So when the anxieties emerge, surrender to them, don't go with what the thoughts are saying, go to the feeling, and see what it is expressing without listening to the story that goes on top. The stories are not accurate, so we must see what the feelings are actually expressing.

This morning I had ...

Ok so 'difficulty' is just a 'me' story? Is anything actually difficult? Is there anything you can do differently from what is occurring?

Yes, it’s just a me story. Nothing is actually difficult since everything is happening on its own. What is occurring is occurring, so there’s nothing different ...

Thanks Tao!

So let's look even closer at this process right here. What exactly is it that makes the task frustrating? What is it that makes something difficult?

I would say it is something like this:

Contracting sensations, a general feeling of 'unease or anxiety', (if we must label it that is)

What makes ...

Hi Tao,
What does getting lost in the story involve? Please describe in as much detail as possible.

Please lay it all out for me. What emotions are they and how do they feel? What are the thoughts saying? Is there a sense that something needs to be done? Write a running commentary if need be ...

Thanks Tao, I like the reminder that even pointlessness is an open space and an invitation to remain as awareness. The past few days have been ok, though I've been preoccupied with a family member who is not well at the moment. I find myself getting lost in the story of my own thoughts and images ...

Thank you Tao! Allan

Hi Tao, here's the last of the questions.

So is it even a decision, or just a set of unfolding events? Decision would imply there is a decider. 'Decision' is a concept, based entirely on the idea of a 'me'.

Yes, it’s just a set of unfolding events. The unfolding events and appearance of ...

Hi Tao,
Response #2:

Obviously I can see what you are saying here, but is examining beliefs a choice that you make? Do you have any say over which thoughts get 'believed' and which thoughts get examined?

I feel like I’m tossed into a world in which nothing is certain and nothing is under control ...

Hi Tao, response to first question:

What exactly is happening here? What is holding or believing the idea? Please explain.

From direct looking there is no holding or believing. The story includes ideas that things were learned in childhood and taken to be real on that basis.

It’s very slippery ...

Thanks Tao, I'll get back to you with my responses. Things are going well this week.
Allan

Hi Tao, here are the last 3.

4) What was the last bit that pushed you over, made you look?

Understanding that awareness is simultaneous with appearances. I had been looking into the deep and all over for either ‘I’ or ‘no self’ and understood that awareness is always coincident with sensations ...

Hi Tao,

Here are the first 3.

1) Is there a separate entity 'self', 'me' 'I', at all, anywhere, in any way, shape or form? Was there ever?

No. All ideas and beliefs of a separate ‘self’, ‘me’, ‘I’ are just appearances.

2) Explain in detail what the illusion of separate self is, when it ...

Thanks Tao, There's definitely something going on. Last night I went to bed feeling like nothing was going on. This morning I woke up and everything was absolutely nuclear. I feel like a magnifying glass, or amplifier of some type. Everything has been super subjective today. Really uncomfortable at ...

Hi Tao,

Do you get lost in thoughts? It certainly appears that way, but when you look, it is just another assumption.

Yes, it seems like I get lost in thoughts, but that is just a thought itself. When I stay in direct experience there is just the present moment as it is.

So is it clear now ...