# HUMAN POTENTIAL

## The global cultural meltdown we experience now, will only happen once in the history of our planet. The present exchange of ideas, beliefs, and values is the most important crossing point human cultures will ever make... it could be a magical time.

Exploring the full potential of our humanity is vital to our civilisation's future.

There are many ways we could do this, but as a first step nothing could be as fundamental and simple as using the
pahanal Panoramic sensing, the parasympathetic nervous system, and the lower brain. See The Pahana Systems for details.
senses we were born with.

Every other animal uses them everyday. Animals don't believe in them for them to work, and we don't have to. It isnt a theory or philosophy. It isn't clever or glamorous. This is a natural and successful way of living.

## Therapy and Meditation

All ancient and modern therapies and meditations, try to help us find our hidden potential and bring our lives in balance.

Pahanal sensing IS a hidden potential – and evolution's basic balance in life.

It's a human birthright which we have neglected. It can be re-learnt in a few weeks instead of years (or lifetimes) of meditation and psychotherapy.

Pahaning makes focused activity safe. Pahaning makes focused thinking safe.

When alternated, the two ways of sensing form a near perfect balance.

## Balance

Focused thought will initially understand pahanal and focused sensing as two opposite focal points which we must balance in the drama of a precarious tightrope act.

Pahanal and focused sensing are not opposites, they are very closely related. It's a feeling of balance with two feet firmly on solid earth. (If anything dreamless sleep is opposite to both.)

Pahaning and focusing are like two good friends walking along together. Focusing does all the talking and decides which way to go. Pahaning walks in front to check the way is clear. Without pahaning, focusing would talk to itself and get lost.

From a focused point of view, we will think we need to 'let go' of focusing to find the balance; but then we will be focusing on 'letting go'. From the pahanal perspective we just need to start sensing pahanally – being directly aware of life as a whole.

All you need is enough curiosity and self-discipline to spend 5 minutes every day for 3 weeks learning how to do nothing except copying vulnerable animals when they are being pahanally aware.

## Civilisations Neurosis

Perhaps there is a scientific explanation for neurosis, and a cure for it in the parasympathetic nervous system.

But the essence of the problem is, that one thought follows the next automatically, we think that's natural, it isn't. It's an illness only humans have. Humans don't realise how easy it is to stop thinking.

The key point is that thinking and wanting are dependent on focusing.

Every other animal has frequent short intense interruptions when they stop focusing and therefore stop thinking and wanting. They stop still and wait empty minded and pre-emptively open to any stimuli. At these times, if they want anything, it is only to remain safe.

Pahanal awareness directly stops the never ending patterns of thinking and wanting which are causing the pace of life to overrun our modern cultures.

## Animal Therapy

Pahanal sensing is useless for thinking or wanting.

When we stop thinking and wanting we break the backbone of the ego-habit.

“I” won't be forgotten, but there's been a pause, a break in the habitual routine, it's not neurotic any more.

Feeling psychologically safe, whole, alive, and real, all at the same time, when sensing in a focused way, only happen occasionally by coincidence or luck, as when being in love – but they do so always and naturally when pahaning.

It's not primarily less egoism and selfish desire which we need in our modern lives, it is the regular experience of openness and wholeness.

## Change and Insecurity

Asian religions often describe the human suffering of trying to find pleasure and security through attachments – such pleasures are thought to be an illusion, because of impermanence and change.

Pahanal sensing evolved to stay safe in an environment which was full of change and insecurity, in exactly those conditions.

With pahanal sensing, we witness impermanence and change as normal, and there is pleasure and security in just being open to and sensing the element of surprise in being alive.

We are missing the opportunity to feel whole, safe, and just amazed at life in this random reality.

## Coordination or Alternation?

Vulnerable animals alternate their focused activities with frequent short periods of pahanal sensing.

Predatory animals coordinate both modes of sensing. Coordination is very clever, it has an aura of glamour which will inevitably appeal to some people.

But our culture doesn't need any more cleverness or egoism.

The greatest value lies is alternation.

Any degree of common sense will show that pahaning in its purest form must first be mastered, before any realistic combination can be made.

## The Common Good

The pahanal experience has no concept of self-justification, success and achievement, no sense of pride or being right.

It's a state of consciousness where egoism is not possible. Pahanal reality is an awareness of everything happening, there is no central point.

This way of sensing is common to all creatures and people of all cultures. It's a fundamental unifying factor. It underlies and supersedes all belief systems and meditation practices.

How on earth could we ever hope to develop empathy or a feeling for the common good without being aware of the wholeness of life?

Back to Chapter Three : Civilisation's Habitual Ruts
Back to THE PANORAMA SENSES Priority Pages