1.  Introduction: The Path Beyond Fragmentation – Aligning the Inner Compass

Welcome to The Dog Teachings Podcast, where we explore profound and practical teachings that offer a clear and accelerated path to higher consciousness.

I’m Gary Eggleton, and today, we continue where the last episode, Beyond the Mirror – The Final Step to Effortless Awareness, left off. If you have not yet listened to Beyond the Mirror, I strongly encourage you to stop now and listen to that first. This episode builds directly on that foundation.

In the last episode, we examined what it means to experience effortless awareness—to see reality without interference, without strain, without the sense that presence must be “held” in place. We saw that presence is not something you do, but something that, once fully seen, simply is.

For some, that insight was enough. They recognised what was happening, and the search ended. No more effort, no more division—just life, as it is.

But if you are here, something may have remained unresolved.

Maybe presence still wavers. Maybe awareness fades in certain moments. Maybe the clarity that once felt permanent has begun to slip, leaving you wondering why.

This is not failure. This is the next step.

Because realisation alone does not ensure stability. Seeing is not the same as living without disruption. If presence still feels like something that must be “maintained,” then something in you may not have yet fully integrated what was seen.

This episode is not about another insight. It is about ensuring that presence no longer fluctuates—about making what has been glimpsed permanent.

The key to this is The Inner Compass—the force within you that ensures attention is no longer scattered, no longer hijacked, no longer dictated by external impressions.

Today, we will explore how to ensure that effortless awareness remains unshakable in all conditions.

In this episode, we will cover:

• What The Inner Compass is and why distraction still occurs
• How to train it to become unshakable
• The emergence of a deeper force—Steward—that ensures presence is directed, not just held
• How Conscience stabilises action, ensuring that nothing divides you internally
• What it means to live without hesitation, where presence is no longer effort but the only way you move through life

To ensure this is not just theoretical, you will be given direct exercises and challenges to test the depth of your stability.

If presence still wavers, this episode is for you. If effort is still needed to maintain awareness, this episode is for you. If you want to move beyond fluctuating clarity and into permanent stability, this episode is for you.

And by the end, you won’t just understand stability.

You will know, with absolute certainty, if it is fully integrated.

Let’s begin.

2.  The Inner Compass – The End of Distraction

If presence still wavers—if attention is still pulled by thoughts, emotions, or external events—then something inside is still divided.

This is not about losing awareness. It is not about “falling asleep” or failing to remain present. It is about being moved—about attention still being subtly pulled in ways that you may not yet fully see.

And this is where many get stuck.

They reach a point where presence is accessible, sometimes even dominant, but then—without warning—it shifts. They find themselves suddenly identified with a passing thought, caught in a feeling, or reacting to something external.

And this can feel confusing. After all, wasn’t the realisation clear? Hadn’t they already seen that presence does not require effort?

This is where The Inner Compass comes in.

The Inner Compass is not just about remaining aware. It is about ensuring that attention can no longer be hijacked—that no single impression, thought, or external force has enough power to knock you out of alignment.

Imagine a boat in the open sea. If the currents are strong and the boat has no rudder, it will drift aimlessly, carried wherever the water takes it. But if it has a compass and a clear direction, it does not matter how strong the waves are—it will always correct course and move toward where it is meant to go.

This is the function of The Inner Compass.

Without it, presence is like a temporary state—something that comes and goes depending on external conditions. But when it is fully developed, presence is not something you do—it becomes the default state.

The First Step: Seeing Exactly Where Attention is Still Vulnerable

For the next 24 hours, do this:

Every time attention shifts without your consent, make a simple note.
What triggered it? Was it an external impression? An emotion? A thought? A habit?
Was it subtle, or did it completely pull you away?

This is not about judgment—only observation.

Over time, patterns will emerge. You will begin to see exactly what still has the power to move attention. And once you see it clearly, its power begins to dissolve.

This is how The Inner Compass is built—not through force, not through struggle, but by removing everything that still scatters you.

Two-Way Vision: Strengthening Awareness from Two Angles

Another powerful method to stabilize The Inner Compass is Two-Way Vision—the ability to see both outward and inward simultaneously. This parallels P.D. Ouspensky’s ‘two-way arrow of awareness’, a practice he described as a key to higher consciousness. Ouspensky taught that most people’s attention is entirely absorbed by external events, leaving them identified with whatever impression arrives. However, when one divides attention—holding an awareness of both the external world and one’s inner state—something extraordinary happens.

Rather than being swept away by reactions, emotions, or thoughts, one begins to observe oneself observing. The gaze is not lost outward into the world nor withdrawn entirely inward; instead, it is balanced between both. This dual awareness prevents automatic identification and creates a stable, conscious presence—an inner compass that remains steady regardless of external circumstances.

Just as Ouspensky’s ‘two-way arrow’ keeps consciousness from collapsing into a single direction, Two-Way Vision establishes a continuous, unbroken thread of self-awareness. It allows one to see not only the world but also the ‘I’ that sees. This practice becomes the foundation for inner unity, ensuring that one does not oscillate between scattered impressions but instead remains awake in both directions—within and without—simultaneously.

Try this exercise:

The next time you engage in conversation, split your awareness.
Observe the other person’s words and body language while simultaneously noticing your own inner reactions—your emotional state, physical posture, and thoughts.
Hold both perspectives at once.

At first, you may find yourself slipping between the two. But with practice, you will develop the ability to see both inward and outward without losing either.

This ability strengthens The Inner Compass because it ensures that attention is no longer one-directional—that external events no longer dictate inner stability.

Testing Your Inner Compass – The Three-Tiered Distraction Test

To further refine The Inner Compass, test its strength under three levels of distraction:

Mild Disruptions – Deliberately place yourself in a slightly distracting environment (light background noise, mild interruptions). See if attention remains stable or subtly shifts.
Moderate Disruptions – Engage in an activity that normally requires focus (reading, writing, or a conversation). See if an external event or an inner thought suddenly hijacks attention.
Strong Disruptions – Enter an environment where attention is usually pulled away (a busy place, a social situation, or emotionally charged circumstances). Can you remain aware without losing stability?

Now, take it further. Instead of just noticing distractions when they occur naturally, deliberately expose yourself to something that has previously disrupted presence.

Choose one of the following:

• Read an old argument or an unresolved message that used to stir emotions.
• Revisit a past memory that has previously triggered identification.
• Listen to or engage in a conversation where criticism or opposing views arise.

Observe:

• Does presence hold, or does attention get pulled away?
• What happens internally? Do emotions shift? Does identification creep in?
• Is Steward present, or do old reactions still have control?

The key is to see clearly: If attention wavers here, presence is not yet fully stable. This test will reveal exactly where resistance still exists.

Once you fully understand what still has power over attention, The Inner Compass strengthens naturally.

And as it does, something deeper begins to emerge—not just the ability to hold attention, but the force that ensures it is always directed with clarity.

3.  Holding the Center – Deepening Stability

At this stage, presence is no longer something you struggle to maintain.

• The Inner Compass is strong.
• Attention no longer drifts aimlessly.
• Presence is now stable, no longer requiring constant correction.

But something is still missing.

Stability is not the final step.

It is only the foundation.

Many reach this point and assume they just need to keep doing what they’re doing—that presence will simply remain if they stay vigilant.

But vigilance is not the same as true freedom.

Because if presence still requires watching, if attention still needs checking, then something is still unfinished.

At this stage, presence must shift from being something you hold to something that holds you.

The Shift from Awareness to Inner Authority

At this point, presence should not feel like something you are sustaining.
Instead, it must become the governing force of all inner movement.

To test whether presence is fully integrated:

1️. Stop deliberately checking for awareness.

• Let attention rest naturally—without effort.
• See if presence remains or if something still shifts it.

2️. Watch for hesitation in action.

• If hesitation appears, ask:
  • Is there still a need to "protect" presence?
  • Is attention still reacting rather than leading?

3️. The Stability Test – Beyond External Disruptions

• For one full day, do nothing to sustain presence.
• Let life unfold and observe:
  • If presence holds, what does it feel like?
  • If it wavers, what pulls it away?

At the end of this stage, you will notice something:
Presence is no longer something you return to—it is something that holds you.

And when this happens, something new naturally emerges—Steward.

Steward does not check.
Steward does not deliberate.
Steward simply knows what must be done and does it.

And this is the transition we now approach.

4.  The Emergence of Steward – Governing Attention

Once The Inner Compass holds firm—once attention is no longer easily scattered—something deeper begins to form.

It is no longer just about remaining present. Now, a new force begins to govern presence.

This is what we call Steward.

But before we give it a name, let’s look at what it actually does.

If The Inner Compass ensures that attention is stable, Steward ensures that attention is directed.

Up until now, presence may have felt like something you are trying to keep from slipping away. Even after it stabilises, there can still be an underlying sense of waiting—of watching to see whether presence remains, of subtly checking if awareness is still intact.

But at this stage, presence must shift from something you monitor to something that actively governs your entire inner world.

This is where Steward emerges.

What Does Steward Do?

Imagine your mind, emotions, and body as a household that has been without structure for years. Different parts of you have taken control at different times, reacting impulsively, acting without awareness. Now, as attention stabilises, it is no longer enough to prevent chaos—the house must be put in order.

Steward does exactly this.

• It ensures that no single part of you takes over without conscious direction.
• It keeps awareness from being wasted on trivial or unnecessary concerns.
• It allows presence to shift from being passive to being an active, guiding force.

The emergence of Steward is subtle at first. It is felt as an inner authority—a presence within presence. You start to notice that actions, words, and choices feel deliberate in a way they never did before. There is no longer hesitation, no inner debate—just a clear sense of what must be done.

How to Strengthen Steward

From now on, observe every decision you make.

• Do you hesitate before acting?
• Do you feel the need to justify or explain your choices?
• Do you second-guess yourself after making a decision?

Each of these is a sign that Steward has not fully taken its place.

When Steward is fully active, decisions are made without hesitation because they arise from complete internal alignment.

The Steward’s Challenge – The 24-Hour Self-Governance Test

To verify that Steward has fully taken control, try this:

1. For one full day, act without hesitation.
2. Make decisions directly from clarity—no justification, no second-guessing.
3. If any resistance arises, stop and notice what is pulling against certainty.

By the end of the test, you will know if Steward has fully emerged—or if something in you is still delaying, doubting, or resisting clear direction.

But even as Steward takes its place, something else must now be refined—the ability to act without contradiction, without hesitation, and with absolute clarity.

This is where Conscience takes its place.

5.  The Role of Conscience – Living with Precision

When Steward fully takes its place, something shifts.

Decisions no longer feel like choices between competing desires. There is no need to deliberate between what is right and what is easy. A new force emerges—one that already knows.

This is Conscience.

Not the societal idea of conscience. Not a conditioned set of rules. Not guilt, morality, or external expectations.

Conscience is the direct knowing of what must be done—a knowing so clear, so absolute, that there is no hesitation, no inner debate, no conflict between action and awareness.

This is where true stability is tested.

If there is still effort in following Conscience, if there is still a moment of hesitation before acting, then something in you is still divided.

• Emotion says, “I feel like doing this.”
• Conscience says, “This is what must be done.”
• Emotion reacts.
• Conscience knows.
• Emotion seeks comfort.
• Conscience seeks what is right.

And here is where most struggle—not because Conscience is unclear, but because they resist its clarity.

Because sometimes, what Conscience reveals is not convenient. It does not always align with what the mind wants. It does not always allow for comfort, indulgence, or avoidance.

But once Conscience speaks, you cannot unhear it.

You may choose to ignore it, but in doing so, you create division. You create an inner split between what is known and what is acted upon.

And this division is the only thing that can still disrupt stability.

The Challenge of Living Without Contradiction

When Conscience becomes fully active, there is no longer an internal war between desire and knowing. Action arises directly from clarity.

However, many who reach this stage still experience micro-hesitations—moments where a small pause, a slight reluctance, or a fleeting impulse interrupts what is already known.

This is important to see. Because even the smallest hesitation reveals a place where division still exists.

Ask yourself:

• Have there been moments where you knew the right course of action but delayed?
• Did fear, comfort, or habit override what was clear?
• Did you feel the need to justify not acting immediately?

These small moments, which may seem insignificant, are where presence is still conditional.

Real stability means acting without resistance—without justification, without excuses, without delay.

How to Strengthen Conscience

Act only from what you know is right. No hesitation, no justification, no avoidance.

If you hesitate, stop and observe. What caused the hesitation? What part of you was still resisting?

At each point, reflect:

• Did I act directly from Conscience, or did I allow something else to take over?
• Did I justify a decision that I already knew was unnecessary?
• What in me still resists clarity?

This is not about perfection. It is about seeing exactly where hesitation still exists—because every hesitation is a sign that presence is still being tested.

The Final Test: No Checking, No Verifying

At this stage, there is only one thing left to test.

• Do not ask, “Am I present?”
• Do not measure how you are doing.
• Do not monitor yourself.

Simply live.

But if action is required, take it immediately. Do not deliberate. Do not question. Simply act.

Conscience is not passive. It does not wait. It does not require validation. It simply knows. The moment you hesitate, you create a gap where fragmentation can return.

If an action is needed, let it arise naturally and follow through without second-guessing. This is the test—can action move through you without interference?

Ask yourself:

• Was presence continuous, or did something still pull me away?
• Did I act instantly from knowing, or was there still a pause?
• If there was hesitation, what was resisting?

If presence is still dependent on verification, then something remains incomplete.

But if nothing moves—if action arises effortlessly, without hesitation, without self-correction—then you will know:

Conscience has fully taken its place.

Presence is not something you “return to.”

It is something you never leave.

6.  Effortless Existence – Living Without Inner Conflict

At this stage, presence is no longer something you manage. There is no effort to maintain awareness, no need to “catch” yourself when attention drifts.

Because it no longer drifts.

Thoughts arise, but they do not pull.
Emotions move, but they do not take control.
Situations change, but nothing in you wavers.

This is what it means to live without inner conflict.

For most, life is experienced through fragmentation—a constant inner negotiation between competing desires, impulses, and thoughts. One part of you wants to act, another hesitates. One part knows what must be done, another part rationalises avoidance.

This internal push and pull is why most people never experience true stability. Even after realisation, even after Steward emerges, subtle contradictions can remain.

But when presence is fully embodied, actions flow without interference.

There is no hesitation. No internal argument. No need to check whether awareness is intact.

Everything moves as one.

Imagine the difference between someone walking while thinking about walking and someone who simply walks.

In the first case, the movement is awkward, self-conscious, unnatural. In the second, it is fluid, effortless, and completely integrated.

When presence is not fully stable, there is still an underlying tension—an invisible checking mechanism, making sure presence has not been lost.

But in effortless existence, this checking disappears.

There is no longer a “you” holding presence in place. Presence simply remains.

The Final Test – The Seven-Day Stability Challenge

For the next seven days, test whether presence is fully integrated by observing how long it remains without any effort to hold onto it.

Day 1-6: Stop Managing Presence

Do nothing to “hold onto” awareness. No mental effort, no checking in, no trying to sustain a state.
Let life unfold naturally. See if presence remains or if something still disrupts it.
If presence wavers, observe without correcting. What caused it? Was it external? Internal? A thought, emotion, or reaction?

Day 7: The Verification Test

Go through an entire day without once checking if presence is there.
At the end of the day, reflect:

• Did presence remain the entire time?
• If it faded, what was the exact moment it wavered?
• Was there a “return to presence,” or was there never a loss at all?

This is the final test.

If presence is still dependent on verification, then something remains incomplete.

But if nothing moves—if awareness is continuous without effort—then you will know:

Presence is not something you "return to."

It is something you never leave.

7.  Closing & Call to Action

And that’s it.

No more fragmentation.
No more effort.
No more searching for stability.

Just presence.
Unshakable.
Uninterrupted.
Whole.

But before you go, test it.

For the next seven days, live as if there is nothing to maintain.

• No self-correction.
• No “checking in” with presence.
• No trying to stay aware.

See if presence remains.

If something still shakes it, you’ll know where to look. If nothing moves, then you’ll know—there was never anything to hold onto in the first place.

If this exploration has resonated with you,
If you’re ready to go deeper,
Visit TheDogTeachings.com for more.

You’ll find:

• The Blueprint of Consciousness—a step-by-step guide to full integration.
• Full podcast transcripts for deeper study.
• Practical exercises to strengthen The Inner Compass.
• Live Zoom classes every Sunday, where we refine these principles together.

Because this isn’t just about knowing—
It’s about being.

And if you’ve reached this point,
You already understand:

There is nothing missing.
Nothing to maintain.
Nothing to hold onto.

Just life, as it is.
Completely here.
Completely whole.

Thank you for listening to The Dog Teachings Podcast.

Until next time.