hi,


You said:

> ".....a means to attaining greater
> self awareness, is to simply witness the subtle
> changes in behavior."

but it may not be that simple; the attention that is needed to observe those changes
is often too crude to do the job. As you say, the changes are very subtle and if the attention is not then it will interfere with those changes. If this happens then the process in its "natural state" cannnot be observed anymore (because of said interference). The only solution for this problem is "upgrading" the attention until it reaches the same subtlety as the natural behaving process. This takes a lot of excercising and of "failures".

Then you say:

> "Through this exercise, the first
> benefit entails recognizing when one is adapting
> for good reasons versus for not-good reasons, ones
> perhaps based on long-established coping patterns
> which really don't serve one well in the present
> moment."

The recognizing that you mention supposes an active and very awake real "I".
Even a little observation already shows that most of the time this is not the case.
Real "I" is deep asleep and the "little "i"s can do as they please.
Knowing all this is by itself not very helpful either; the intention of observation has to be carried out in practical reality and has to be repeated and again and again...

and:

> "The second benefit, is recognizing that the
> perceiver remains constant throughout this
> process: 'I' am:> watching myself convince the
> salesman that I am not to be taken advantage of ;
> convincing the buyer that I am an honest guy; etc"

Very true!

Naveen.