[Jim Dundon 05.21.07.1043edt]
Bill,
I am going to take several points from "PCT, Parkinson and Alexander technique" and deal with them in separate posts so that things do not become too cumbersome.
You quoted from Alexander's book the following passage:
"No matter whether the activity is�
one which calls for the use of the limbs in
general movement and locomotion, or for the use
of the hands in employing tools and instruments, or
one through which the processes of conceiving,
reasoning, and understanding are set in motion,
and through which the results of these processes
are ex�pressed in speaking or writing, as in
education, religion, politics, science, etc.,
the part played by the organism in these two
fields of psycho-physical activity is common to both"
At first reading this sound impressive, but on
second reading it says nothing.
On my first reading of this I would not be impressed and only after reading more of what he has to say would I be able to develop an understanding that I would be reasonably satisfied with. After that I would decide whether or not I was impressed.
You evidently have a requirement that everyone define words for you before you venture an opinion of what they are saying. [In a separate post I am going to talk about that.] I am willing to put a little more effort into deciphering what has been said. Part of this difference between us is due to your success and your success is also due to a very disciplined field. I can understand that you have no need for the kind of thinking and writing that Alexander engages in. And that it probably scares you. It probably feels unethical, causes you pain. In that sense I can see that it is not useful to you and in that sense as well, from your point of view, it is worthless. It does not fit into your goals. It is not allowed by some of the reference signals in your higher level systems. You want him to do more work for you and I can appreciate that.
I am coming from a different place, much less trained and much more willing to commit time to understanding Alexander especially in light of its influence in my life and that of tens of thousands of other people. If I were asked by a freind for some direction in getting help in having a more meaningful life, even having more control, I would direct someone to the Alexander technique rather than to something that will show him "why change is impossible" B.P..
In one of his books Alexander likens human behavior to "electromechanical machinery which fulfills purposes we have assigned them". Without using your exact words Alexander is saying that we are "purposeful living control systems".
The "constant" to which Alexander refers is the influence on our health of what he calls "manner of use of primary control" which I will go into a little more below.
The words "primary control" appear repeatedly in his book "Universal Constant". He does not put them in the order "control is primary", but sufficient reading of his material will reveal that it amounts to the same thing. Especially in light of the fact that he compares human behavior to purposefull electromechanical control systems
He speaks repeatedly of "bad manner or good manner of use of" and "bad or good employment of, primary control.. So control is primary, i.e. the common ingredient in all behavior. Whether it is employing tools, [lower hierarchical levels] or reasoning, conceiving etc.[higher hierarchical levels, control will be present. "The part [controlling] played by the organism will be present".
If there is any truth in PCT, Bill, you have proven Alexander correct!!!
The constant of which he speaks is the constant influence on our health of the predominant nature of our use i.e. Bad meaning fearful, spiteful, defensive, offensive, shameful, anxiety ridden, or good meaning ease full, loving, giving, confident etc..
Generally I can tell you that I have been given more latitude, more space, more time, [that is how I thought you might be interested because you mention a place in the hierarchy where you think time and space "Reside"] in a kinesthetic way than I had before Alexander. I will not go into more detail because that is not the purpose of this post or this website If anybody wants more information I will be happy to share it if they want to e-mail me privately.
Best
Jim D
.