Would love a guide!

[SimonStark]

Those are a lot of questions indeed. :) And I don't think I need time to answer. The upset has gone and I know you're fine, so I'm feeling ok.

And in your questions, correct me if I'm wrong, you''re asking two basic things:

1) Am I still seeing a "me" in all this? And I can definitely say no. I have not been able to see a self anywhere ever since it first became clear to me.

2) How does the relationship between feeling and thinking work? A thought cannot exist without a feeling. Even the most subtle thought has a, perhaps hardly perceptible, feeling fueling it. So the core of everything is feeling/emotion/sensations in the body. Which are all the same, just labelled differently.

Am I right that that is what you were getting at?

Btw, just so you know, I do very poorly with a lot of questions all at once. I'm not saying you should change your approach, it's just some information that you might find useful.

[Armstrong]

Ok, this should be simple - what percentage of your thoughts are about you, your stuff, your projects, your interests, etc. Please pay attention throughout your day and come back with a number.

[Armstrong]

SimonStark, I read your reply. You didn't do the exercise, so I'm giving you another - the one where you look and say what % of your thoughts are about you, your stuff, your projects, your feelings, etc. Good luck.

[SimonStark]

That one's easy. Most all of them are about me, my projects, my feelings, etc. So I would say 99,5%.

[Armstrong]

You didn't apply yourself to the exercise.

Just telling me what you thino the percentage is is not the same as paying attention for an extended period of time, recording results and coming back with a number.

You aren't doing the things you agreed to do. You agreed to apply yourself to this, to be honest, to speak from your direct experience and not your thinking. If you were doing those things, you wouldn't be writing what you've been writing.

I encourage you to pay attention to your direct experience as you read this.

What is your direct experience as you read this?

[SimonStark]

I don't know anymore. The number thing I did do, I looked over a whole day's of thoughts and sure, it was an estimate, but it sure was clearly more than 99 out of 100 thoughts.

My direct experience is simply reading it. That's all I can answer.

[Armstrong]

You didn't answer the question. The question was, "What is your direct experience as you read this?"

You aren't doing what you said you'd do - you said you'd be honest and answer from your direct experience. You don't seem to even be trying, despite me telling you several times that you aren't doing what you said you'd do.

Again I ask, what is your direct experience as you read this? What is your present moment experience?

[SimonStark]

I am being honest with my answers and I am trying. It's just that I don't have any other answers. I assume you're not psychic and can't tell what I'm doing during the day.

But ok... again, my direct experience as I'm reading this is just that, reading this. That is the present moment experience.

That's my honest answer. I don't see how I could phrase it differently.

[Armstrong]

OK. Maybe more effort will help.

Please listen to this again: http://liberationunleashed.com/LU_Audio ... n%2004.mp3

Then please keep a piece of paper and pencil handy. When you aren't busy working and notice a thought, please write down either an 'x' if the thought is about you, your projects, your property, your concerns, etc. Please write down an 'o' if it isn't.

After you get a few dozen x's or o's, please come back with a percentage.

[SimonStark]

Ok, I get it. I'll do that and listen to the audio, all the while attempting to upgrade my pc to Windows 10... :) I tried twice so far and it crashes and goes back to Win 7. That might give a bit of a delay.

And I'll listen to the audio.

I didn't understand the exercise about the thoughts about me the previous time. For some reason it had gotten into my mind that it only counted as not such a thought when it was a selfless thought about another person. But if I think of the park nearby, that would could as well of course. Which is why I got to such a high percentage.

Ok, I get it. I'll listen to the audio, do the exercise and get back to you.

Thanks.

[Armstrong]

That's interesting.

You listened to labeling and language - http://liberationunleashed.com/LU_Audio ... n%2005.mp3 - those are all thoughts. I assumed you remembered that, which in retrospect, was a bit much.

You might want to listen to that one again too, and do the exercise where you notice how labels spring to mind, BEFORE you sit down and try to notice what percentage of thoughts are about your person, your projects, etc.

It is obvious that not all thoughts are about oneself. Nor are all thoughts impersonal (eg "that's curious" or "what a loud dog") -- but I'm asking you to pay attention and notice roughly what percentage of thoughts are about you and your stuff, and what percentage aren't.

[Armstrong]

And use pencil and paper. It is your friend.

[SimonStark]

Will do!

[Armstrong]

SimonStark,

Things have changed on my end. I am unexpectedly busy with stuff and so I am not able to give you the service I said I would. I am sorry about this.

Please don't be surprised if another guide answers your questions from here on out.

I encourage you to examine your direct experience as your read this.

It has been fun and I wish you well.

Feel free to PM me, but please understand if it takes me a while to respond.

Good luck.

[SimonStark]

Thanks for letting me know and good luck with the stuff you're busy with.

I'm still working on the previous exercise. I'll post the results here when I'm done and hope another guide takes it from there.