Guidance/Mentorship

[Elad]

Hi Vicki,

You are welcome. Right so self was not found as the body or in the body. Lets continue to another exercise:

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?

[VLC2000]

Afternoon Elad - Busy time of the year professionally speaking so I took some time away from the screen and electronics. This assists with reconnecting to the body and quiets the thought stream.

Enjoyed the practical examples you offered. Thanking you.

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?

- The movement became automatic once the initial prompt was provided. Without thought, the movement occurred effortless. Control appeared when a thought arose about when to stop.

Does a thought control it?

- A thought appeared to start and stop the action yet it (action) appeared to occur with no effort during the movement.

Can a ‘controller’ of any description be located?

- To commence and cease the movement, a thought arose. No controller.

How is the decision made to turn the hand over?

.

- The body appeared to find its own tempo and rhythm. The decision appeared to be based on this.

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?

- The right hand was chosen due to being right handed. This appeared as a preferred choice.

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

- This appeared to be rhythmic and automatic. Like a heart beat in tempo and rhythm. Could no locate or identify a seperate individual yet experience from the individual e.g., rhythm, tempo appeared within.

These exercises have been done over the last 3-4 days with the responses gained from each. The responses were consistent and acumilative.

Thanking you Elad.
Kind regards
Vicki

[Elad]

Exactly so while thought seems to play a role in action, no thought initiates the action in real time and also, no initiator of the thought itself is found. If this is not clear, let me know.

Here is another exercise to support this clarity around choice and control:

Stream Exercise

Imagine for a moment a scene, one of a little mountain stream which is tumbling down a hillside gully, not far from its source. It has been raining and so the level is quite high. Consider in your mind's eye, if you can, how it flows to the right over a little rock (where, had the level been lower, it would probably have gone around the rock), then the flow goes to the left over a tree bow, and then slows a little in a broader place, before splashing over a small cascade into a pool, and so on down the mountain side. Does it choose any of its directions? Is it even really a separate entity different from the water deposited in it, the rocks, the depressions in the ground etc? Is it even the same entity moment by moment, or more the product of weather conditions and water, like an ever-changing pattern?

1. Can you find anywhere where 'insert name' autonomously intervenes into life, choosing something that is not the product of all the elements; that is not a part of the overall flow?

Now please consider a regular decision made eg; what to wear in the morning, or what to eat for lunch, and describe to me what happens. There are environmental factors, there are colour preferences (but where did those come from - any autonomous intervention there perhaps?), practical issues (such as what is available), available time for preparation, purpose (eg; need to fill up for the day, or to look hip and cool for that person!) etc.

2) Where in there is an autonomous entity intervening in the flow of life? Can you find someone somewhere?

3. Can anything be found for which 'Vicki' is responsible – if so responsible to what and for what?

Enjoy :)