Looking for a guide.

[s-p-a-c-e]

Hi Jamie,

Cool. Yes, play some more and see what comes up.

Many thanks!
John

[Jamie2012]

Hi John,

Not as much opportunity today as I would have hoped, but I will continue over the weekend. Today used a clock as my object for a little while. Can't say much "melting" was felt. :) But I will keep at the removing labels exercise as I have time over the next couple days.

Happy weekend!
Jamie

[s-p-a-c-e]

Hi Jamie,

Hi John,

Not as much opportunity today as I would have hoped, but I will continue over the weekend. Today used a clock as my object for a little while. Can't say much "melting" was felt. :) But I will keep at the removing labels exercise as I have time over the next couple days.

Happy weekend!
Jamie

You too!

As you're looking at the clock called the "clock" - maybe focus in on those details that have no name, no label.

Speak soon,
John

[Jamie2012]

Hi John,

I tried the not-labeling exercise for awhile today. Thoughts tended to want to change objects after a few moments with one object.

I attempted focusing on the parts of the objects that have no label as well, as suggested.

Not much to report except I got really sleepy and took a nap. :)

I will focus on it again at some point tomorrow.

Thanks!
Jamie

[s-p-a-c-e]

Hi Jamie,

Feel free to continue to explore the labeling. I would also like to offer another approach...

Focussing on direct experience...

Jamie, as you sit there, reading this sentence, there is a constant stream of Direct Experience. This might include stuff like seeing the screen, noticing thoughts about what is read on the screen, maybe emotions about the thoughts and so on.

Alongside the Direct Experiencing is a sense of yourself, "I", "me".

AND this all comes together described as "I am experiencing": I am seeing, I am feeling, I am thinking...and so on.

That would be what we normally say, e.g. "I am reading..."

So there are two modes, if you like, of perceiving:

Mode 1. DIRECT EXPERIENCING + THE STORY OF "I"/THOUGHTS = "I am reading..."
Mode 2. DIRECT EXPERIENCING = "reading happening..."

OK?

Our job then is to become increasingly aware of the differences between these two modes of experiencing. Until it is realised that Mode 1 has a fiction at the heart of it and we are left with Mode 2, experience happening.

EXERCISE

Bring the left hand up - and look at the palm.

To begin with, there's a knowing that it's a "hand".
The label/thought "hand" + direct experiencing (light reflecting, shades of colour, shapes, feeling in the hand)

Notice that the hand has a reality all of itself. It's here, right here. Stark, conventional reality. The hand, reflecting back light, coming into the eyes. We THINK we're looking out AT the hand, yet isn't light reflecting back into the eyes, aren't the eyes a receiver of light?

Is there an "I" inside receiving that light? Seeing the hand?

Consider, for one wonderful moment, that there isn't, that instead of an "I" there is just this awareness of the hand, awareness of light reflecting back, of experience, only experience.

Notice how the "I" story is added up, assumed, presupposed. Just a story, an old story.

Meanwhile, the light reflects of the hand. Gleaming, direct reality. In no need of an "I", not owned by an "I".

Jamie, have a good look at this and share with me what is noticed.

With warmest wishes,
John

[Jamie2012]

Hi again, John!

Feel free to continue to explore the labeling. I would also like to offer another approach...

I was actually working on this just as you wrote your last post, so here's what I had written up to that point:

Was looking at a coaster with a month calendar on the back. First I thought of all the labels: numbers, symbols for the days of the week, month, year, a logo for a beer company. Stained. Dingy. Letterpressed. Then as I gaze at it while setting labels aside for some time a bit of the melty feeling. Just a bit.

Then the urge or tendency to want to do "something else" or think about something else seems always to arise. As if anything else is more important/interesting than this. Just mind wandering and then trying to re-focus.

EXERCISE

Bring the left hand up - and look at the palm.

To begin with, there's a knowing that it's a "hand".
The label/thought "hand" + direct experiencing (light reflecting, shades of colour, shapes, feeling in the hand)

Notice that the hand has a reality all of itself. It's here, right here. Stark, conventional reality. The hand, reflecting back light, coming into the eyes. We THINK we're looking out AT the hand, yet isn't light reflecting back into the eyes, aren't the eyes a receiver of light?

Yes, and although there were thoughts of: we already did this exercise! :D I made a good faith effort anyway because I realized that this moment is a new moment and perception today might not be what it was a few weeks ago. However, I still do see now as I did then that light is reflecting back, that the eyes are a receiver of light.

Is there an "I" inside receiving that light? Seeing the hand?

Still no. There is no "I" inside receiving the light. No I seeing the hand.

Consider, for one wonderful moment, that there isn't, that instead of an "I" there is just this awareness of the hand, awareness of light reflecting back, of experience, only experience.

Yes, that is seen. There are moments of going back and forth between the two modes. But there is no doubt about it when asked now.

Notice how the "I" story is added up, assumed, presupposed. Just a story, an old story.

This is fuzzy at the moment. But if review what I've thought about it in the past few weeks, I realize that there are just moments of experience and then labeling of what happened after the fact. All kinds of labeling, e.g. I work here, I went to this university, I do this job. That's all just the story of what is being perceived. Versus what is experienced moment by moment. E.g. there is an experience of working at this certain place, there was an experience of going to a certain university. All part of the story of Jamie.

Meanwhile, the light reflects of the hand. Gleaming, direct reality. In no need of an "I", not owned by an "I".

Jamie, have a good look at this and share with me what is noticed.

As I gaze at the hand in front of these eyes, I see it as it is now. I particularly notice the veins which reminded me of looking at my mom's hands when I was a girl. The memory is of direct experience (if that makes sense). Back then, before more labeling and more fiction about Jamie was created, there was looking at her mom's hands and pressing on the veins, not knowing what they were or judging them as good or bad, just experiencing them, seeing them.

Looking at this hand now, a hand is seen, connected to a body, a human organism. But there is no owner of it all. Just sometimes a story that it is so. But really, all is happening as it happens. There is nothing to change, noone to change it. It is what it is and there's nothing to control. The experience can be seen from the lens of "this is Jamie's life and she controls what happens." This is the labeling that happens after the experience, labeling that something happened as "I did that." That's the fiction. Reality is "stuff" happening, no one doing it. Just watching, seeing, observing.

Thanks ever so much!
Jamie

[s-p-a-c-e]

Hi Jamie,

As I gaze at the hand in front of these eyes, I see it as it is now. I particularly notice the veins which reminded me of looking at my mom's hands when I was a girl. The memory is of direct experience (if that makes sense). Back then, before more labeling and more fiction about Jamie was created, there was looking at her mom's hands and pressing on the veins, not knowing what they were or judging them as good or bad, just experiencing them, seeing them.

Looking at this hand now, a hand is seen, connected to a body, a human organism. But there is no owner of it all. Just sometimes a story that it is so. But really, all is happening as it happens. There is nothing to change, noone to change it. It is what it is and there's nothing to control. The experience can be seen from the lens of "this is Jamie's life and she controls what happens." This is the labeling that happens after the experience, labeling that something happened as "I did that." That's the fiction. Reality is "stuff" happening, no one doing it. Just watching, seeing, observing.

Thanks ever so much!
Jamie

It is seen. :)

Share with me the ongoing experiences of seeing this.

With warmest wishes,
John

[Jamie2012]

It is seen. :)

Woot! Now it's my turn for a little leap! :)

Share with me the ongoing experiences of seeing this.

Okay. Will do!

[s-p-a-c-e]

Hi Jamie,

It is seen. :)

Woot! Now it's my turn for a little leap! :)

Share with me the ongoing experiences of seeing this.

Okay. Will do!

:) Look forward to it.

Warm wishes,
John

[Jamie2012]

Hi John! :)

Here is a snippet of today thus far...

Going between modes, back and forth. Spending a lot of time lost in the story of Jamie.

Then, moments of viewing from the perspective of experience.

Then other moments where it all feels dream-like and magical. These come up without any provocation, and they are enjoyed immensely because all feels right even when nothing is apparently any different. There is a peace in it. It really feels magical at times, like going to a really great movie.

Then moments of identification. Rejection is a strong response to a "lifetime of feeling rejected." Conditioning has created a sensitivity to rejection of "me." A co-worker this morning said something that struck "me" as a rejecting remark. There were lots of feelings: anger, hurt, disappointment. After some time, there was an awareness, a reminder that this is all a protection mode of something that isn't there. What "I" did that was "rejected" is all part of the story/experience being played out. My action wasn't "mine." The co-workers words weren't "hers." It all just happened and I labeled it as all separate stuff being done by separate people.

I have to say, just having written that, I feel pretty melty. :D

It seems to be sinking in some more. How this is all just happening and noone is doing anything.

Hope all is well on your side of the world. I'm going to go be melty some more!!!

All the best,
Jamie

[s-p-a-c-e]

Hi Jamie,

Thank you for sharing what's happening!

Hi John! :)

Here is a snippet of today thus far...

Going between modes, back and forth. Spending a lot of time lost in the story of Jamie.

Then, moments of viewing from the perspective of experience.

Then other moments where it all feels dream-like and magical. These come up without any provocation, and they are enjoyed immensely because all feels right even when nothing is apparently any different. There is a peace in it. It really feels magical at times, like going to a really great movie.

:)

Then moments of identification. Rejection is a strong response to a "lifetime of feeling rejected." Conditioning has created a sensitivity to rejection of "me." A co-worker this morning said something that struck "me" as a rejecting remark. There were lots of feelings: anger, hurt, disappointment. After some time, there was an awareness, a reminder that this is all a protection mode of something that isn't there. What "I" did that was "rejected" is all part of the story/experience being played out. My action wasn't "mine." The co-workers words weren't "hers." It all just happened and I labeled it as all separate stuff being done by separate people.

Cool.

I have to say, just having written that, I feel pretty melty. :D

It seems to be sinking in some more. How this is all just happening and noone is doing anything.

Hope all is well on your side of the world. I'm going to go be melty some more!!!

All the best,
Jamie

Nice work. Life. :)

Keep sharing what's going on...

With warm wishes,
John

[Jamie2012]

Hi John,

Today, again, most time was spent in story mode, some time spent in experience mode.

Today, when there was the opportunity, I would ask what in this moment is real and what is story. When I did this, everything NOW became sharper, in focus, all the sensations and awareness of the current scenery became more clear. I also thought about taking off labels in those moments and at one point felt - just for a second - the sweetness of it all.

There were thoughts about Byron Katie's work which I hadn't thought about since starting this seeing process. It always seemed like her work was pointing in the right direction, but it makes sense on a whole new level now.

A long and busy day was just had. Time to rest. :)

Till next time,
Jamie

[s-p-a-c-e]

Hi Jamie,

Hi John,

Today, again, most time was spent in story mode, some time spent in experience mode.

Today, when there was the opportunity, I would ask what in this moment is real and what is story. When I did this, everything NOW became sharper, in focus, all the sensations and awareness of the current scenery became more clear. I also thought about taking off labels in those moments and at one point felt - just for a second - the sweetness of it all.

There were thoughts about Byron Katie's work which I hadn't thought about since starting this seeing process. It always seemed like her work was pointing in the right direction, but it makes sense on a whole new level now.

A long and busy day was just had. Time to rest. :)

Till next time,
Jamie

Thank you for sharing! :)

You might find you bounce between story mode and experience mode, or you might find showing up a desire to release aspects of story mode or you may find a new balance. Everyone seems to find a place and direction.

Interesting insight on Byron Katie's work too.

Continue to explore as feels good to do so, the nature of awareness.

WIth warm wishes,
John

[Jamie2012]

Hi John,

Today was mostly spent in the back and forth again. Getting absorbed in work, thoughts about what to eat, "planning" for what is going to happen next, etc. Moments of reminders to look at direct experience, take off the labels, etc. I wasn't feeling 100% today, so I think there was a lot of time "caught up" in thoughts of why, what's going on, am I getting sick, etc. Plus a long nap. :) Other than that, no new insights. More of the same.

I saw on the LU website that there is a Facebook group that does Byron Katie's process to deal with residual beliefs, etc. after going through the gate. That has sounded interesting to me for awhile, but I know all the Facebook groups are "members only." I know her process pretty well and think it could help me deepen this process. Am I to the point where I could be approved as being "through the gate"/could join the Facebook groups? Or are we not quite there yet?

Thanks much,
Jamie

[s-p-a-c-e]

Hi Jamie,

Hi John,

Today was mostly spent in the back and forth again. Getting absorbed in work, thoughts about what to eat, "planning" for what is going to happen next, etc. Moments of reminders to look at direct experience, take off the labels, etc. I wasn't feeling 100% today, so I think there was a lot of time "caught up" in thoughts of why, what's going on, am I getting sick, etc. Plus a long nap. :) Other than that, no new insights. More of the same.

I saw on the LU website that there is a Facebook group that does Byron Katie's process to deal with residual beliefs, etc. after going through the gate. That has sounded interesting to me for awhile, but I know all the Facebook groups are "members only." I know her process pretty well and think it could help me deepen this process. Am I to the point where I could be approved as being "through the gate"/could join the Facebook groups? Or are we not quite there yet?

Thanks much,
Jamie

Whether we are there yet or not, only you will know truly. :)

It would help to hear the experiences of seeing this around life, friends, when out walking, effects on working life and so on. This can help and support the integration of seeing with everyday life. :)

We're looking to see as clear as we can who and what we are.

What comes up Jamie when it's asked, "So who is Jamie now and what is Jamie? When "Jamie" is gone what's left?"

With warmest wishes,
John