Charles M

[minddweller]

So what is a feeling or an emotion in direct experience?

[charlesm]

Goodday M

So what is a feeling or an emotion in direct experience?

It´s a sensation of the body but words don´t do it justice. It´s something noticed outside of the normal in this body experience.

That seems the best description at the moment.

Ta

Charles

[minddweller]

Hi Charles,

This is clear. Without getting into 'something noticed outside the normal' etc... feelings/emotions are directly experienced as sensations.

Now, are YOU sensations or are sensations sensations?

:)

[charlesm]

Morning

OK this is clear, from my direct experience. Sensations are sensations!

Ta

Charlie

[minddweller]

Nice! Now let's look at awareness Charlie. We ask: Does awareness have any characteristic of a personal self? So let's have a look.

Has it got an age, gender or occupation? Direct experience only!
Has it got agency, an agenda?

[charlesm]

Hi Glad you're there.

Has it got an age, gender or occupation? Direct experience only!
Has it got agency, an agenda?

None of the above, there's just awareness. There's no self in the awareness!

[minddweller]

Hello Charlie,

None of the above, there's just awareness. There's no self in the awareness!

Since you're on a roll let's carry on. Just see the obvious! As always DE only.

Does awareness have likes and dislikes? Is it ever affected by any arising? Is it a "state" that comes and goes? Indeed, can it be grasped as an object?

If the answer is NO to all these questions, what does the "I" in "I am awareness" point to? :-)

[minddweller]

Hello Charlie,
Just wonder if YOU was lost in awareness? What is happening? =)

[charlesm]

Hi M

Not in the right state to look yesterday!

Does awareness have likes and dislikes? Is it ever affected by any arising? Is it a "state" that comes and goes? Indeed, can it be grasped as an object?

None of the above awareness is just there.

what does the "I" in "I am awareness" point to?

I don't know

What is happening?

Just life going on somedays Im up for this somedays Im not. that's all.Lost in awareness that would be nice.

A demain.....

Charlie

[minddweller]

Hello Charlie,
A few days ago you wrote:

Sure another conceptual story. What needs to be cured is what’s pointed to of a, I, me Charles entity is melting but Out there in the “real world “ A white van man crashes into my car the thoughts that will come flooding will be all about me, mine I have had this happen to me!!!!! (from here It seems odd writing like this now) But when these things happen we are a long way from being mindful. All another story bye the bye.

Is there a separate experiencer of experience to which the experience belongs to? In my direct experience there is no experiencer ,there is an awareness in the background that I am. If I look at this another way ‘from where this experience is happening THIS BEING CAN NEGATE IT’S SELF BY SAYING I AM NOT. This doesn’t work here! Can’t find a seer but there is an awareness that seeing is happening.

OK a little recap on what is meant by direct experience today. I'm convinced you get it but just in case:

If I ask, "Are your keys in your coat?" you might respond:

(A) I remember putting them there last night.
(B) Albert told me he put them there after he borrowed them.
(C) I think they must be.
(D) Let me just see (looking in coat). Yes! Here they are!

There is only one of the alternatives which is direct experience. You got it right? No special state. Just actually looking.

Okay, now look for the separate self called Charlie exactly the way you'd look for keys in your coat. Do you experience a "Charlie" directly in any way? Do you see, hear, taste, touch, or smell a separate self? Just look! Is there a "you"? Look!

See the obvious just like when you saw that the 'awareness in the background' was clearly seen to be just that, awareness, thoughts didn't think, no self or thoughts tapped the finger etc

No self needs negating here, because what separate 'thing' is there to be negated here? Do you find a self apart from the thoughts of 'I and me' anywhere now? As always DE only.

OK, so white van crushes into the car and thoughts of I, Charlie, me etc come flooding in. Sure there may well be unpleasant sensations arising too. It was seen the other day though, that emotions and feelings are sensations and sensations are not YOU, sensations are sensations. How about thoughts:

Are thoughts YOU or are thoughts just thoughts? How about the 'me' thought? Any different from the Santa thought or marmalade in DE? You may well find the marmalade if you looked in the fridge, but where do you find the 'real me' or 'Santa'? See the obvious. Relax. Look. Don't think. Look right here.

Hear from you soon!

[charlesm]

Okay, now look for the separate self called Charlie exactly the way you'd look for keys in your coat. Do you experience a "Charlie" directly in any way? Do you see, hear, taste, touch, or smell a separate self? Just look! Is there a "you"? Look!

When I look I can't find a separate self.

Is there a "you"?

Feeling a little un-easy answering this one. I can't give a yes or a no, so there is no me.

Do you find a self apart from the thoughts of 'I and me' anywhere now?

No just thoughts of that.

Are thoughts YOU or are thoughts just thoughts? How about the 'me' thought?

Thoughts continue to be just thoughts. The me thought is just a thought. I get that! A story about a me.

Busy day at work that carried on until the evening sorry for not posting yesterday

Charlie

[minddweller]

Hi Charlie,
good to hear back from you and no worries if you get too busy at times. I'll wait and nudge you when I think it's been a while. You're doing some great looking!

So:
Feeling a little un-easy answering if there is a 'you'.

1) Is sensation of unease something that is happening to YOU? Is there a feeler of sensations?
What is behind this sensation?

It may be that there is fear of somehow disappearing. But there really is nothing that can disappear.

2) Try this now:

Close your eyes and imagine a watermelon. Get it clear in your mind. Let this imaginary melon go and open your eyes. Where did it go? What disappeared when you stopped imagining it?

Same with the story about me, I, self.

Have a good day and hear from 'you' soon!

[charlesm]

Aloha

1) Is sensation of unease something that is happening to YOU? Is there a feeler of sensations?
What is behind this sensation?

The unease is just happening. No feeler of sensations, just sensations coming and going. There is no-thing behind the sensations.

Close your eyes and imagine a watermelon. Get it clear in your mind. Let this imaginary melon go and open your eyes. Where did it go? What disappeared when you stopped imagining it?

Same with the story about me, I, self.

NICE…It didn't go anywhere, it wasn't there in the first place. No-thing disappeared because No-thing was there in the first place. Like the I !

Thanks. This feels good.

Charlie

[minddweller]

That's right all the senses intact, life keeps happening, the belief in a fictitious self drops away.

I'm having a busy day today so just a couple questions remains really,

Is there a manager/controller or any other sign of a separate self anywhere in real direct experience? Was there ever?

Happy days

[minddweller]

Hi Charlie, I had a friend visiting this weekend but in any case you tend to be busy in the weekends too. How is this all unfolding? Real curious about all this now.
Wishing you well!
M