Clarity

[Seamist]

Hi Becca,

The mind naturally labels and stories arise even with direct seeing.

yes - it's what minds do. Well spotted!

The thoughts still arise after a few moments of clear thinking. I am not in control of this

absolutely

next:
Here's an exercise that I would like you to try as many times throughout the day as you can. Label daily activities simply colour/image, sound, smell, taste, sensation, thought.
So for example, when having breakfast, become aware of:-
Seeing a cup, simply= image/colour
Smelling coffee, simply = smell
Feeling the warmth of the coffee cup, simply = sensation
Tasting the coffee, simply = taste
Hearing the spoon stirring the coffee, simply = sound
Thought about drinking the coffee, simply = thought
Just break down daily activities into these categories (which are all actual/direct experience) and report back how you go.

xx

[Plant31]

This is a wonderful exercise to bring me into the present moment. However, it takes concentration and a reminder to continue to do this.
The thought arises that I need to practise the exercise and then I am concentrated on the label of my thoughts, smelling, tasting, hearing, seeing (shape and colour). Some the mind is distracted and creating a story quickly off track. I am not in control of these thought but am able to observe their rising and passing. There is sometimes moments of no thought. Then thoughts will quickly arise again.
I felt much more present in the moment carrying out this exercise.


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[Seamist]

Morning Becca,

Some the mind is distracted and creating a story quickly off track. I am not in control of these thought but am able to observe their rising and passing.

yes, good noticing
Have a look at an apple. If you have a ‘real’ apple, you can use it for this exercise. Otherwise, use the one in this link:
http://www.maryshomestead.com/sitebuild ... /fruit.gif

When looking at an apple, there's colour; a thought saying ‘apple’; and maybe a thought saying, "I'm looking at an apple."
What is known for sure? Colour is known and thoughts are known.

What about the content of thoughts, what they describe?
Actual experience does not refer to thoughts ABOUT something…because that is only just more thought. Actual experience is sound, thought, colour, smell, taste, sensation.

Is there really an ‘apple’ here, or only colour and a thought ABOUT ‘apple’?
Can ‘apple’ be found in actual experience?

While these thoughts are known, what they talk ABOUT can't be found in actual experience.

This is what is meant by ‘looking in actual experience ‘. What you know for sure, and, is always here.

Taste labelled ‘apple’ is known
Colour labelled ‘apple’ is known
Sensation labelled ‘apple’ is known (when apple is touched)
Smell labelled ‘apple’ is known
Thought about/of an ‘apple’ is known
However, is an apple actually known?

xx

[Plant31]

The apple is known through the 5 senses and thought of the label ‘apple’. All of these experiences of the apple appear through thoughts. So the apple only exists as thought which includes all the sensations of the apple. The apple does exist in direct experience and all experience arises as thought and sensations. So you could say that the apple doesn’t really exist outside of ourselves ‘consciousness’. The apple is not separate.


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[Seamist]

Hi Becca
Would you agree that, in direct experience, there are just sensations and thoughts about those sensations? xx

[Plant31]

Yes. Direct experience is just sensations and thought.

x


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[Seamist]

Hi
I realise my question wasn't clear!
What I meant was, in relation to the apple.. is it true that, in direct experience, there are just sensations and thoughts about those sensations?
xx

[Plant31]

Yes I would agree. The ‘apple’ is just a bunch of sensations and thoughts so it only exists through sensations and thoughts. So in a way there is no ‘apple’.


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[Seamist]

yes! perfect!
Let’s do some observing now to further explore the difference between mental construction and direct experience.
Try this: Choose an ordinary object in the room. Maybe a vase of flowers or something that has interesting and varied visual qualities
1. Close your eyes and picture it in your mind for a minute or two.
2. Open your eyes and observe it directly for a while.
Describe both experiences. The first one of what was happening directly in the mind sense and then the second one of what you experienced in the visual sense.
Also tell me the difference between these two experiences.

xx

[Plant31]

Hi Sioned,
We’ve done this exercise before and the apple exercise twice. Are we repeating these again now?
xx


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[Seamist]

I am so sorry, Becca.
No it's not deliberate. Thanks for letting me know.
Things are a bit chaotic here at the moment as I'm moving house..
New exercise coming up shortly!

[Seamist]

My apologies again, Becca - I had an IT crash during the move and my notes have got jumbled.
Please let me know if you've had this next one already.

This exercise has a dual purpose. Firstly, to become aware of each and every though as they appear. Secondly, the careful looking for the gap is an example of how carefully to look when looking for the ‘separate self’.
Here is a step-by-step description of how to look at thoughts. First thing is to sit for at least 10-15 minutes quietly somewhere, several times throughout your day. Close your eyes and just notice thoughts. Don’t engage with any thought, just notice them.

1. Notice the current thought that is present.
Like when you sit observing the body, a thought might arise “this is my feet” or “here is a pain” or “my breathing is too quick” or “I am bored with this exercise” or “I have better things to do” or any sorts of thoughts.

2. This thought will pass and another thought will come. So just observe this thought passing.

3. Then wait for the next thought to come.

4. When the next thought is present, just notice it, and see how it passes.

5. Then wait for the next thought to come.

6. Repeat #4 and #5 many-many times.

Between the 2 thoughts there is a gap. It can be very short or subtle, just a second or a few seconds before the next thought come in.

This is how to look at thoughts:-
Looking how they come and go, and
Observing the short gap between them.
Noticing how the current thought is passing.
And waiting for the next thought to come.

Please do the following exercise:
Throughout your waking day, try to observe the gap between thoughts as often as possible. It can be done by noticing that ‘thinking’ is happening right now, then stop and just simply wait for the next thought to come. In the ‘waiting’ there is a gap between two thoughts.

Let me know how you go.

xx

[Plant31]

Hi Sioned, no problem. I havent tried this one with you before.

I sat for several times throughout the day, noticing thoughts and the gap between the thoughts.

Each time I would start earnestly waiting for thoughts to arise and nothing would appear, then I’d realise I was holding my breath and as soon as I relaxed my breathing thoughts would arise. Sometimes few and far between, sometimes lots of thoughts. I noticed sounds, sensations, breathing, thoughts.

There were times when I was in a meditative state and thoughts were few. I noticed myself watching them and started to look at who was the one watching. I couldn’t find anything apart from awareness. But I’m not sure awareness could be found by the personal mind.

Thank you for all your pointings Sioned.
Much gratitude x


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[Seamist]

Hi Becca,

I havent tried this one with you before

I'm relieved to read that!

I sat for several times throughout the day, noticing thoughts and the gap between the thoughts.

Each time I would start earnestly waiting for thoughts to arise and nothing would appear, then I’d realise I was holding my breath and as soon as I relaxed my breathing thoughts would arise. Sometimes few and far between, sometimes lots of thoughts. I noticed sounds, sensations, breathing, thoughts.

There were times when I was in a meditative state and thoughts were few. I noticed myself watching them and started to look at who was the one watching. I couldn’t find anything apart from awareness. But I’m not sure awareness could be found by the personal mind.

Lovely noticing, well done.

Continuing this theme of exploring thinking:
Here is another thought exercise. Sit quietly for about 30 minutes and notice the arising thoughts. Just let them appear as they appear. Try your best to COMPLETELY ignore what they are saying and just notice how they appear without you doing anything at all.
Where are they coming from and going to?
Did you do anything to make a particular thought or thoughts appear?
Could you have done anything to make a different thought appear at that exact moment instead?
Can you predict your next thought?
Can you select from a range of thoughts to have only pleasant thoughts?
Can you choose not to have painful, negative or fearful thoughts?
Can you pick and choose any kind of thought?
Is it possible to prevent a thought from appearing?
It seems that thought has some logical ordered appearance, but look carefully and just notice if there is an organised sequence? Or is that just another thought that says ‘these thoughts are in sequence’ or “they take content from previous thought”, or that ‘one thought follows another thought’?
xx

[Plant31]

Answers below:
Where are they coming from and going to?
I can’t find where they are coming from or going to. They just arise and then disappear.

Did you do anything to make a particular thought or thoughts appear?
No, nothing. It just happens.

Could you have done anything to make a different thought appear at that exact moment instead?
No. I tried.


Can you predict your next thought?
No. I tried to do this also. I was saying things in my mind: then I could predict what I was going to say. But after a while my thoughts and voice in my head was free flowing again. Uncontrollable. So I couldn’t predict my next thought.

Can you select from a range of thoughts to have only pleasant thoughts?
No, not at all.

Can you choose not to have painful, negative or fearful thoughts?
No, they just happen.

Can you pick and choose any kind of thought?
No. You can’t choose or control your thoughts.

Is it possible to prevent a thought from appearing?
No, you can try but it does work.


It seems that thought has some logical ordered appearance, but look carefully and just notice if there is an organised sequence?
No, there is no order to them. They can appear in any order.

Or is that just another thought that says ‘these thoughts are in sequence’ or “they take content from previous thought”, or that ‘one thought follows another thought’
Some thoughts appear to be related if thinking about a particular memory or event there might be a number of thoughts about the same thing but you can’t control them.

Much love x



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