Let's go onto touch.
The touch of the table surface completely and totally emerges on its own, complete, independent. Some thoughts follow trying to label the temperature of the experience. The thoughts emerged automatically after the feeling.What is your direct experience of this ‘table’? List your direct experience.
It is raw sense, rich, fully complete. Some thoughts follow labeling some aspect of the experience.Is it senses again? Is it thoughts again? Look very closely. Which comes first the senses or the thoughts?
No, the sensation is as is on its own. It does not have any other characteristic with it. It is now.Does the sensation of touching come with a shape, density, weight, size, colour, age or function?
The sensation exists on its own, there is no "me" related information. It is now, on the very moment. It is one perception, on the very present. The mind slips out of the present moment and thoughts follow.Does this sensation come with a ‘not me’ label or ‘other’ label? Is it one sensation/perception or two? Look at how thoughts try and take over, try and explain, try and prove. Notice your memories or references with which you compare the experience.
Well, when the words are there, being intrinsic part of the thoughts, direct experience is not there. When words are there, present moment is lost.Sit with these sensations. Look at them. Look at the labelling e.g. table, hand. Look at the thoughts or story that attach at the end of this list if any. What is your direct experience of these words? Do they exist outside of thought?
Words do not exist outside of thought. Words are the building blocks of thoughts. Emotions come before thoughts. Emotions come before thoughts and thoughts arise immediately after to balance or neutralize the emotional load of the original emotion. Haha is funny to look at. We are basically halting our growth by not fully processing our emotional agenda.
There are sensations, emotions that arise after the raw feeling, and thoughts follow.Are they sensations again? Are they just thoughts again? Look very closely. Which comes first the sensation or the thoughts? Don’t pay attention to the thoughts just look at what they do, when they come in.
The order seems to be > Sensation (touch) > emotion arises because of unmet expectation > thought arises to explain the emotion and neutralize it.
That means..even before touching the table, there was an expectation about the experience to come.
That brings me to consider Sarah, that maybe I have still not managed to drop all expectations. I have no idea if I need an intellectual understanding on how to drop expectations or if I need hours of practice on recognizing them and letting them go. Or to drop expectations about getting rid of all expectations :-S :-)
Today I noticed something surprising. There was a situation in which another person referred to "me" in a despective way. In the past I would have reacted quite energetically to that happening, but today it was totally not so, zero reaction. There was a situation in which, with no "me" existing, there was noone to be offended! It was lovely.
Sarah, I've read of sudden "gate crossings", but in my case it feels as if peeling an stinky onion.
Well, I guess that last sentence was some expectation rising up again. I'll take anything, as is, and be aware of no self as much as possible on my regular day.
I'm always grateful on your "pointing", although I suck a little bit as 'pupil'
Hugs,
Victor

