open to understanding

[warissem]

Good morning

A revelation of some form, I guess. The knowledge that there is no 'I', seems rather flat, rather mundane, just a statement of fact, but not something that changes anything in my life.

Yes, it is the same as knowing that Santa Claus does not exist. It is a dropping of a belief. The change is in the perspective.
A chair is a word pointing to a shape which is seen, which can be touched, OK?
Is there a separate entity behind the word "I"?
What is the mental image arising when you say "I"?

When 'I' remember to just observe (see/hear/feel etc. - just notice what is occurring (including thoughts)) there is a calm sense of pleasure in even the most simple of experiences.

Remembering happens as thoughts saying : come back to direct experience.

When 'I' get caught up in thought, all this is lost. It is getting lost in thought that is disappointing.

In the previous post, I said : awareness (being aware) of direct experience is the same awareness of the thoughts.
Do you expect the cessation of thoughts?
I invite you to watch this video :
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PUDzrCLlrj4

That is disappointing, for whom?

Best for you

[ColinS65]

Hi Warissem,

Is there a separate entity behind the word "I"?
What is the mental image arising when you say "I"?

No.
The mental image that arises is a collection of hopes and/or fears based on past experiences.

awareness (being aware) of direct experience is the same awareness of the thoughts.
Do you expect the cessation of thoughts?

If 'I' do not exist, then preference is irrelevant, there is only awareness.

That is disappointing, for whom?

For the collection of thoughts/ego which identifies as as 'I' / 'me'. These thoughts want something wonderful to occur in the future, even though they (the thoughts) arise and pass away continuously.

Looking forward to your observations.

Kind regards,
Colin.

[warissem]

Hi Colin

The mental image that arises is a collection of hopes and/or fears based on past experiences.

What are these hopes and fears outside of thoughts ?
Are they accompanied with sensations in the body? If so, remove the label "hope" or "fear" from the sensation and focus on the raw sensation and give it light.

If 'I' do not exist, then preference is irrelevant, there is only awareness.

"I" does not exist but there is existence, an aware presence, are you acknowledging this aware presence?
There is no need for an "I" to be aware. is there any doing needed to be aware?

It is disappointing for whom?

For the collection of thoughts/ego which identifies as as 'I' / 'me'. These thoughts want something wonderful to occur in the future, even though they (the thoughts) arise and pass away continuously.

Look at thoughts, how they come, how they go. Keep any thought and see if it wants something. Write "I" on a sheet of paper and ask this "I" : do you want something else than what is now? Just look at this "I" on the sheet of paper and wait for a response. Be as patient as you can. Let me know about the happenings.

Best for you

[ColinS65]

Hi Warissem,

"I" does not exist but there is existence, an aware presence, are you acknowledging this aware presence?

Yes, precisely.

There is no need for an "I" to be aware. is there any doing needed to be aware?

There only doing required is a change of focus of awareness.

Look at thoughts, how they come, how they go. Keep any thought and see if it wants something. Write "I" on a sheet of paper and ask this "I" : do you want something else than what is now? Just look at this "I" on the sheet of paper and wait for a response. Be as patient as you can. Let me know about the happenings.

'I' does not want anything. 'I' only exists as a mark on a piece of paper.

Looking forward to your observations.

Kind regards,
Colin.

[warissem]

Good evening

There only doing required is a change of focus of awareness.

There is an exercise I invite you to practice :

Although you see that there is no noticer/observer/witness, there may still be the feeling of identification of being the ‘doer’. That it still ‘feels’ like there is a self that is the ‘chooser’. So let’s have a look at this as it has to do with the sense of seeing.

Take a few relaxed breaths to let the dust settle for a while, and then:
Look on your right.
Then look on your left.
Finally, bring your head back to centre, close your eyes and look in front.

Okay, so when you look on the right, the view on the right is seen (whatever that is).
When you look on the left, the view on the left is seen (whatever that is).
And then, when you look in front of you with eyes closed, the view in front is seen (ie ‘black space’).

So, when the view on the right is seen, do you have the ‘choice’ not to see? I’m not asking can you ‘choose’ to see something else like another view or ‘black space’ if you close your eyes. The question is; can you turn seeing off? Can you NOT see what is seen?

Same thing with the view on the left, can you NOT see the view on the left?
Same thing with the view in front with closed eyes, can you NOT see the ‘black space’?
Can you turn off seeing?
What did the 'chooser' choose? Did a 'self' choose something?
If you are unable to choose what you're aware of, then what else is there to choose?

'I' does not want anything. 'I' only exists as a mark on a piece of paper.

Yes, how do you feel to see that "I" is only a concept?

Best for you