Forums IMPORTANT: PLEASE READ PhotoReading, Memory Optimizer Still Skeptical

Hey, gang! I've been lurking on this board since I sent in my order for the course a couple of weeks ago. I've read most of the current messages, and--over the last week--have made my way through the first 6 tapes. Overall, I find the materials to be quite valuable, but I remain unconvinced about the actual Photoreading step. I know some of the members swear by this process, but--so far at least--it's been a waste of time for me.

I just don't get it. I can relax (I've been practicing meditation for 20 years), I do see the blip page, I chant as directed, photofocus isn't a problem, but the entire step seems to be a waste of time!

I never get a thing. I don't recall anything from photoreading. The dictionary test was a complete bust for me. My current feeling is that I could super read and dip and rapid read with the same result--whether or not I "photoread." Is this a common experience? What should I expect?

I'm not trying to light any fires here. This would be the greatest if it worked. . .

George,
It may have to do w/ approach.

I looked at how wonderfully the German tapes were put together & decided to go w/ the advertisement.

Then i looked at all the testimonials in the PhRing book & accepted that even if they were exaggerated, it still was amazing.

Then i thought the course was well assembled & valuable even w/o PhRing.

But, the main thing is that i just KNEW intuitively that it is possible. I finally figured it out how it's possible later on. I was never skeptical at all b/c something inside me said it was easily attainable. So i practiced & it works.

But, it is a little unnerving to see how little conscious ego control is needed to activate & get the most out of the PhRing technique. It all works & i had very little self confidence in myself when i started.

The amount of self confidence i gleened from the course was priceless. I could never pay LS for what i received from the course & Dana's coaching.

Good luck & give YOURSELF a chance to learn it.

The PURPOSE is NOT to recall anything. Recollection happens in the conscious mind when you've already called upon it.

Too many ppl think the photoreading step is like a direct serial link between the yourmind and the book where after you photoread, you understand and recall every darn thing in the book with out further effort.

Im sorry to say, nothing is that easy. The photoreading step just opens the door for you; stepping throught the doorway is up to you.

YOu said you've only gone through the 6 tapes, perhaps try listening to ALL of them and perhaps, even, go through the course severl times. You'll find that it will come if you saturate your mind with curiosity.

When i REALLY want to learn something, i expose myself to eveything pertaining to that topic as fast as possible. This technique puts my mind in a state of confusion, or even, "beginners mind". I know im at the state of optimal learning when i could think nothing but that topic. When i reach that state, i ease that out of my mind and allow incubation period.

[This message has been edited by Elmo9 (edited March 16, 2001).]

Thanks for your encouragement. I do plan to continue practicing every day, but--as the title of the thread says--I'm still skeptical. I don't think that's bad, but perhaps I have concerns that are getting in the way.

How can I say this without sounding like a jerk? I do understand alpha state; I have a full vision of each pair of pages without reading; but I don't get any connections afterwards. As I said, the dictionary test was a total flop. Everything since then (perhaps a dozen books) is equally without a single inkling of substance after "photoreading."

Okay, I'm relaxed (really, I am); okay, I see the blip (I can't believe some people have trouble with that); okay, I see the white space and the whole freaking page without consciously reading. . .but I retain, access, convert, comprehend absolutely nothing. That's wrong, isn't it? I wait a sleep cycle. Nada. What's up with that?

You folks tell me you can prepare, preview, and flip through a book and get something from that? Did it happen the first time? the 10th time? or after 30, 50, or 100 tries? I've gone through one or two books four or five times, but when I superread, it's like I never saw any of it before.

I believe I'm doing everything correctly from a mechanical standpoint (it's not really that difficult), but I have no subconscious connection. Is it possible I'm one of the proud 4% who just can't get it?

Thanks.

I'll be honest with you - I recall nothing when I photoread. I've only been doing this for almost two weeks. So far I have photoread about twenty books over a few times, and when I super-read - (and I do this by just looking down the middle of the page) the ideas and meanings start to pop into my brain. With some materials I have to super read, but that's ok, I figure. But I have to admit that the doors are opening for me. Not as fast Ias I'd likethem too, but I definitely read much faster than before. I have all of my kids trying it out now.

You might try switching back and forth between computer reading and book reading. The second night I tried computer reading it was like watching a movie. It was wild. the next day I was disappointed because I wanted the book reading to have the same affect. Didn't happen, but I'm still concentrating on having fun.

Hope this helps

OK i know where your problem is. You are expecting WAY WAY WAY TOO MUCH results at this point, WAY TOO MUCH

Honestly i don't believe you when you say you don't get anything from your preview. You get the general directing of the book don't you? Wheather or not its fiction, nonfiction, fable, a mystery, a romance, a technical manual?

When you preview, don't you also look at titles, subheadings, bold words....etc. You must have gotten ideas on the subjects that is dealt with.

All those cues are what you need to look for.

Its purely up to you if you want to be the 4% who "can't" photoread.

[This message has been edited by Elmo9 (edited March 17, 2001).]

Elmo9:

I have to respect anyone who believes in the system enough to PR upwards of 100 books a day (per another thread), but I think you're misunderstanding me. (BTW, I don't believe I could flip through more than 20 books a day without serious arm and finger cramping.)

Yes, I preview the books I intend to PR and I'm sane enough to get the points you suggest from the preview--previewing is one of the "valuable" techniques I was referring to earlier--it's the PR step alone that I'm concerned with.

Perhaps you're right, that I'm expecting way too much, but really--I do expect _something_ (from the PR step) .

So the question is--for those on this forum who are convinced the PR step is essential and useful--how long did it take to reach that point? It's all well to "believe" in the system, but at some point that belief must be rewarded.

Margaret:

I've found your comments to be some of the most helpful and cogent on this board, and I appreciate your point of view and value your advice. I'm wondering what the average experience is--advertising claims notwithstanding--in gaining returns from the PR step?

If I can make some progress here, I'll gladly schedule myself into a live seminar. Heck, I'll walk up and down the streets of Pacific Beach (my home town) in a sandwich board proclaiming the merits of the program if I can see some real progress! This would be one of the biggest satisfactions of my life if it clicks.

100 books a day is way too ambitious for me. If I could establish a program of absorbing Paul's 80% of a book on a daily basis, I'd be more than happy. 300 to 400 books a year would make me ecstatic and--IMHO--wealthy, too!

Thanks to all--I'll just follow the program and see what develops.

GeorgeA,

I was where you are for some time. The WHole Mind process adds one step to Tony Buzan's suggested study process. What really cinched it for me was Pete's challenge to sit alone in a dark part of your residence with only one light on. PR a novel. This was done with no preparation, preview, or anything else. Just the PR step on a novel; first forward, then upside down and backward. It was incredibly odd to find details from the book slipping into my consciousness. I know I wasn't reading the book because my photofocus has gotten pretty good. The reality of the PR step was the only rational explanation for the images and feelings I got from the book. Try it out. For that experiment, I also listened to Personal Genius first to make sure I was sufficiently relaxed.

After that, I noticed my activations were better. Why? Basically because that contest convinced me of the value of the signals I got while activating. Prior to that, I paid less attention to the signals and probably ignored many of them.

Hi GeorgeA,

perhaps it is different for me because I just read the first edition (German) of the PR book and then took the live seminar here in Germany, but anyway...

What I did get out of the PR-step is a more relaxed feeling at the beginning of the study process. Well, it's just like playing and so it was a great beginning for learning: I was starting without really thinking about it.
Second, I just feel like I made friends with the material - even witout previewing it and without any conscious recall.
Third, especially when doing syntopic reading, I feel a very strong building of curiosity towards the material/topic.

How long did it take to get this things? Hard to tell - I use PR only when I really feel the need (or push) to get a lot of learning done in a very short period of time. Or when I have some spare time at hand and think it could be filled with something useful like PRing. So, either I'm extremely motivated or really relaxed - I think that helped a lot in devoping this feelings.
I would say it took me about 30 books over a period of nearly a year. BUT, in this time I really only went through the whole process two or three times - but then, I took it to the extreme: Syntopic reading on up to three subjects simultanouesly, getting three semesters worth of studying down in four or five days.
What I also did during this year was to improve my skills in relaxation and MindMapping. I think this also helped a bit.

Hope this helps,

Jens