MetaJess

3] Now try this. Start with you hand open and close it, while at the same time thinking "open". Do this a few times such that you're thinking the opposite of what you're actually doing. What's that like? Weird, huh? Almost like you're *interfering* with the process.

4] So we can see that: a) true intention is 'thoughtless' b) thoughts might happen at the same time, though c) thoughts can actually interfere Whenever I talk about intention, or use words like 'become aware of', I mean by using the quality of intention of a).

5] Try it. Right now, become aware of the space above you. 'Just become aware'. Any amount of thinking about the space above you is *not it*. That's still just thinking. Just open and close your hand. Just become aware of the space above you.

I can delete this soon so as not to pollute the thread, I love many of the examples you use but the space above/behind seems really hard esp in terms of thought. "becoming aware" feels like tuning in to my sense data, but since I can neither see, hear, smell or touch the air ...

I find I can't do anything but start "thinking" about the space above or behind me, wondering what it is, picturing it in a way thats waaaay more thoughtful than opening and closing my hand which I can see, hear and feel

For me personally the above/behind 'awareness' feels more like remembering that all that space is there, without any intention to do anything about it, or analyzing it consciously. It's the opposite of focusing down on something.

Exactly this. "Just remembering" is another way to capture it. And then continue to renew that remembering, rather than trying to hang on to it once remembered.

One pointer that works for me on this sometimes is to imagine a hypothetical scenario: If someone told you that the air from the ceiling down to a foot above your head had been mixed with 5% xenon and was different but still safe, your mind would start tracking that whole space.