Deep Looking - Noel

[Noel_2]

Do you want to look at something in particular ?
I would like a few more exercised on thoughts.

there a lasting doubt about seeing through the illusion of a separate self ?

whenever I look, I can not find a separate self. I look a few times a week to reinforce that there is no separate self

[warissem]

Hi Noel

When it is seen that there is no separate self, it cannot be unseen. it is a dropping of a belief like the belief about Santa Claus.

Here is an exercise about thoughts :

1. Can thought experience thought? Can thought experience anything? (Thought is so very overrated - by thought).

2. Does thought make any contact with other kinds of sense experience, such as sounds or sensations – or are they totally separate from each other?

3. For a moment take note of exactly what is being experienced in this moment: 
Notice all sound, all sensation, all smell, all taste, all colour.
Notice how you're making absolutely no effort to be aware of them.
And notice that you're not making them happen.
You're not conducting the orchestra of experience that you're aware of.
And notice that thought is exactly the same as the rest of experience.
You're effortlessly aware of it, but you're not orchestrating it. You're not even orchestrating the thoughts which say that you're able to orchestrate thoughts.

4. The story of "me’ can seem to have continuity. Is it really continuous? Or are there simply isolated thoughts that never can truly touch each other, some of them claiming that there's one continuous story?

Best for you

Warissem

[Noel_2]

1. Can thought experience thought? Can thought experience anything? (Thought is so very overrated - by thought).

When looking I can see that thought DOES NOT experience anything. It is awareness that is having the experience of thought

2. Does thought make any contact with other kinds of sense experience, such as sounds or sensations – or are they totally separate from each other?

When looking it is seen that thoughts are totally separate. It is awareness that is doing the experiencing. Thoughts are not making contact with other senses.


3. For a moment take note of exactly what is being experienced in this moment: 
Notice all sound, all sensation, all smell, all taste, all colour.
Notice how you're making absolutely no effort to be aware of them.
And notice that you're not making them happen.
You're not conducting the orchestra of experience that you're aware of.
And notice that thought is exactly the same as the rest of experience.
You're effortlessly aware of it, but you're not orchestrating it. You're not even orchestrating the thoughts which say that you're able to orchestrate thoughts.

Yes this is seen that everything including the thoughts are just happening. It is the ever present awareness that is “aware” of all these things.



4. The story of "me’ can seem to have continuity. Is it really continuous? Or are there simply isolated thoughts that never can truly touch each other, some of them claiming that there's one continuous story?

Oh wow this is so weird. You are correct- just isolated thoughts. I am not sure how the idea of a continuous “me” came about?? Was it being continuously aware of an almost constant stream of thoughts?

[warissem]

Hi Noel

you have done a good job. Here are comments :

Yes this is seen that everything including the thoughts are just happening.

Yes.

It is the ever present awareness that is “aware” of all these things.

It is better to say that there is awareness (being aware) or knowing of all these happenings.

Go for a walk in a park or in nature and report back what is going on as seeing, hearing, smelling, tasting and sensations.

Best for you

Warissem

[Noel_2]

Go for a walk in a park or in nature and report back what is going on as seeing, hearing, smelling, tasting and sensations.

Did not walk in the park but sat on my front porch for awhile. All that was happening was awareness of the 5 senses + thought.
Seeing, hearing, feeling, smelling, no tasting really. Then thoughts arising to label the input from the 5 senses.
For example feeling the cool breeze on my arms. Hearing cars drive by. Hearing dogs barking.
Seeing the trees with new leavings coming out.

Awareness that this is all there is and all there ever was. The spontaneous arising of things. The 5 senses giving feedback and thoughts about that feedback.

In other word for the breeze on my arm. Really just a sensation. Our culture has “label” that a breeze.. but that really does not mean anything. It could just as well be called a potluck. Makes no difference what the label it to what is.

[warissem]

Hi Noel

Great. Is there a separate self which is living a separate life, seeing, doing, thinking or taking decisions ?

Feel free to discuss any doubt here.

Warissem

[Noel_2]

Is there a separate self which is living a separate life, seeing, doing, thinking or taking decisions ?

When looking no separate self can be found. No separate self seeing, doing, thinking or taking decisions. All these things are just happening and there is awareness that they are happening. That’s all.

[warissem]

Hi Noel

Good. How do you feel in your daily life : is there a separate self, Noel operating ?
Is there a separate self in others?

Best for you

Warissem

[Noel_2]

How do you feel in your daily life : is there a separate self, Noel operating ?
It is getting easier to what and be aware that all life is just happening and no separate self doing anything.


Is there a separate self in others?
Ha funny you ask. This one I logically know. However I have to stop and remind myself if there is no separate me, then there is no separate person for my co-worker, or my friends, or family etc..
Good example. One of my friends is having a hard time. I find myself getting annoyed thinking the outcome she currently finds herself in is due to her decades long poor choices. Then I stop and recall if there is no separate me making my life choices, then there is no separate her making life choices.

[warissem]

Hi Noel

Ha funny you ask. This one I logically know. However I have to stop and remind myself if there is no separate me, then there is no separate person for my co-worker, or my friends, or family etc..

Your answer is given from logical reasoning not through direct experience. Direct experience is : seeing, hearing, smelling, tasting, touching or sensations. There are thoughts but we don't lean on them.
Is it necessary to remind yourself that unicorns don't exist ?
Is it necessary to remind yourself that there is no one inhabiting the body when it is really seen?

Is the air in your lungs different from the air of the room ?
Is the life that you are different from the life of other bodies, animals and trees?
Look.

Best for you

Warissem

[Noel_2]

I'll need some more time to sit with this one as yes I do still need to remind myself. the old conditioning is still very strong here.

[warissem]

Hi Noel

Take your time for it. LOOK.

Are you doing the seeing?

Are you doing the hearing?

Do you see a separate self?

Ask any question to this separate self and just wait for the answers.

Best for you

Warissem

[Noel_2]

Are you doing the seeing?
Upon looking there is no separate self to see. Seeing is just happening. There is an awareness of seeing.

Are you doing the hearing?
With no separate self to be found, hearing just happens on its own

Do you see a separate self?
Upon looking -no separate self can be found. Only awareness.

Ask any question to this separate self and just wait for the answers.
A question can arise on its own in the form of a thought. An answer comes on its on in the form of a thought. There is an awareness of this happening. There is no separate self posing the question nor answering the question.

Re: my friend. This past week allowed time for deeper seeing that she had no control over what was happening in her life. It was all just happening the way it was. It is seen now that there was attachment to the old conditioning as seeing things as “her” fault. But now it is see there is not a separate being there doing anything. Things are just happening there as they are here.

[warissem]

Hi Noel

Great observations. Are you ready to ponder on the previous 6 questions and elaborate on answers ?
If is OK go the 6 questions asked in a previous post. Answer from direct experience.
If it is not OK, what do you want to discuss here to clarify about this stuff?

Best for you

Warissem

[Noel_2]

To be clear. Are the questions below the ones?

Are you doing the seeing?

Are you doing the hearing?

Do you see a separate self?

Ask any question to this separate self and just wait for the answers.