I need guidance to release Reactivity once for all

[atmajnani]

Good evening Stacy,

My replies sent yesterday got lost when I submitted them!
Today I'm saving the text before submitting.

It's not controlled by the separate Self. It starts with an intention and then the automatic nervous system does the rest.

WHAT "separate self? ' Is any such thing as a "separate self"? If not, why refer to it doing anything?

You are right, I was rationalizing (separate self = ego). I meant that the hand flipping happens without the arising of thoughts to control it.

LOOK for this intention. Intention is a thought, right?

I'm calling intention to what triggers the hand flipping. Before I read the exercise my hand was not flipping and only when I read it and intended to do it my hand started flipping. This intention is the trigger that has a different quality or pathway of a thought, it's subtler than a thought and not so easy to observe.

How does this thought cause anything?

There must be an external trigger (the request to do the exercise) and an internal trigger (the intention to do it) for the hand flipping to happen.

how wonderful if every aspect of my everyday life could run in automatic mode in such an easy way!

What if it is already doing this & only your thinking gets in the way? LOOK and see this. Here is a pointer to help:

Yes, that's the case. In certain situations thinking gets in the way and delays action.

Stream Exercise

Imagine for a moment a scene, one of a little mountain stream which is tumbling down a hillside gully, not far from its source. It has been raining and so the level is quite high.

Consider in your mind's eye, if you can, how it flows to the right over a little rock (where, had the level been lower, it would probably have gone around the rock), then the flow goes to the left over a tree bow, and then slows a little in a broader place, before splashing over a small cascade into a pool, and so on down the mountain side.

Does it choose any of its directions? Is it even really a separate entity different from the water deposited in it, the rocks, the depressions in the ground etc? Is it even the same entity moment by moment, or more the product of weather conditions and water, like an ever-changing pattern?

No, it follows the path of less resistance. No, it's the same entity.

1.

Can you find anywhere where "AtmaJnani" autonomously intervenes into life, choosing something that is not the product of all the elements; that is not a part of the overall flow?

No, I can't. Everything is a co-creation.

2. Now please consider a regular decision made eg; what to wear in the morning, or what to eat for lunch, and describe to me what happens. There are environmental factors, there are colour preferences (but where did those come from - any autonomous intervention there perhaps?), practical issues (such as what is available), available time for preparation, purpose (eg; need to fill up for the day, or to look hip and cool for that person!) etc.

Where in there is an autonomous entity intervening in the flow of life? Can you find someone somewhere?

No, it's all a co-creation. Great!

3.

Can anything be found for which 'AtmaJnani' is responsible – if so responsible to what and for what?

Every action has a consequence. If every action is a co-creation, then I'm co-responsible for the consequences.
That just means I have to accept the consequences without resistance.
I still have difficulty to say I'm not responsible.

[Anastacia42]

Thank you.

On formatting:

1. Please do not use blue for your answers. That's only for questions.

2. Answers go in plain black text.

3. Quote the short question, not the whole exercise, please.

I'm calling intention to what triggers the hand flipping.

Oh, how the mind wants to label & pretend to understand!

There must be an external trigger (the request to do the exercise) and an internal trigger (the intention to do it) for the hand flipping to happen.

Mind tricks you again!

Find this (illusion of) "intention."

Can you see, hear, feel, taste or smell it? Or is it a made up content of thought, which is not Actual Experience & which you've been instructed to ignore, so you can focus ONLY on DE?

co-creation.

Another story! Your mind made this up.

Prove it! Show me how you had anything to do with it at all! (You can't. You didn't! )

Every action has a consequence. If every action is a co-creation, then I'm co-responsible for the consequences.
That just means I have to accept the consequences without resistance.
I still have difficulty to say I'm not responsible.

Have all the difficulty you want. Prove that you're "responsible." It has to be 100% or it is a lie.

You might read "Free Will" by Sam Harris to help you understand.

Where we get confused is confusing the relative with the absolute.

In the Absolute, there's only One with no intention, free will, responsibility, nothing. No one. No one who could do something called, "die," either. But if you step out in front of a bus, you'll DIE.

Paradox. Must learn to live with paradoxes.

Loving
Stacy

[atmajnani]

Dear Stacy,

When I reply I just see codes and brackets, I can't see the color of text.
I will try to improve the editing of text somehow.

In a couple of hours I leave to a retreat in the woods for 3 days. I won't have internet.
I will reply to your next email Monday evening.

Can you see, hear, feel, taste or smell it? Or is it a made up content of thought, which is not Actual Experience & which you've been instructed to ignore, so you can focus ONLY on DE?

It's true, I can't see, hear or feel intention! That's because it's not an object like the thoughts. It's the subject, consciousness.

Prove it! Show me how you had anything to do with it at all! (You can't. You didn't! )

My mind is starting to feel confused! What 'YOU' is that in your questions? Do you refer to the mind? It's right, action arose from consciousness without the mind (and ego) having anything to do with it. I experienced the silencing of the mind and the emptiness of consciousness/awareness, but I'm still replying from the mind's perspective!

Have all the difficulty you want. Prove that you're "responsible." It has to be 100% or it is a lie.

I get it now! The mind is not responsible for what arises from consciousness. And it creates so much trouble!

Love,
Marta

[Anastacia42]

Good morning,

It's true, I can't see, hear or feel intention! That's because it's not an object like the thoughts. It's the subject, consciousness.

No. That is because what we call "intention" is a story, a lie.It doesn't exist in Direct Experience. It is completely made up.

My mind is starting to feel confused! What 'YOU' is that in your questions? Do you refer to the mind? It's right, action arose from consciousness without the mind (and ego) having anything to do with it. I experienced the silencing of the mind and the emptiness of consciousness/awareness, but I'm still replying from the mind's perspective!

Confusion is good at this point. You're UN-learning some things that are false.

Yes, "replying from the mind's perspective" is a paradox.. In a relative sense, "you" is a convenience of language. In an absolute sense, "you" don't exist.

I get it now! The mind is not responsible for what arises from consciousness. And it creates so much trouble!

Yes.
No one to be responsible at all.

When you get back, try this one:


Direct Experience - Labeling Daily Activities

Here's an exercise that I would like you to try as many times throughout the day as you can. Label daily activities simply color/image, sound, smell, taste, sensation, thought.

So for example, when having breakfast, become aware of:

Seeing a cup, simply= image/color
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 with lists exactly like the one above. Same firm of words. Same order. Everything.

Post several of your own observations in a list *exactly* like the one above, please.

Refer to the green list of Actual/Direct Experience in the Colored Socks pointer if that helps. Those are the only items any experience can be.

Loving,

~ Stacy

[Anastacia42]

Use the PREVIEW button at the bottom to check your text before you hit SUBMIT.

Then you can see colors and other font attributes.

Much love,
Stacy

[atmajnani]

Good evening Stacy,

I'm back!

Post several of your own observations in a list *exactly* like the one above, please.

Having dinner:
Seeing a plate, simply= image/color
Smelling the soup, simply = smell
Feeling the warmth of the plate, simply = sensation
Tasting the soup, simply = taste
Hearing the spoon touching the plate, simply = sound
Thought about eating dinner, simply = thought

Brushing my teeth:
Seeing the toothbrush = image/color
Smelling the toothpaste = smell
Feeling the freshness of the toothpaste in my mouth = sensation
Tasting the toothpaste = taste
Hearing the toothbrush brushing my teeth = sound
Thought about brushing my teeth = thought

Playing with my cat:
Seeing the cat = image/color
Smelling the cat = smell
Feeling the softness of my cat's fur = sensation
Tasting my cat's fur= taste
Hearing my cat meow = sound
Thought about playing with my cat = thought

Walking in the woods:
Seeing the trees = image/color
Smelling the fresh air = smell
Feeling the roughness of the tree bark = sensation
Tasting a wild berry = taste
Hearing the birds sing = sound
Thinking about walking in nature = thought

I hope these examples are enough, but I can send more tomorrow.

Love,
AtmaJnani

[Anastacia42]

Welcome back!

Perfect. No need to do more.

Next try this one:


Mind Labeling Experience

Here is an exercise which examines the way in which the mind labels experience - it takes about 20 minutes and you will need a pen a paper.

This exercise is broken into 10 minute lots. For each 10 minute period pay attention to any bodily sensation i.e. is there any tightening, or any relaxing?

For the first ten minutes write down what you are experiencing right now using the word “I”.

For example:

I am sitting on a chair,
I am hearing a clock ticking,
I am looking at a computer screen,
I am feeling hungry.

Get right to the point, no past or future fantasy, just a plain description of your experience right here and now.

Then for the next ten minutes continue writing down what you are experiencing but this time without using the word “I”. Just describe the experience as it is happening using verbs.

For example:

Sitting on a chair,
typing,
breathing,
blinking,
hearing the clock.

(Again, watch what is happening in the body.)

At the end of the twenty minutes compare the two ways in which the experience was labelled and answer the following four questions:

1. Is one truer than the other, and If so, which one?

2. What is here without labels?

3. Do labels affect the experience or just describe it?

4. Did you notice any differences in the body?

Loving,

~ Stacy

[atmajnani]

1. Is one truer than the other, and If so, which one?

The second one is more focused, so I might say is truer or more present.

2. What is here without labels?

Just being and observation of what is. I don't know if I understood this question well!

3. Do labels affect the experience or just describe it?

Do not affect the experience, just describe it. Which part do you call labels: 'I am' or 'on a chair'?

4. Did you notice any differences in the body?

No. My body was the same, the attention was more focused on the second part.

Love,
Marta

[Anastacia42]

Hi

There is a body difference. Go through it again and pay close attention to your gut your solar plexus or your heart

Much love
Stacy

[Anastacia42]

Hi Marta,

Are you still here?

Much love,

Stacy

[Anastacia42]

Hi Marta,

Are you still here?

Much love,

Stacy

[atmajnani]

Are you still here?


Hi Stacy,

I'm still here.
I can't figure out differences in body sensations when I write down the verbs without the subject 'I' and the object.
I notice it's more interpersonal and more aligned with the 'No Self' state.
I was also not in the mood for introspection in the past couple of days. I knew I had to repeat the exercise but somehow I was not willing to do it.
Can we continue now?

Much love,

Atmajnani

[atmajnani]

I notice it's more interpersonal and more aligned with the 'No Self' state.

* it's more impersonal

[Anastacia42]

Hi,

Yes, we can continue.

can't figure out differences in body sensations when I write down the verbs without the subject 'I' and the object.
I notice it's more impersonal and more aligned with the 'No Self' state.

Okay, please look at your 2 lists. You don't need new ones.

Read the list with "I" & pay very close attention to your solar plexus, your gut and your heart areas.

Then read the other list & compare. How does it FEEL in your gut? What is different?


This is very important. Remember Colored Socks?


Knowing is about knowledge which is all in the mind and we are not interested in that

We are only interested in looking at and seeing what is actually going on in your present moment-to-moment experience. We are only interested in your Direct Experience in the moment..

Direct or Actual Experience is

Seeing
Hearing
Feeling (Sensation, not emotion. Emotion is Sensation plus made-up thoughts & labels)
Tasting
Smelling
Thoughts Arising (but not their content)

Previously, you answered only with *thinking*

impersonal and more aligned with the 'No Self' state.

Is all made up stories. You can't point to those. They're just words in your mind.

Find the Sensations & report back, please.

Much love,

Stacy

[atmajnani]

Then read the other list & compare. How does it FEEL in your gut? What is different?

It feels lighter, but I can't even pin point if it's at the heart center or solar plexus center.
I'm not very sensitive at detecting and locating such small differences, I don't know why.
And I feel a lot of mental resistance to look for it!
Can we do a different exercise? lol

Love
Atmajnani