ok. No worries. Could you go into a bit more detail about the experience of your body touching the bed/chair? If you zoom in your attention to one single point of contact (e.g. left buttock), what do you experience? Is there pressure, heat, cold, tingling, itchiness, pleasure, pain, anything else ...

Hi Tristan

Nice... that's good direct looking. But since your questioning thought arose, I'll just spell out that 'direct looking' or 'looking at your direct experience' just means being aware of what is happening in the present. So answers to questions should be from that, rather than from ...

Hi Tristan

The non-self notion is I believe a notion in the present.
Absolutely right.


This morning, still into that, I thought there were no real separation between me and other elements in the kitchen.
That's interesting. What is your direct, present experience if you look around the room ...

Sorry to hear about the depression. I hope that you have someone helping you to deal with it. If there is a delay in your responses, I’ll assume that it is due to depression, so no need to apologise.
That’s very interesting that you now say that ‘the body is me’ is a thought story. So let’s have ...

Hi Tristan

Thank you for that clear and detailed description. I really enjoyed reading it… especially that parts that describe your spiritual seeking. It certainly does give me a good sense of where you are. I’m also glad to hear that your use of drugs is not habitual and is not to numb out an ...

Hi Tristen

My name is Stuart. I am happy to guide you.

I think that you are right to be concerned that drug use will restrain your ability to see no self. This process is about having a detailed look at the nature of reality. Anything that clouds your ability to do that will be a hinderance. It is ...

1) Just to be totally clear, can you find a thought that is not based on previous events?

Past is thoughts, it is a memory. Future is an anticipation of an event no yet arrived.
Absolutely. Both just thought stories. That means we can only ever have direct experience of the present moment.

With ...

It sounds like you think there's a ‘you’ that controls thoughts.
We have touched on the topic of thoughts on page 2 of this thread. So it might be helpful to have a look at that again now (see your post dated 23rd May).

I'm the one sitting and contemplating. I'm the one bringing thoughts from past ...

Thanks for your reply. Although it is helpful if you reply quicker.
'I' or 'me' is something that is observed. Observed by who?
I am the thing that can never be seen, that has no shape or form or identity. When I say I or me I am not even referring to anything. I am nothing. Are you saying that ...

I'm not able to locate the 'I'.
Great! That is good progress.
But why do 'I' get hurt in the event of some unpleasant experience?
Interesting question.
1) Where, in your direct experience, is this ‘I’ that you refer to?
2) If you don’t find that ‘I’ in your direct experience, then could you ...

Sitting, bringing thoughts, 'I' feel the feelings. Why do 'I' feel the feelings inspite of it being non-existent.

1) In your direct experience, what/where is this 'I'?

Nice clear description of good direct looking. Thanks.

I'm sorry again Stuart. Was unable to reply on time due to personal issues.

No worries.

1) Is the notion that 'feelings get absorbed into your body' totally in your imagination?
2) In your direct experience, where is the self in feelings?

It's interesting that it is 'partially an imagination'.
1) Describe, as fully as you can, the part if it that is not in your imagination.
2) if you bring to mind a thought of an event that brings a pleasant feeling, does that get absorbed into the body?

Hey, Murray, are you still there? I'm still interested in what your reply is to this question...
When you say or write 'I' or 'me', to what exactly are you referring?
Hope that you're well.

quote="Sparsh"] Sitting, contemplating on it, I feel unconscious mind is a 'thought story', based on past.[/quote] Yes, it seems like that to me too.

Sitting, thinking about a bad experience, letting myself feel the feelings they bring, my body is getting 'wet' with these feelings. Then, they stop ...