Here

[heijahup]

When you look at the word label ‘GREEN' , what is the actual experience?

Seen is the word green and the letters displayed as such appear as the color red, in direct experience.

Is the color red ‘experienced’, or is the color green ‘experienced’ as the label suggests?

The color red is experienced

Does the label ‘GREEN’ have a one-to-one correspondence with ‘reality’?

No.

Or does the label suggest something else other than what is here now (red colour)?

The label suggests a different color than what's being shown in DE.

Is 'green' associated in any way with the experience of the colour red; or is green just a label that overlays the actual experience of red?

No, I don't see any green in DE, the label suggests green, but I cant find green in DE, so the label just overlays the DE of red.

If the label ‘GREEN’ is replaced with the label ‘GOOD’ or ‘BAD’ , is the redness affected in any way as the labels suggests?

No.

Does redness become ‘good’ or ‘bad’, or do the labels have no affect whatsoever on ‘reality’?

No, the labels do not change the reality of the redness.

[Anastacia42]

Okay, perfect. Here's a follow-up up:

Friend/Stranger

Bring up a thought about a character labeled "friend."

Then bring up a thought about a character labeled "stranger."

Compare these thoughts.

Is there a difference in these thoughts?

Is there a true difference or is it just different content?

Now, bring up a thought about a character labeled "friend."

After that, look at a thought about the character labelled "me.”

Is there a difference?

Is there anything special about thoughts with the content "me-character?"

Let me know what is found.

Labeling the day, the Sensations, etc. does nothing to reduce their beauty or joy, but can hide them from our awareness.

Loving,

[heijahup]

Bring up a thought about a character labeled "friend."

Then bring up a thought about a character labeled "stranger."

Compare these thoughts.

Is there a difference in these thoughts?

They're different in that they are pointing to something different, they are the same in that they are both essentially thought stuff.

Is there a true difference or is it just different content?

Just different content

Now, bring up a thought about a character labeled "friend."

After that, look at a thought about the character labelled "me.”

Is there a difference?

Just in the content of what they're pointing to, the stuff the thoughts are made of appears to be the same in DE.

Is there anything special about thoughts with the content "me-character?"

No, nothing in the thoughts themselves. Because they're pointing to what I take myself to be they seem to be more special.
Let me know what is found.

[Anastacia42]

Yes. Be very certain about this.

Content of thought, the made- up stories are different. But they're really all just thoughts.

You must distinguish between the fictitious content of thought and Direct Experience in order to SEE there's no "self" in Direct Experience.

Can you clearly see this?

Loving,

[heijahup]

Can you clearly see this?

Yes.

You must distinguish between the fictitious content of thought and Direct Experience in order to SEE there's no "self" in Direct Experience.

By distinguish between the fictitious content and direct experience, do you mean the direct experience of thought stuff happening and not the content of the thought stuff (plus seen, heard, felt, smelled, tasted)?

To further clarify, would you say the thought of "I'm going to break the law" and the thought "I'm picturing a purple unicorn waterskiing" are equally both thoughts just the content of the two are different?

Sorry one more, do all thoughts contain fictitious content as thoughts are only capable of pointing to direct experience and are not DE themselves?

[Anastacia42]

First, you can't think your way through this.

Only LOOKING at Direct Experience will work.

I'll answer this time. But you have to LOOK & SEE for yourself.

By distinguish between the fictitious content and direct experience, do you mean the direct experience of thought stuff happening and not the content of the thought stuff (plus seen, heard, felt, smelled, tasted)?

That was already answered. Review Colored Socks especially:

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)

would you say the thought of "I'm going to break the law" and the thought "I'm picturing a purple unicorn waterskiing" are equally both thoughts just the content of the two are different?

In absolute terms, yes. In relative terms no.

do all thoughts contain fictitious content as thoughts are only capable of pointing to direct experience and are not DE themselves?

Yes, exactly.

And keep checking your gut for the expansiveness of truth versus the contraction of lies.

Now, back to LOOKING.


Don't you remember the apple exercise?
How is "self" any different?

This one:

Actual/Direct Experience - Apple

Have a look at an apple (or any fruit you like.) If you have a ‘real’ apple, you can use it for this exercise. Google for a picture of an apple.



When looking at an apple, there's color; a thought saying ‘apple’; and maybe a thought saying, "I'm looking at an apple."

What is known for sure? Color 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, color, smell, taste, sensation and the fact of thought arising, but not its content.

Is there really an ‘apple’ here, or only color 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 labeled ‘apple’ is known
Color labeled ‘apple’ is known
Sensation labeled ‘apple’ is known (when apple is touched)
Smell labeled ‘apple’ is known
Thought about/of an ‘apple’ is known

However, is an apple actually known?

Have fun and let me know what you find out.

Loving,

[Anastacia42]

Ignore that part about remembering the Apple Pointer. You haven't done that one till now.

Thanks,

[heijahup]

What about the content of thoughts, what they describe?

The content of thoughts can be known, but only as content, what the content is pointing to is not seen in DE

Is there really an ‘apple’ here, or only color and a thought ABOUT ‘apple’?

Only color and thought about an apple.

Can ‘apple’ be found in actual experience?

No, what 'apple' is pointing to can be found (if I had a real apple in front of me), but 'apple' is just content of a thought that is pointing to an object

However, is an apple actually known?

No.

Have fun and let me know what you find out.

The only thing experience was the color and shape of the picture of the apple. Any thoughts that came up around that I was looking at a picture of an apple etc. were just experienced as thoughts and contents of thoughts. The more time and reps I go through this the more the insight to what's actually happening takes root. So I get what the exercise is trying to get me to see, though there's still lots of conditioning that is discounting everything being taught. The more time I spend with the exercise, the more the previous conditioning seems to loosen up and be open to this perspective, if that makes sense.

[Anastacia42]

Good!

The more time I spend with the exercise, the more the previous conditioning seems to loosen up and be open to this perspective, if that makes sense.

Yes, it makes perfect sense in a way, but the truth is that it only takes one moment to SEE now.

Keep practicing. All pointers can be repeated as often as you like.

Here's another way to LOOK:

https://youtu.be/sdwBPPfuo50

Much love,

[heijahup]

Yes, it makes perfect sense in a way, but the truth is that it only takes one moment to SEE now.

Keep practicing. All pointers can be repeated as often as you like.

Here's another way to LOOK:

https://youtu.be/sdwBPPfuo50

Thank you.

Yes, we've never seen our head, just reflections or images of it.

[Anastacia42]

EXPERIENCE it. LOOK.

Ignore thoughts about no head.

I want to give you another pointer, but first I want to be sure you're LOOKING, not thinking.

Loving,

[Anastacia42]

Hi Josh,

Are you still here? Did you see the red/ green pointer?

Much love

[heijahup]

Hi Josh,

Are you still here? Did you see the red/ green pointer?

Much love

Yes, thank you. I had a baby which took attention away.

[Anastacia42]

Oh, well, it would have been nice to tell me. But let's continue. And congratulations.

So where were we?

Much love,

[Anastacia42]

Hi,

Hope all is well with the baby. It would be good if you could continue to practice everyday and report here daily or at least every other day.


Here is another exercise that makes it even clearer that labels are not the things they refer to. They are merely the content of thought that we made up.

Label-Reality Correlation

There is a belief that labels have a one-to-one correspondence with something called "reality." But there isn’t. Just like it is a generally accepted belief that labels like "good" and "bad" are inherent characteristics of "things." But actually, they are not.

When you look at the word label ‘GREEN’, what is the actual experience?

Is the red color "experienced" or is color green "experienced" as the label suggests?

Do the labels have a one-to-one correspondence with "reality?"

Or do the labels suggest something else other than what is here now (red color)?

Is green-ness an inherent attribute of the "experience" of the red color; or is green just a word label on the experience of the red color?

If the label ‘GREEN’ is replaced with the label ‘GOOD’ or ‘BAD’, is the redness affected in any way as the labels suggests?

Does redness become "good" or "bad," or do the labels have no effect whatsoever on ‘reality’?


Loving,