ADDITIONAL BENEFITS OF PANORAMIC SENSING

When it's done regularly this is the optimal cure for, and safeguard against, closed-mindedness.

The never ending abstract chatter in our heads, is always reconfirming our pre-existing opinions, attitudes to life, regrets, hopes, and beliefs. The panorama mode interrupts the automatic repetition of all abstract thoughts. Self-righteous opinions lose their generating energy, because they lose their automatic re-confirmation.

This is a long term effect, it's theory.

This idea is developed in How to Neutralise the self-perpetuating Thoughts.

In its purist form as vulnerable animals use it, panoramic awareness is evolutions' safeguard against danger. Animals know that both their dozing and focusing modes are not really safe, unless they are combined with panoramic activity.

The constant background reassurance they feel by panoraming, must generate an emotional and psychological feeling of being safe. It must be connected with subconscious and even instinctive feelings of safety, and security.

But i am unable to provide a common sense reason for this feeling – only rational sounding arguments.

Maybe it has a scientific explanation in the stimulation of the parasympathetic nervous system.

Making Life Safe repeats most of this and develops the ideas.

At first i couldn't work out if it was the exercise itself which was making me happy, or if it was just because i was experimenting with something which i actually thought was a bit crazy... whichever it was, it was making me feel happy, so i was curious about it, and so carried on doing it.

So this generalised happy sensation is available even without using full panoramic vision. The second, third, and fourth exercise in the Warm up Exercises all have this effect. It is especially noticeable when awareness is at the peripheries. I'm not sure that i like the idea of using techniques rather than the whole experience, but if it helps people to be happy then it would be a good thing.

I have no good common sense explanation for this happiness. I could explain how it's enjoyable, relaxing, satisfying, or pleasurable, these are almost logical results of not thinking. But the direct, often overwhelming effect of happiness is at present, inexplicable.

Maybe part of the explanation can be found in the parasympathetic nervous system. When i researched it i found that activating the parasympathetic nervous system releases serotonin, dopamine, and oxytocin. Dopamine and serotonin are the “happy hormones”.

I think it has more to do with simply by opening the eyes wide, which is a natural consequence of looking at the peripheries; and opening the eyes wide is also aided by expanding the nostrils when scenting.

But, wide open eyes, or the dopamine, serotonin ideas are only the start of a generalised answer.

I find every 15° or so round the perimeter of the visual field, is an area which is sensitive to, responds to and stimulates different moods. Generally the upper peripheries seem to stimulate happiness, while the lower ones process grief.

Maybe there is no common sense answer to this last point, or maybe acupuncture meridians could offer a clue...

One reason i know that "seeing" actually causes happiness and possibly the only sort of proof i can offer at this point, is that i notice no connection between listening and happiness. Listening is best for stopping thinking and being now.

Smelling, Tasting, and Smiling
Smelling and tasting exercises stimulate the entire 'smiling area' of the face. Smelling directly activates the cheek bones. When an area of my mouth is tense i have less or no sense of taste there, and actively tasting it, makes it sensitive, relaxes it. Smelling and tasting stimulate smiling.

Back to Chapter Two : Psychology Of The Panorama
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