Hi Vince,
Thank you very much for your help and guidance. I didn't have a facebook account but would like to participate in the group so I made one and sent you a friend request. I may consider serving as a guide at some point, thank you for the suggestion.
Thanks again,
Tony

Hi Vince.

Have you noticed the obsessive nature of the mind to explain and categorize everything ?
Yes, very much.

Do you realize that we are not looking for any finished state ? What we are looking to discover is simply a fork in the path, which gives us a new direction to 'travel' in.
I ...

Hi Vince.

What is your emotional and intellectual response to this ?
I sometimes wonder if these states are somehow indicative of a shift in perspective. They don't seem to persevere though so I'm not sure if they are related to progress or just more random. I don't usually make too much of them ...

Hi Vince.

Today things seem odd. I feel very detached from whatever is going on and also somewhat aversive to observing it. I just feel out of sync with experience in real time. I also feel sort of like time has compressed down to a smaller size more surrounding my direct experience. Maybe that is ...

Hi Vince.

Do this; freeze your current facial expression.
Now, to become aware of any tension, consciously relax your face. Notice the bits that let go.
Yes, that is nice. I see a lot of tension just melt away. Relaxing.

It's not only our thinking that is conditioned, but our bodies also.
Yes ...

Hi Vince.

I have been working on letting go of thinking and stories and instead trying to just be aware of now. It seems without the thoughts there is often a background angst or anxiety. I'm not sure if that is something like I talked about yesterday where even brief thoughts seem to carry an ...

Hi Vince,

don't wait for a reply from me before posting again. Make a post of a summary of where you are currently.
Okay, will do.

do you need to do the dropping of the story and the emotions that it generated ? or does it just drop when it is recognized what is happening ?
I don't see that I ...

Hi Vince.

Does a time come when you recognize that there is emotional investment in that story ? i mean, is there a "aha" moment when you see it happening, and that seeing brings a good humored chuckle, and the story and the emotional expression is dropped ?
Yes, there are realizations that the ...

Hi Vince,
I very much appreciate your time as you help me with this but I understand it is all volunteer on your part and if this isn't a good time for you I would completely understand and be willing to figure something else out.

Does this mean that there is a story that says "I want a better ok ...

Hi Vince. Haven't heard from you in a while. Everything okay?
Tony

Hi Vince.

Maybe the story that once I get this or see this then I will be happy or satisfied, then everything will be better. What I have now isn't good enough but this great thing will make everything okay. Maybe the story that things need to be okay or better is part of the problem.
Instead of ...

Vince,
Hello. Thank you for your reply. I am having to ponder these and search for answers. I hope it is okay if I take another day to get back to you.
Thanks,
Tony

Hi Vince.

Can you identify a story associated with this ?
Maybe the story that once I get this or see this then I will be happy or satisfied, then everything will be better. What I have now isn't good enough but this great thing will make everything okay. Maybe the story that things need to be ...

Hi Vince.

Yes, there is a Buddhist saying about 'once you set foot on the path, there is no way it can't be completed' (or something like that)

That makes sense. I think at least part of this is that once you have seen what is possible or experienced some degree of spiritual opening other ...

Hi Vince. Thanks again for your reply.

Tony, please use the quote function for every question asked.
Okay, got it.

Ha, i know what you mean. i too had a lifetime (43years) of seeking, before i finally stopped scratching the itch.
If you scratch an itchy mosquito bite, does it heal ?
Does the ...