In everyday life awareness is an automatic or unconsciousness process, the information from the senses is just there without any effort from the recipient provided that recipient is functioning optimally. However the process need not be unconscious, we can choose to be aware of the processes of awareness, and in doing so we can choose to control its operations. This awareness of being aware I have called Conscious Awareness to differentiate it from normal awareness. And Conscious Awareness of sense information, in conjunction with controlling the contents of the Consciousness Vessel, can be used as a means of enhancing happiness

In Part I proposed that the Consciousness Vessel only had a finite capacity, consequently if the Consciousness Vessel is filled or partially filled with thought it leaves less space for firstly, awareness of the sense information being received and secondly, the experience of the emotional response to that sense information. In trying to enhance the emotional response achieved through awareness it is necessary to expand awareness and emotion to the largest extent and contract thought processes as much as possible.

The essential approach to experiencing happiness through Conscious Awareness of sense information is to consciously choose to concentrate on and really experience the sense information that is flooding your senses most times of the day. To fully experience this process it is necessary to limit thought as any thought distracts from the experience. This applies even to thoughts such as "this is beautiful" or " I am feeling content and happy". While this type of thought will not stop the experience it will lessen the fullness of the direct experience. Any thought takes up some capacity of the Consciousness Vessel leaving less capacity for firstly awareness and secondly the emotional response of happiness. In other words, any thought is a distraction.

The emotional response that can be elicited from this process should be on the right hand side of the Happiness Continuum - neutral to happy and beyond. A lot of the times do not expect to experience a delirium of happiness. Expectation itself is a Thought process so it is best to let go of this as well and just experience the emotional response. Some experiences will invoke a higher-level happiness experience than others.

One aspect to be aware of when using this approach is that you should not be using awareness to focus on your current emotional state, though if your emotional state is happiness then this could be enhanced by Conscious Awareness. It could be very self defeating if say you were feeling unhappy and you used your awareness to concentrate on that emotion and consequently enhance the unhappiness. If you are unhappy the aim is to use Conscious Awareness of sense information which is typically happiness inducing to flood your consciousness, to replace the thought processes that are feeding the current emotional state.

This also raises another question: what if you are experiencing pain or discomfort from your senses. The suggested approach is to choose not to concentrate on that particular sense or sensation and try to concentrate on other senses that do not give discomfort. I acknowledge that this may be easier said than done.

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There are a number of sources that elicit emotional response through Conscious Awareness of sense information that will be discussed in the following sections.

Physical Environment

Firstly there is the physical environment we live in. This is the natural and the human created environment. The natural environment includes the wind, the sun, the trees and scenery etc. This environment has not been created by humanity, and in part has been despoiled by humans. It is from this source that we get natural beauty that can be enjoyed and creates happiness. Many people when they are in a natural environment of great beauty experience this happiness. It is not because they are thinking, "that is beautiful" (although they may have that thought) that they experience this happiness. It is also certainly not because they are having thoughts about their work back home or the business deal they recently made. If they are having these types of thoughts it is highly unlikely that they will also be experiencing happiness. The happiness in the natural environment is due to awareness. Their senses are singing to them, that this is beautiful. All they need to do is to listen to, to be aware of their senses and let their emotion fully process them.

There is an advertising slogan that you may be aware of "Just do it" (8). Looking at what the advertising agent is saying it is really saying. "Don't think about it, just do it". In a similar vein I would rework the advertising slogan into "Don't think about it, just experience it". Thought, no matter what thought, will lessen the experience of awareness and emotion.

The next time you are in an environment that you consider beautiful please take some time to absorb the environment you are in. Turn down or turn off your thought processes and concentrate on and observe only the sense information you are receiving.

You can do this for the total environment or any particular aspect of the environment. For example you may choose to give a single tree or a single flower your full attention. If concentrating on a flower give it your full attention, observe the shape of the petals, their colour, their texture, how they connect with the rest of the flower, observe to leaves, their roughness and shape and colour. Any scent you may detect. The important thing is that this is not a biology investigation, you are not trying to learn or remember anything about the structure of this flower, you are not trying to name the parts of the flower or even name the colour of the petals. There should be no Thought of any kind, just concentration and observation of the beauty of the flower. Experience your emotional response.

I also make the point that concentration and observation are not part of the thought process. They are part of awareness. You can concentrate on something without engaging words. Try staring at any object in your immediate environment. Sure you will want to put a name to what you are concentrating on. That is how the brain has been trained since infancy. However it is not a pre-requisite to concentration that you name or have any other thought about what you are concentrating on. In fact having a thought may well break your concentration on the object. Suddenly you will be thinking of something else and the object is forgotten.

You can of course concentrate on words, when you are reading or listening to someone speak or indeed speaking ourselves, but this is using the Awareness skill of concentration in conjunction with thought rather than being part of the thought process itself. The similar arguments apply to observation. Thought often occurs in conjunction with observation but it is not necessary for the process of observation itself. To dis-associate concentration and observation from thought is a matter of learning a skill. It is not that you don't want to ever be able to put a name to your observations - that would be disastrous for your operations in society. It is just that you want to be able to control when you do it. You need to be able to control what fills your Consciousness Vessel. It takes practice.

Body Awareness

Even when the environment is not physically beautiful there is still happiness potential. You can always enjoy the sun on your face and the wind in your hair. You can choose not to concentrate on one or more senses that is perhaps not receiving happiness inducing sense information. If you are standing in the middle of a degraded industrial site you can choose to not concentrate on what you are seeing or smelling if that is not pleasant, and experience your other sense information.

Another option in a totally degraded environment or if you are in an area without any particular environmental sense input is body awareness. In this case it is the experiencing of your physical body without necessarily having any outside input. Observe and concentrate on your body. You can feel the clothes on your body, your breath going in and out, where your shoes touch the ground.

The hands in particularly have a lot of nerve endings. Consequently they are a significant source of sense input. Concentrate on your hands and you will feel them tingling. Move them around and you will get additional sense input. Hold them above your head and sway them side to side. You will feel the breeze on them and if outside the sun hitting them. Just concentrate on and observe that feeling.

Another option is to think of your body as hollow as you allow your concentration and observation to move about inside the body (however try to let this thought fade gently). Be aware of all the sensations, hot or cold, tingly, the feeling of your clothes as they brush against the body, the heart beat, the feeling and sound of the rising and falling of the chest and the air moving in and out of the lungs. Of course try to let go of all thought comments.

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There is also much happiness potential through awareness of the human created environment, where that created environment has beauty. The main examples of this are music, artwork and great architecture.

Music and Art

Music is another source of happiness from Conscious Awareness of sense information.

To listen to music with Conscious Awareness is a matter of turning down all Thought processes, especially Self Thought but also intellect thought. To listen to music try to remove all distraction, this may include closing the door or waiting until you have your house to yourself. As music uses the hearing sense it may be useful to try to lessen the input from the other senses. Darkening the room may help. Put on your most beautiful music. Sit in a comfortable chair or lie down. It is then a matter of really listening to the music. Let it roll over and through you. Allow yourself to feel the emotion. And then observe any emotional response generated. Do not analyse it or put words to your emotions, just experience it.

Music may also invoke other emotions depending on the type of music and your response to it. Some music may invoke sorrow or pathos. (9) While it is not happiness it may still be a worthwhile use of music. Experiencing sorrow (or other emotion) through the experience of music may be somehow cathartic. You can experience the emotion in a very controlled way, at the time you choose for the length of time you choose. After the experience of the sorrowful music you may actually end up feeling better. The reason why this is so may be similar to the reason why people may choose to go a "weepy" movie. They sob their eyes out in the cinema and then come out saying what a wonderful movie it was and what a wonderful time they had. However I would caution against wallowing in sorrow for any significant time through this use of Conscious Awareness.

Some types of music are less conducive to the generation of happiness. Music that is highly loaded with words that engage thought processes are less conducive to happiness from Conscious Awareness, though this is not to say that this type of music cannot provide happiness through thought processes. For example Louis Armstrong's version of "What a Wonderful World" (10) does produce positive thoughts that induces positive emotions through the words, and positive emotions through the music including the musicality of the voice.

As stated music with words, that is songs, can be less conducive to positive emotions through Conscious Awareness. This is due to the words in the song engaging Thought processes and therefore distracting from the pure experience of the positive emotions. There is a very important exception to this and that is songs where we don't understand the meaning of the words. This could be because the words are in a foreign language. This could apply to opera. The operatic aria can invoke very powerful emotions just through its musicality rather than anything to do with the understanding of the words themselves. Similarly musical forms such as Gregorian Chant can be effective. The words could even be nonsense words that have no meaning in any language however if they are formulated in the right way, have musicality in their sound and are put into a musical framework, they could have similar effect. The human voice, well used, is a fantastic musical instrument that can invoke high level emotional responses.

Speculating about why this might be so I think it probably developed while in the womb and early childhood, the sound of the mother's voice speaking and singing to the baby would invoke a feeling of calmness, safety and happiness, despite the baby not understanding anything that is said or sung to it.

Another area where these processes may also be in play is meditative chanting. It is not so much the meaning of the words but the form.

Musical taste is a personal issue, so what is happiness producing for me may be different for other people. It may be a matter of trial and error until you find what you like. My favourite music type for experiencing happiness through Conscious Awareness is softer popular classical music, for example Beethoven's Moonlight Sonata and Rodrigo's Concierto de Aranjuez (second movement) (11). Also some relaxation or some music classed as "New Age" (12) maybe useful.

Some types of music could also invoke anger or rage or other negative emotions. I doubt whether these emotions have much use in trying to achieve happiness, so therefore I would advise avoiding this type of music.

One area of music where the operations of the Consciousness Vessel and Awareness may be in play is in the use of loud music at rock concerts and other musical events. I remember going into concerts at pubs (hotels) in Melbourne (Australia) where the music was very loud. I use to wonder why this was so - would it really hurt to turn down the noise level a bit so you could actually hear the words and to have a conversation with other people if you wished. But no - it was impossible to talk to anyone. In fact the music was so loud I could feel the sound waves vibrating my body and the building fabric. It was hard to think, and that indeed was the purpose of the loudness, intentionally or unintentionally. It drowned out thought processes so that all that was left was the sensual input of the sound, the vibration of the music, the flashing lights and sensual input from the crowd. All these sensual inputs where interpreted by emotion without thought processes intervening. This is also the process present in dance clubs etc.

However I can't recommend loud music as a major method of achieving emotions on the happiness side of the Happiness Continuum. Continual use of this may leave you with damaged hearing. It is easier and more beneficial to your health to just train the mind to quieten thought processes rather than having to drown them out.

Dance - and the Joy of Physicality

This is a cross over between the world of art and body awareness.

You can also be intensely aware of movement of your body. Dancers can achieve great joy from their craft. If you have ever watched "Dancing with the Stars" (13) on television many of the dancers on that show express the opinion that all they want to do, now and for the rest of their life, is to dance. While there may be the element of seeking fame for some of them I am sure that a large part of the reason they want to dance is the joy that is available in movement.

As with all other Conscious Awareness skills, dance and the joy of physicality is a matter of being aware of the feeling of the movement of your body, the feel of the air moving past the skin, the feet hitting the ground, the muscles working, the breath as it goes in and out. Thought has very little to do with this and it is best in dance that the movements be so well honed that thought, other than at the most basic level, is not required.

The joy of physicality also applies to other aspects of movement. Various religious and meditative traditions use movement in their traditions. For example Tai Chi uses very slow ritualised movements. Practitioners of meditative walking use very slow walking, concentrating in great depth on each step they take, feeling every footstep and the every muscle in their feet as they move. This occurs while meditating (which is a form of limiting thought processes).

Everyday Tasks

Happiness from Conscious Awareness is available in the every day tasks we undertake. Some tasks have greater potential for this than other tasks.

For example, a task you do most days, having a shower has great potential for happiness from Conscious Awareness. The next time you have a shower, turn off the radio and remove other distractions. Quieten your thoughts and leave them behind. If during the shower you notice excessive thought (especially thought that is not about the shower) turn your attention back to the sense information flooding your consciousness.

This process should give you some understanding of the wealth of sensual information available in day to day activity and how on most occasions we just are not aware of it. Our thoughts often take precedence and block out awareness of sense information, filling the Consciousness Vessel. When you are having a shower you may be listening to the radio or thinking about the day ahead, the work you have to do, the meetings to attend or you are worrying about being late. You have to ask: - do you ever really resolve anything from your thoughts in the shower that would not have been resolved once you got to work? I suggest the answer is never or very rarely. In which case why do it when you are missing the experience of the shower itself. Effectively, while you are in the shower, you are not present in the shower, in the moment.

This process can also be undertaken with less obviously sensual day to day activities, for example boiling the jug for a cup of tea. While this is not as obviously sensual as a shower it is still remarkable the amount of sense information that floods your consciousness - if you are Aware of it.

You can do this process with any day to day activity, inside and outside of the home. You should try to do it a number of times per day with different activities. You may find that after awhile that you may not have to try at all. More and more you will notice that you are noticing the sensual information available in you day to day life. The sound and feel of your feet as they hit the ground, the wind and sun on your face. Sure there are going to be times when you don't, when you're hurrying to get somewhere, possibly to carryout values based processes and goals, and you forget to be conscious, or your intellect thought processes (perhaps concerned with values based tasks) are nearly fully occupying your Consciousness Vessel. That's fine. As we will discuss later Conscious Awareness is only one aspect of your life and your happiness.

Awareness Beyond the Senses

While I have concentrated on of being Consciously Aware of Sense information, after you have practiced that for a while and are confident that you have gained sufficient experience in the process you may want to try being Consciously Aware without focusing on the senses or on thought or on emotion. Let awareness alone fill the Consciousness Vessel.

Liberation

Finally I would like to encourage you to recognise what a great liberation it is to know that you do not have to be thinking all the time. You can choose to turn off the voice in your head. There is no long-term consequence. You don't disappear, sucked into an abyss of nothingness. You are more than the sum of your thoughts. Your thoughts will return when you need them. However there is the potential for peace and silence.

If you have significant problem(s) in your life what tends to happen is that you keep going over and over it in your head. For significant problems it is likely that this will not solve the problem. And the thought process can in itself bring anxiety and stress.

If you analyse it, the majority of your problems are the result of your thought processes and your reaction to your thought processes. Conscious Awareness of sense informationoffers a method to step away from your thoughts and consequently from the stress and anxiety generated by your thought processes, at least for a while.

While concentrating on the sense information flooding your senses you are not thinking. Has this solved the problem that was causing you stress and anxiety? Simply no. But while you are exercising Conscious Awareness of sense information the stress and anxiety should drop away. And perhaps when you resume your "normal" thoughts you may realise that the problem you have is not, or need not be, all consuming. The process of Conscious Awareness may provide a means of side stepping the stress, at least for a while.

We will get back to dealing with negative thoughts associated with problems later.

Advantages and Disadvantages of Conscious Awareness

A significant advantage of this Conscious Awareness of sense information is that it does not rely on the input or availability of anyone other than you. It is available at any and all times and for potentially long duration. It does not require any resources. While it certainly helps to be in a beautiful surrounding it is not necessary for Conscious Awareness processes to provide happiness potential. Conscious Awareness of sense information is a reliable source of happiness.

Also as discussed in the "Liberation" section above while it is being used thought processes are limited and consequently the stress and anxiety of problems that may be largely thought based can subside.

However the limiting of thought required for Conscious Awareness of sense information also has a significant disadvantage. Thought processes are usually required to work and carry out other tasks to achieve goals. If thoughts are limited then the achievement of goals may also be limited. As will be discussed later the achievement of certain types of goals is important and can provide a significant source of long term happiness in itself that should not be readily discarded.

Next Page - Other Approaches

Notes:

8. Nike advertising slogan.

9. For example try listening to the Symphony of Sorrowful Songs (2nd Movement)" by Gorenki or the Celtic lament Caoineadh Cú Chulainn with Davy Spillane on the Uilleann pipes (though Uilleann pipes may be an acquired taste).

10. What a Wonderful World Louis Armstrong.

11. Beethoven's Moonlight Sonata and Rodrigo's Concierto de Aranjuez 2nd Movement.

12. I find the "New Age" movement to be a mish mash of philosophies, a lot of which have no merit (although some do). However some of their music is pleasant enough.

13. "So You Think You Can Dance" was a television show aired on the Ten Network in Australia. There have been a number of series in Australia and many other countries also have their own versions of the show with local contestants. I use this as an example because this is where we often get to see dancers express their love of their art. I am sure most other professional dancers would express similar love of dance.

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