Freedom

[Katydidnext]

Ok, well, this sense of self is a constellation of thoughts & ideas & sensations......and then there is awareness of all of this

Katy

[Bananafish]

Are thoughts, ideas and sensations different from what you call "awareness of all this?"
Can there be awareness without these, and vice versa?

[Katydidnext]

No they are not different - there just seems to be a different quality
There can't be awareness without the sensation and vice versa they are a simultaneous experience

[Bananafish]

Does awareness have a special quality?
What kind of quality is it?

[Katydidnext]

It seems to be more spacious and accepting and warm and unlimited

[Bananafish]

What about something that isn't accepting?

Is it still "awareness?"

[Katydidnext]

No I don't think so - I think that is a view
awareness accepts everything - sees everything and is without views

[Bananafish]

Do you mean that awarenesses and something that isn't accepting are
two things that are different?

[Katydidnext]

Yes that is what I meant ... but that is also a view
When I look, I see that we experience and interpret our experiences almost simultaneously
The experience comes first without a division of experiencer and experience ... and then we add to it
I am invested in the idea of awareness being vast and simply experiencing whatever happens biut maybe what I am calling awareness is simply part of the experience - it jus is...whatever it is... accepting/non accepting
Katy

[Bananafish]

Hi. :)

Would you elaborate on what awareness as "part of experience" is?

What is "awareness?"

[Katydidnext]

Hi ,
I seem to be going round in circles.
I think what I have been calling awareness is that sense of something more that the thinking fuction - the sense of aliveness without limits. This is experience. It can't be part of esperience it must all be experience, the sense of knowing prior to cognition/thoughts.
Katy

[Bananafish]

Do you mean that thoughts are not "awareness?"

[Katydidnext]

No. I think thoughts are part of awareness but in awareness there is also the abitlity to perceive thoughts, so it must be something bigger than thought function.
Hope this makes sense
Katy

[Bananafish]

Ok, and what about when you don't think about all these (what you wrote)?

Is it still so?

[Katydidnext]

Are you asking if awareness is still there even when we aren't thinking? Yes I would say so
Are you asking if awareness is aware of all thoughts, then yes again