Awakening in London UK

[Adam2271]

LU is focused guiding for seeing there is no real, inherent 'self' - what do you understand by this?
That a separate self is a thought construct, a convention of the mind which can be set aside to experience true intimate reality in the now.

What are you looking for at LU?
I feel I am making 'progress' towards the end of a separate self, and would like some specific support with that as I inevitably have 'blindspots'. I live alone and tend to rely on myself / be independent, so asking for help feels like a good experiment regardless of outcome.

What do you expect from a guided conversation?
Honesty, warmth, listening, responding, kindness, patience. All of these on both sides. I would likely try and approach the first conversation with a lack of specific expectation to be open to what occurs in the moment. Working with someone very serious / 'unsmilling' would be a challenge for me, I feel best when I feel safe. I am particularly drawn to self inquiry.

What is your experience in terms of spiritual practices, seeking and inquiry?
I completed a 4 x 1 week residential diploma in neo tantra over 2021 to 2023. I have attended various other yoga/somatic/spiritual retreats in recent years. I experience bodily energies in myself and others very strongly. My experience of my senses has also become much more vivid, vibrating and intense and feels very important. Those experiences have opened me up to the possiblilty of the end of self - I feel strongly and profoundly drawn to this path in a deep inutive way that seems beyond 'wanting' or 'seeking'. I do a meditation or somatic practice most days. It is the most important thing.

In the last 12 months I have become very interested in the work of Christopher Wallis (Hareesh) and Angelo Dilullo. I also love Tolle's work, and Radical Acceptance by Tara Brach. I am very aware that knowledge about absence of self is not the same as experiencing 'it' as stable, living truth.

On a scale from 1 to 10, how willing are you to question any currently held beliefs about 'self? 11

[Anastacia42]

Good morning,/evening,

I'm on vacation on an island near Charleston, South Carolina, and what do I do? I pick up more LU clients. :)

My name is Stacy and I can be your guide, if you would like.

It helps for you to post every day.


Yes, if once in a while you must post later, please post a note telling me when you will return.

If you haven't already read the disclaimer, please read it now and just confirm to me that you have read it. Here is the link.

http://liberationunleashed.com/disclaimer-2/

Also please read “Liberation Unleashed is not …” in the FAQ’s of LU. Here is the link.

http://liberationunleashed.com/about/faq/#faq-1041

Some housekeeping guidelines:

1. Post at least once a day, or every second day. If you need more time, or are unable to post for several days, just write a quick post on your thread to let me know please.

2. There is no one judging answers given, so please be 100% honest in your answers and inquiry.

3. This exploration is based on actual experience (AE) - smell, taste, sound, sensation, color and observed thoughts. Long-winded analytical and philosophical answers are best avoided and may even hinder progress. This is not a self-improvement process. There is no ‘self’ to improve.

4. Put aside all other teachings, philosophies, rituals, practices, books/reading and so on for the remainder of this investigation. Really put all your effort and attention in to seeing this reality, as it is. If you have a daily meditation practice, it is fine to continue that but is not necessary for this exploration.

Technology is not perfect and sometimes there is a glitch which can wipe out your responses. It is advisable that you copy and paste questions asked into Word, answer them there and then copy and paste them to your thread. Always save a copy of what you have done, it will save time in the long run!

To begin with, so that we both become aware of what your expectations are about this exploration. In your own words (not from actual experience, but just honest answers), could you please answer the 4 following questions:

How will life change?
How will you change?
What will be different?
What is missing?

Throughout this exploration I would like you to answer all questions that I have written in blue text. Please answer all questions even if I miss using the blue text.

Please answer questions individually, remembering to use the quote function to highlight the question being answered.

Below is a link to the video with instructions on using the Quote Function. Please watch it. Use the PREVIEW button to make sure your text looks right before you hit "SUBMIT."

viewtopic.php?f=4&t=660

What would you like for me to call you? What time zone are you in, please?

Loving,

[Adam2271]

Hi Stacy

Thanks so much for getting in touch! I have read the disclaimer and FAQ and it all sounds good. The only potential problem is the bit about not doing any other teaching during this process. I have a residential tantra/kundalini course booked for a week in July I am doing - so perhaps that is incompatible with this process? And I should wait until after I have done that before starting this process? If that doesn't matter, let me know and I will answer the questions in your first post. I am in London UK time zone if a zoom/what's app call is easier

Thanks again

Adam

[Anastacia42]

Hi

When is the class ending?

Thank you,

[Adam2271]

Hi, the course starts 24 July until 29 July.

Thanks

Adam

[Anastacia42]

Let's get started. it is possible we *might* finish before that. If not, we'll take a break.

This is how to LOOK for no self in the exercises - we call them "pointers' - that we will be doing here:



Colored Socks



There is a big difference between knowing that there is nothing to give up and seeing that there is nothing to give up.



Here is an example to illustrate the difference:



If I ask you what color socks you are wearing right now you have two ways to come up with an answer:



• You can think about it, you can think back to this morning and try to remember putting your socks on, and you can probably tell me what color you think they are.



• Alternatively, you can take a quick look at your socks and tell me what color they actually are!



Hopefully you would agree that you can only be 100% certain by looking.



For the purpose of seeing this "no self" idea, it is very important that you are clear about this difference.



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)



Please let me know if you are clear about this or if you would like any further clarification.


Loving,

[Adam2271]

Thanks so much Stacy for volunteering your time to help me, I really appreciate it!

In terms of your most recent question

:

Yes your example with the socks is clear. I recognise the difference between direct experiential truth vs thoughts /representations /concepts.

Responses to the first four questions in your earlier post :

How will life change?

The experience of life is likely to seem more intimate, immediate. I have already experienced greater intensity of sensory experience and of some emotions.

How will you change?

Fundamentally I won't change. Going with the flow will become more obvious and effortless. I see this as a beginning/continuation not a goal to achieve.

What will be different?

Less/no attachment to certain external world outcomes happening. Less no/attachment to thoughts of past or future and thoughts in general.

What is missing?

Nothing is missing. This is more about recognising living truth that is already here that I can't quite fully experience as living truth yet.

I think that's it! Let me know if these responses are OK or if I need to be writing more

Thanks again!

Adam

[Anastacia42]

Your expectations sound pretty reasonable.

Your answers are fine. It doesn't take a book.


Now what comes up when reading that there is no separate self, never has been, and never will be? That the whole thing was a made up story that we believed.


And then, please demonstrate your understanding of Direct Experience here:


Now what comes up when reading that there is no separate self, never has been, and never will be? That the whole thing was a made up story that we believed.

Loving,

[Anastacia42]

Oops. It didn't copy. Here:



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.

Post several of your own observations in a list *exactly* like the one above, please. Same word forms. Same order. EXACTLY.

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

Loving,

[Adam2271]

Hi Stacy

I am sorry for my late reply, I never received an email notification of your last post. I see now there is a notification option which was unticked that I have now ticked so that hopefully won't happen again

Now what comes up when reading that there is no separate self, never has been, and never will be? That the whole thing was a made up story that we believed

My thinking mind can't comprehend the above, and I have an understanding that it never will, it cannot be comprehended through thought.

And then, please demonstrate your understanding of Direct Experience here:
Now what comes up when reading that there is no separate self, never has been, and never will be? That the whole thing was a made up story that we believed

In direct experience, thoughts arise and that's it. Nothing else happens.

It's Friday morning for me, I will do your other exercise today as you say and post again later today.

Thanks

Adam

[Adam2271]

Hi

I have done 4 so far, let me know if right track. I am getting the sense it's less about the finished bit of writing and more about the recognition that experience can broken into the six component parts

Thanks

Juice
Seeing a glass, simply= the clear small glass the orange coloured liquid
Smelling juice, simply = sweet juicy smell
Feeling the cold hard smooth glass simply = sensation
Tasting the juice, simply = taste sweet
Hearing the glass hit the table, simply = sound, a tapping
Thought about drinking the juice, simply = thought

Cake
Seeing a pale square piece of cake, simply = seeing
Smelling cake, simply = not much smell
Feeling the soft cake in my mouth and the hard cool smooth spoon, simply = sensation
Tasting the subtle banana flavour cake, simply = taste
Thinking about the cake, pleasant, not very exciting, simply = thought

Mint tea
Seeing a white cup with dark green liquid simply= seeing
Smelling mint, simply = smell
Feeling smooth cup handle, simply = sensation
Tasting the mint tea, simply = taste
Hearing the cup hit the table, simply = sound
Thought about drinking the tea, simply = thought

Shower
Seeing glass, white shower tray, gray tile simply= seeing
Smelling herby shower gel simply = smell
Feeling smooth shower tray, warm water on my skin, slippery shower gel, simply = sensation
Tasting nothing, simply = no taste
Hearing water splashing , my feet moving simply = sound
Thought about the shower, the water temperature , simply = thought

[Anastacia42]

Hi,

The notification was supposed to be selected for you before you had to worry about it. Sorry about that.

Now look again at the examples for the exercise and see how yours is different.

The point here is to put the content of thought first and then realize that it is simply one of the 5 senses as in "simply equals Hearing."

Some of what you wrote is somewhat correct but please reverse the order looking at the example and try again.

Lovibg,

[Adam2271]

Thanks Stacy, is this more what you meant?

Seeing the colours and shapes in view, simply= seeing
Smelling the environment, simply = smell
Feeling the temperature of the air, the chair under me, my shoes on the floor, simply = sensation
Tasting the inside of my mouth, simply = taste
Hearing people talking, the sounds of the coffee machine, clink of glasses simply = sound
Thoughts about surroundings, the news on the TV, the people around me, simply = thoughts

Thanks

Adam

[Anastacia42]

Great.

Doesn't that feel a little different?



u]Mind Labeling Experience[/u]

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

[Adam2271]

Hi

Doesn't that feel a little different?

Yes it did, I recognise the simplicity of bearing down experience into those six aspects.

Mind labelling

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

The part using I feels very personal and specific to me, not using I feels more general / universal and not so related to 'me'

2. What is here without labels?

Experience, action, sensation

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

Just describe it

4. Did you notice any differences in the body?

Not especially

Thanks

Adam