Mental Discipline in the WW: A Comparison (long) (was:Snape the Zen Master...)

finwitch finwitch at yahoo.com
Tue Jun 7 09:55:44 UTC 2005


No: HPFGUIDX 130219

Nora wrote:
> 
> I don't think that Snape ever really gives any information on how 
to 
> clear your mind.  He says 'focus!' and all of that, but none of 
that 
> gives Harry any clue as to what to really do.  Focus on what?  How 
do 
> you clear your mind out?  Part of the essence of the problem is 
that 
> Occlumency doesn't hinge upon one thing in the way that a Patronus 
> does.
> 
> All you need for a Patronus is a focus upon a happy memory.  This 
is 
> tricky (as we see), but is a goal in big flashing neon lights.  In 
> contrast, clearing your mind is a goal of absence, and you run into 
> the white elephant problem.  (Try not to think of white elephants 
> right now.  See?)
> 
> A Patronus has this very specific goal.  Occlumency has a nebulous, 
> difficult goal, and is more a state of being than a momentary 
> expenditure of effort.

Finwitch:

Indeed -- and to add it, as Lupin says Harry needs a very happy 
thought for a patronus -- well, what Harry NEEDED in order to master 
the spell were happy experiences. Doing homework is not going to make 
you happy (unless, maybe if you're Hermione) - so *of course* Lupin 
doesn't assign any, and gaining things that make you happy is 
something Harry would do anyway (and *telling* him to do so would IMO 
lessen the happiness).

Note, however, that Harry DID manage something while in his lessons, 
by thinking the day he recieved his Hogwarts letter. If I recall, to 
Harry, that was is *happiest* memory. Mainly due to the fact that he 
could leave the Dursleys.

His stronger Patronus (not yet corporeal) by the lake is given by 
Sirius' offer to give him a home.

The first corporeal patronus, right after that one:

1)He's NOT under Dementor influence, being on the opposite side of 
the lake, so he doesn't need to battle Dementors - even as a Boggart. 
Note that sending Patronus after Draco didn't as yet produce a 
corporeal Patronus.

2)He's just realised he CAN produce a Patronus - and, as Dumbledore 
put it, found his father within himself. That realisation on ABILITY 
to produce that nice stag-patronus made Harry very happy... but he 
must have been happy playing Quidditch, too...

I'd say that the BIG learning experience, the crack, wasn't really 
the corporeal one, it was the powerful one Harry cast, in the midst 
of Dementors thinking, with all his might: 'I'm going to live with 
Sirius'.

Further, after that whenever Harry feels Very Happy, he immediately 
thinks: "I could produce the World's Best Patronus right now".

As for Snape/Occlumency -- well, telling a 15-year old to empty his 
mind of all emotion is well - rather hopeless. Because extremely 
strong emotions ARE a part of being a teenager. I agree with 
Dumbledore, Harry wasn't nearly as angry as he should have been -- I 
was surprised nothing exploded...

And I do believe that 15-year old, angry Harry is/was quite unable 
to 'empty his mind of all emotion' - simply because his veins are 
running with adrenaline (justified anger in general + survival, 
considering the Blood Quill) - and boosts of testosterone etc. just 
add to it... and certainly not without proper instruction.

Snape insults Harry (just MORE adrenaline into his veins) --> Harry 
can't empty his mind -> Snape scolds him for it -- > Harry gets 
frustrated -- > More adrenaline -- > less ability... See? it WAS 
getting worse. Snape in Potions/Umbridge in DADA keep the adrenaline 
(anger) level high (and McGonagall, taking points off for 'not 
keeping his temper in check' just adds fuel to the fire...)

I'm surprised Harry didn't blow something up! Is it going to happen 
in HBP?

Finwitch






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