their lives under the suggestive spell of certain words…<\/p>\n

    Rufus M Jones<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n

    What was Eugene Halliday to me in the context of this particular post on the subject of ‘Work’ then? He was a rarity for me…. Someone that I could observe ‘at Work’.. And his method of inter-acting with others here was done in such a way that he was continually demonstrating to the members of his audience how Working was accomplished ‘in the now’… All that they had to do was ‘be there in the now to witness it’ with him… (Regrettably, in my view, also something of a rarity… \ud83d\ude42  )<\/p>\n

    For me then, that primary, active word that I was looking for, – that defining characteristic of Work, as far as I’m concerned – is \u2018clarity\u2019… Y<\/b>ou could call this clarity ‘The \u2018signature\u2019 of Work’ for me then\u2026<\/p>\n

    If I experience someone as Working, then what I experience of what it is they have done will be this striving for clarity. They will not appear \u2018mysterious\u2019, or \u2018enlightened\u2019, or \u2018on a higher level of consciousness\u2019, or \u2018holy\u2019, or \u2018spiritual\u2019, etc. \u2026 but simply – even though they may not be all that easily understood, perhaps – clear<\/b>\u2026<\/p>\n

    The experience of mine – where it concerns this degree of clarity  for me – will reflect both the Work that has been done here, and also whether or not I am – in the moment – in the right place to see it\u2026.<\/p>\n

    By the way – there is, of course, always then the distinct possibility that what might be very obvious to someone else here might be completely opaque to me\u2026 (Keeping this in mind though, helps to keep all the hubris and arrogance in line quite nicely \u2026 \ud83d\ude42 )<\/p>\n

    This clarity that I experience, and which comes about as a result of my attempts to engage actively with the Work of others (Eugene Halliday for me in this instance) successfully, illuminates what it is that that had been Worked on\u2026 But if I were only passively engaged at the time – if I were just there, say, for the entertainment value – then this illumination would rapidly fade for me in an hour or so…<\/p>\n

    But if I were attempting to Work with this material myself (because I had been inspired) then this light would provide a much longer illumination. Such that there would now be the distinct possibility that what I could perceive could, consequently, now be formulated by me in my own unique, active way \u2026<\/p>\n

    Here then is a reason, not only for the multitude of beings about who are – potentially at least – capable of Working, but also something of the ultimate purpose for all this in the way that things really are… And also, incidentally, what friends really are, and what they are really for…<\/p>\n

    \u2018Work\u2019 ‘per se’ is not the important thing for me then. That is, arriving at a definition of what Work might be exactly… But ‘Working’ is  \u2013  that is, what is it that can be done?<\/p>\n

    And so, a more in-depth appreciation of what it is that might be meant by Eugene Halliday’s \u2018The limits of the application of terms\u2019, for anyone attempting to Work, becomes the crucial factor here for me… How much of the meaning of all this to me, can I articulate myself using active language<\/strong>?<\/p>\n

    \u25ca\u25ca\u25ca\u25ca\u25ca\u25ca\u25ca\u25ca\u25ca\u25ca\u25ca\u25ca\u25ca\u25ca\u25ca\u25ca\u25ca\u25ca\u25ca\u25ca\u25ca\u25ca\u25ca<\/p>\n

    Finally: You might find that posing the following questions to yourself could also help here – “Why am I the way that I am at the moment? What are the pertinent factors that have contributed to – or are determining – why this ‘who’ that I am at the present time, is here… now?”.. and, “Is it possible that I might – perhaps – get to elbow some of the crap, that’s lying around here, out of my way in order to move forward a step or two – and so, possibly, improve a bit?” ….<\/p>\n

    To be continued……..<\/p>\n

    Bob Hardy<\/p>\n

    October 29th, 2013<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

    Man is the only creature who can refuse to be who he is. Albert Camus. The contents of this post consist entirely of my attempts to respond in more detail to the question, \u201cWho is doing the Work?\u201d – posted in the \u2018comments\u2019 section, at the bottom of my previous post. (NOTE: To go to my […]<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"spay_email":"","jetpack_publicize_message":""},"categories":[32],"tags":[24,8,22,33,6,7,48,9,13,15,17,16,39,12,14,29],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"","jetpack_publicize_connections":[],"jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/p29JwC-1b1","_links":{"self":[{"href":"http:\/\/eugenehallidayarchive.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4527"}],"collection":[{"href":"http:\/\/eugenehallidayarchive.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"http:\/\/eugenehallidayarchive.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/eugenehallidayarchive.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/eugenehallidayarchive.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=4527"}],"version-history":[{"count":173,"href":"http:\/\/eugenehallidayarchive.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4527\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":7681,"href":"http:\/\/eugenehallidayarchive.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4527\/revisions\/7681"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"http:\/\/eugenehallidayarchive.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=4527"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/eugenehallidayarchive.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=4527"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/eugenehallidayarchive.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=4527"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}