Ready to understand

[Anastacia42]

Very good.. You've got it.

Now take a look at this:

Here is how to distinguish truth from lies.


We often lie every day & don't realize it.

For example, the grocery clerk asks, "How are you?" You reply, "I'm fine." While, yes. there is a sense in which we are always fine, even in the middle of suffering, at that moment, you were grieving the death of your dog, you had a slight sore throat & you had a headache, but you didn't feel like sharing all of that with the grocery clerk, so you lied, "I'm fine."

Also, it matters none at all how "distant" the remembered lie is. Besides the fact that time itself is fictional, a kind if lie, as we recall the lie it becomes present in this moment, as if it were happening now. This brings the body Sensation that accompanies lying.

Lies can be intentional or unintentional, conscious or unconscious, even so automatic that we ourselves are fooled.

The story of a separate "self" is a lie.

This is the lie you came here to see through. Therefore, it is helpful to notice the body Sensation of lying as one of the tools for finding the truth of no self.

You want to be in touch with body Sensations & able to clearly express them in words. This will help.

Lies are usually felt in the heart or solar plexus as a contraction that we may label as tight, heavy or tense.

In contrast, truth is usually expansive. We may call it loose, light or relaxed.

First, can you remember a time when you lied to someone you loved?

Here we count anything, lies we think of as "big" or "small" that "matter" or don't "matter."

How are you? I'm fine. No, your knee hurts, but you don't feel like discussing it with the grocery clerk.

It's a lie. A seemingly "bigger" one will work better for this exercise.

Find the lie. I don't need the whole story, just a few key words to refer to it.

Then scan your body for any Sensation (DE or Direct Experience), particularly in the gut or maybe the heart. Check very closely.

What is found?

If you think the memory you used wasn't clear enough, find another one or lie to yourself right now, make something up.

1 + 1 = 14 is a lie.

I love eating worms is (probably) a lie.

Or call up a video of a lying politician & notice what Sensations arise as you listen.

I will give you a clue: it is not that peaceful Sensation you felt before when you omitted "I." (refers to an exercise I gave before this one)

Please report back with what body Sensations (not interpretations) you feel. Bodies can feel hot or cold, heavy or light, contraction or expansion, etc.

"Peaceful" is an interpretation of a body Sensation, not the Sensation itself, for example.

Do you see that?

Loving,

[sunnyone]

What is found?

Thank you, Stacy. What is found in recollecting a teenage memory of lying to my mother about where I would be and whop would be there, there is a tightening in my ribcage and a sense of almost nausea, thirty years later. I feel that in a similar sense, this tension or dread that feels physical is felt every day that I live this lie of 'me'. I have felt several glimpses where 'me' was gone and it was sublime, I felt like I could fly.

Do you see that?

I do, thank you.

[Anastacia42]

Okay, let's bring this all together.

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]

Sorry. . I copied...ignore that first sentence, please.

[sunnyone]

Good evening, Stacy - thank you for your help.

What about the content of thoughts, what they describe?

The contents of thoughts are more thoughts based on conditioning and language

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

Can ‘apple’ be found in actual experience?

No ma'am -

However, is an apple actually known?

No. Everything we believe about an 'apple' is dependent upon language and conditioning. Just experience expriencing.

[Anastacia42]

Exactly.

How does it FEEL to see this?

Loving,

[sunnyone]

Gosh I guess I would say it puts a little more room into everything, acknowledges the mystery that's afoot and takes the pressure off of the character I seem to have invested all of my energies into

[Anastacia42]

Hi Sunny,

guess I would say it puts a little more room into everything, acknowledges the mystery that's afoot and takes the pressure off of the character I seem to have invested all of my energies into

That may be true. Did you answer with thinking or Direct Experience?


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)

Loving,

[sunnyone]

Did you answer with thinking or Direct Experience?

Definitely thinking. Actual experience is lightness in the head area, undulating sensation in the chest and abdomen and a giddiness. I know emotion isn’t direct experience but it bears saying that there is a sadness in the mix. Like sadness and relief mixed together.

[Anastacia42]

I'm glad you can recognize that you were answering with thinking.

Seeing is in direct experience not our thoughts.

The idea of self is just that only a thought, an idea,

"Sadness," As Byron Katie puts it is a temper tantrum against reality. It is wanting something different than it is. Humans do that.

So let's look at another aspect...

Palm Flipping Exercise

1. Hold a hand in front of you; palm turned down.

2. Now turn the palm up. And down...and up and so on.

Watch like a hawk.

Don't go to thoughts – examine your direct experience.

Do this as many times as you like, and each time inquire:

How is the movement controlled?

Does a thought control it?

Can a ‘controller’ of any description be located?

How is the decision made to turn the hand over? Track any decision point when a thought MADE THE DECISION to turn the hand over and the hand turns over immediately.

Who or what chose which hand - the left or right hand for the exercise?

Can you find a separate individual or anything that is choosing when to turn the palm up or down?

Loving,

[sunnyone]

How is the movement controlled?

As odd as it is to say this, it seems to control itself?

Does a thought control it?

No

Can a ‘controller’ of any description be located?

Not that I can find

How is the decision made to turn the hand over? Track any decision point when a thought MADE THE DECISION to turn the hand over and the hand turns over immediately.

There is no point at which a decision can be located in time

Who or what chose which hand - the left or right hand for the exercise?

Nothing I can find chose, if there was a choosing "I" was not privy to it

Can you find a separate individual or anything that is choosing when to turn the palm up or down?

I cannot

[Anastacia42]

All true!

How does it FEEL to see this?

Loving,

[sunnyone]

Dear Stacy,

It feels like being on the prow of a boat moving through uncharted waters. It feels fresh and unknown, vast and miraculous. I just got finished with a five day silent retreat and feel more in touch with that place of wonderment that we take this experience as something when it is NOT that at all! Life feels like waves moving through a sense field. I have never wanted anything more than I want to understand.

[Anastacia42]

"Understanding is the booby prize" someone said.

It's not possible for the mind to grasp "no self." It must be experienced. Everything is a mystery

Can you see that?

Can you live with that?

Loving

[sunnyone]

Can you see that?

Can you live with that?

Yes and YES - we just got so 'used' to the miracle it would seem - but this is unfathomable mystery. And cherries :)