It has been stated that we cannot initiate naturally a dismissal of the virus of Identity that generates the symptoms of confusion, acquisitivness, aversion and fixation.
However the anti-virus of the natural system will come into action automatically and it is a matter of the relative weights of the homeostatic force for deliverance and the Identity.
There are four forces which resist the natural homeostatic action; Identity sensation, Identity emotion through distorted discrimination, Identity Aversion and Identity Fixation.
As we have declared, the Homeostatic rectification acts through Identity Aversion and the strength of this action depends not upon the strength of Homeostsis, but the form of conditioning to which the Aversive Identity has been exposed.
Identity Aversion, learned from childhood that includes circumstances which condition social morality or virtue by action of family, church and education, together with freedom of action, generates Aversions that, although stained by Identity, are consistent with the the Mother Principle programs.
This is called favorable Circumstances. The Aversions against incorrect actions, normally those of Sensation, Acquisitiveness and Fixation are used by the homeostatic antivirus force augmenting the REFRAINING of inappropriate attitudes, intentions and actions.
If however, the Aversive complex has been conditioned without freedom of action included, then the Aversion does not elicit REFRAINING of inappropriateness, but COMMANDMENTS, RULES or RIGID RESTRICTION. These do not assist the natural homeostasis and the Virus has too great a strength for re-formation to take place.
REFRAINING
Refraining may be likened to the braking of a car upon ice. The braking is applied gently without a constant heavy-handed application.
Since words through thinking have an effective influence, then the idea is constantly applied that "this impulse is negative for my growth and development and I don't need it," generated naturally in one's own language terms. What refraining does is apply a re-conditioning effect in a manner that does not directly attack the Identity action.
Buddhist doctrine of the ancients provides ample lists of what it is best to refrain, but these lists are too rigid and unclear. It is best to consider directly the refraining in terms of contact, comfort and discrimination of like, dislike and indifference.
In terms of Contact, the refraining consists of maintaining a constant vigilance of one's Identity presence in terms of a conscious "I", "me" and "mine."
COMFORT
As far as comfort is concerned, the refraining consists of vigilance of excess in terms of food, drink, temperature and body comfort. The task consists of recognizing the excess and recognizing cognitively that there is an excess in a particular act.
The human body, for example, has the great natural virtue of being able to maintain an ample range of tolerance to temperature changes. The advances of civilization have provided the human creature with less exposure to changes in temperature. As a result, the range of temperature accepted as comfortable has been reduced and we are less tolerant of what in earlier times had been acceptable.
If you consider that the body itself is a better judge of comfort than the socilaly conditioned mind then it is useful to remember that sweating signals that the temperature is too great and pilo erection, or, if you prefer, goose pimples, really signals too that temperature is too low.
Our natural tolerance not only to temperature, but to pressure and pain has generated a human creature that has little resilience who blankets itself, considering its narrow range of comfort as essential.
The conditioning of the market place has also atrophied the natural propensity to recognize naturally the quality and quantity of the food and drink ingested. The body can detect and monitor the range of daily requirements without lists presented by well-meaning authorities, less concerned with human health, but with social responsibilty and the effect upon the health and welfare (and smooth running) of society.
But the main task of refraining is not only to refrain excess Body Comfort and food intake, but to recognize the presence of the visceral identity force that violates what is natural and correct.
DISCRIMINATION
The Acquisitive Identity that generates great emotions has distorted the natural Affect, the approach; Disaffect, the avoidance; and Neutrality, making neither approach or avoidance, as a consequence of the recognition of apparent stimuli.
Correct and natural Affect has been converted by Identity into Liking which has Identity criteria and force. Correct and natural Disaffect has been converted by Identity into Dislike and the natural neutral responses have been converted by Identity into an intellectual indifference.
The Identity has developed through social and Identity conditioning a range of concepts ruled by words depending upon the strength of the Liking or Disliking, so that Love and Hate may appear as extremes to be Craved with Intensity or caressed when Craving is not satisfied.
The Refraining of Discrimination rests in identifying liking, disliking and identity indifference and recognizing the Acquisitive presence of the Ego Identity, recognizing the inappropriateness of these responses, while recognizing that there are natural responses and levels of true Affect, Disaffect and Neutrality.
This refraining requires a constant application and it is not easy to maintain this vigilance.
THOUGHT
When this refraining begins to be effective then the Aversive Identity will begin to recognize this with satisfaction and that will be reflected in self-satisfied thought. It is then that the cognitive system may begin, with great fortune, to open itself to new learning regarding natural Dharma. It is then that the Aversive identity, with great internal resistance, will begin to question its own validity.
This questioning is reflected in spontaneous thoughts and cannot be applied successfully by intellectual reasoning.
The Aversive identity will then begin to Refrain from Aversive thoughts and correct attitudes will begin to re-establish themselves.
But refraining, in and of itself, is not effective if there is not also the homeostatic assistance of Awareness and Mindfulness.