Hi Aleks,
The label ‘body’ is AE of thought and not AE of a body
I saw this two days ago. It is a thought which stays all the time. After seeing this, suddenly there was total relaxation. And the feeling of FREEDOM. I have been living in a nightmare all my life. I was observing whether this feeling of freedom will not disappear. It seems that when I interact with others in my work it disappears and some parts (parts only) of the old conditioning are coming back. There are patterns of reactions rooted too deep (if I can say this) to find them. When I am alone the freedom is back. I do not know what to do, Kay, in order to change that.
What is it exactly that wants to change that and for what purpose exactly? Can an author of thought be found? If not, then whatever story appears about what SEEMS to be happening appears. But without thought, how is it known that reactions are happening and that they are happening to a me?
The movement of ‘reactions’ is THIS…IT...experience itself! Nothing is not THIS. All abstractions in an abstract painting are the paint, but the paint do not literally become the abstractions. The ordinary is the extraordinary, as are the stories of reactions. This can be seen when we put aside the stories of all movements. Movements ARE, and are IT. The ordinary and mundane, the reactive, the apathetic are all movements and are all IT.
However, if we want an explanation a reason from the point of view of the SEEMING character in the dream, this exploration is just a beginning and not an ending. There will still be beliefs and patterns that are rooted in the idea of being a separate self that will need clearing as not everything gets rewritten in one big hit. The core belief of being a separate self is seen through, however, like a rug that is beginning to unravel, there are still many knots that still need undoing. Knowing that the ‘conditioning’ is not something that you own makes it is easier to clear. Continuing to LOOK is the key, even after the realisation has happened.
So yes, it SEEMS that identifying as the separate self shows up again and again, in different circumstances, along with feelings of resistance, doubt, frustration and confusion etc. This is known as yo-yoing and happens to everyone. Yo-yoing happens on an off, on and off until it becomes a frustration in itself!. Even though there may be a knowing that yo-yoing is also just an appearance, it all seems to be ‘real’! This is quite normal! It isn’t known how long this yo-yoing will go on for, but it will happen until it doesn’t. The key is to keep LOOKING. So there will be a period of checking, and doubting, and rechecking, and that is all very normal. And the movement of yo-yoing is also IT!
3. Can a dividing line between the colour labelled ‘floor/rug’ and colour labelled ‘furniturel’ be found? Is there ‘space’ between ‘floor/rug’ and the ‘furniture’ or is there just simply colour
There is no dividing line and it is not space, but color.
Yes, just undivided, seamless colour.
As I said before all the borders disappeared, and the space of openness is bigger now. There is no body. But the thought of something (body?) is not dissolving and is reacting to other thoughts (boss for example) with different sensations.
Why would the thought of there being a body dissolve? There has never been a you who has resided in a body, and yet the idea of the body and the idea of a Aleksself have always appeared. Why would any of that change? If you were the author of thought, then you would be able to change the story…but as you are not…then the story of you being a separate self in a body remains. However, can you find anything/anyone that is or isn’t Aleks? Again…movement of Aleksself to no Aleksself is simply THIS as that movement! Is there not just a simple knowing of the character called Aleks and the story of/about Aleks?
If you are given a painting which is labelled Aleks, can you find an actual Aleks in the painting? There is the painting and the idea of an Aleks…but does the paint actually become Aleks or does the paint remain as paint but with ideas about an Aleks?
How does a thought react to another thought exactly? Is one thought aware of another thought?
What can a thought do?
Does a thought have volition?
Can it manipulate other thoughts or think new thoughts?
How is it known that a sensation goes hand in hand with a thought, or vice versa?
We have already done the following exercise, but I think we need to revisit it. So...looking to see if thought and sensation go hand-in-hand. In other words, do thoughts evoke sensations.
1. Put aside 10-15 minutes and sit quietly with your eyes closed.
2. Think of a story that brings up the sensation ‘anxiety’ (or fear) - one that you can feel in the body but not too intense that it overwhelms you.
3. Then with eyes still closed, I want you to LOOK very very carefully to see if you can find/see an actual link between the thought and the sensation ‘anxiety’. You are looking to find if there is something that links the thought/story with the sensation labelled as ‘anxiety’.
4. If the sensation starts to dissipate/weaken, then bring the story to mind again until the sensation is felt clearly again, then continue looking to see if you can see/find a link. You are looking for an actual link that connects the thought/story with the sensation.
5. If you find yourself following thought instead of looking carefully for the link, just bring your attention gently back to the sensation and continue looking.
Do this exercise at least 3-4 times throughout the next 2-3 days making sure to look very carefully. Do thoughts evoke sensations?
Let me know what you find.
Kay
Nothing real can be threatened. Nothing unreal exists.
