Waking up from a dream

[Anastacia42]

Oh, we have pointers for everything. :)

Introductory Body Exercise

Sit with eyes closed for about 15 minutes. Paying attention only to the pure sensations, without relying on thoughts or mental images:

Can it be known how tall the body is? Does the body have a weight or volume? In the actual experience does the body have a shape or a form?

Is there a boundary between the body and the clothing? Is there a boundary between the body and the chair?

Is there an inside or an outside? If there is an inside - the inside of what exactly? If there is an outside - the outside of what exactly?

What does the word/label ‘body’ ACTUALLY refer to? What is the ACTUAL experience of the body?

Look very carefully, especially with the last question. Take your time, don’t rush. You can look several times during the day while doing other things (like washing hands, showering, having a short break from work, walking, etc) before replying.

Loving

[llh333]

More investigation:

Going back to our previous posts, if I only stick with DE, then there is nothing about the image of the "body" that separates it from everything else. The only separation/boundary is done by labeling/a thought– "This is the scope of my body; the rest is not."

“Physicality” is an illusion, made up by thinking. Objects don’t exis independently of awareness. Only experiences exist. Colors exist. Sensations exist. Labeling happens and slaps on arbitrary labels including “ chairs, cup, cookies, me, my, mine”. The visual field is one piece and nothing is separate from anything. There is no empty space/distance anywhere. There isn’t a “world” outside what is present here. It’s like a huge TV screen. Everything is made of the same stuff! Exactly the same stuff!

In the visual field, there are many different colors that make up lines and shapes and the "body" is no different. It doesn't have a special status on this TV screen. Thoughts label stuffin the visual field as "chair", "cookies", "table", "jacket", "phone", "hands", "knees", “empty space”, etc.

[Anastacia42]

Please don't send these long ramblings. All of that is just the content of the thought. You're not doing yourself any favors with those..

Please do the pointer that I gave you.

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

Thank you,

[Anastacia42]

Please watch this & then read the article.


https://youtu.be/wyNwhK2Ur1c?si=TZwuFEst-7Hsadpu


https://www.liberationunleashed.com/res ... ar-seeker/

Loving,

[llh333]

I took a break and went back to the prompts.

With eyes closed, without relying on the mental images (which is very very challenging):

Can it be known how tall the body is? Does the body have a weight or volume? In the actual experience does the body have a shape or a form?

Can't know how tall the body is. In the actual experience the body doesn't have a shape or form. Since mental images haven't stopped completely and they are so strong. The body still has a little weight and feels like a lump of jelly.

Is there a boundary between the body and the clothing? Is there a boundary between the body and the chair?

There isn't a boundary between the body and clothing. The boundary between the body and the chair feels more solid. However, that boundary also changes. It becomes more fuzzy and less solid as time goes on.

Is there an inside or an outside? If there is an inside - the inside of what exactly? If there is an outside - the outside of what exactly?

There is no inside or outside. Even the sense of self is still a tightening sensation in the head at this moment. There are only sensations.

What does the word/label ‘body’ ACTUALLY refer to? What is the ACTUAL experience of the body?

"Body" actually refers to the totality of all sensations. It lump sums all the sensations that are happening right now.

[llh333]

Hi Stacy,
1. Would you suggest me keep doing these inquiries until mental images completely stop? Will they stop if I sit longer? Any advice?
2. Do you also have inquiries about attachment to the body with eyes open?
Thank you!

[Anastacia42]

The mental images probably will not stop. You will only learn to understand that they are not real.


Deeper Body Investigation

Here is an even deeper investigation of the body. Please follow each step, don't leave out any. Take your time. Don't move to the next step until the previous one is clearly seen.

Repeat the exercise several times.

Stand in front of a bigger mirror.

(1) First, close the eyes and feel the sensations labelled ‘body’.

(2) Then open the eyes and look into the mirror while still paying attention to the sensations. Is there any connection between the felt sensations and the image in the mirror? Or just thoughts (and/or mental images) suggest that there is?

(3) While still paying attention to the sensations move one hand and observe the movement from the mirror. Is there any connection between the felt sensations (labelled ‘hand’) and image of movement in the mirror?

(4) Now do the same movement with the hand, but this time look at the hand directly, not from the mirror. Is there any connection between the felt sensations (labelled ‘hand’) and the image ‘of movement’? Or only thoughts suggest it?

(5) Now, pay attention only to the image in the mirror. Does the image by itself suggest in any way that is ‘you’ or ‘your body’? Does the image itself suggest in any way that it is a ‘body’ at all? Or are there only colours and shapes?

(6) Where the mirror ends, some parts of the body (probably legs) cannot be seen. Just by the image in the mirror, is there any ‘knowledge’ that there must be legs, or only thoughts and mental images suggest so?

(7) Now turn away from the mirror and look forward (don’t look directly to any body parts).

Is there a ‘body’ anywhere when all thoughts and images are ignored, or are there only sensations?

(8) Start to walk slowly.

Is there a ‘body walking’, or are there only sensations?
Is there actual experience of ‘walking’ at all?

Or just THOUGHTS ABOUT ‘walking’?

Can such a thing as ‘body’ be found OR just THOUGHTS ABOUT a ‘body’?

Can such a thing as ‘walking’ be found?

(9) Are the sensations localized in space, like ‘going through the room’; OR is there only an image that is labelled ‘room’ and appearing sensations without any location?

Loving,

[llh333]

Hi Stacy,
I've been trying the pointers since you posted them. They are great!! Exactly where I get stuck on! So it may take some time for me to come back and post observations. Thank you!

[Anastacia42]

Good!

Thank you

[Anastacia42]

How is it going?

[llh333]

Hi Stacy,
Thank you for checking in with me! I just came back from a long trip and I am recovering from a cold. I will need more time to work on this. Will keep you posted!
Thank you,
Blue

[Anastacia42]

Okay. Check in regularly & let me know what is coming up.

Get well!

Loving,

[llh333]

(1) First, close the eyes and feel the sensations labelled ‘body’.

Simply clouds of tingling sensations.

(2) Then open the eyes and look into the mirror while still paying attention to the sensations. Is there any connection between the felt sensations and the image in the mirror? Or just thoughts (and/or mental images) suggest that there is?

There is NO CONNECTION based on direct experience.

(3) While still paying attention to the sensations move one hand and observe the movement from the mirror. Is there any connection between the felt sensations (labelled ‘hand’) and image of movement in the mirror?

There is no connection.

(4) Now do the same movement with the hand, but this time look at the hand directly, not from the mirror. Is there any connection between the felt sensations (labelled ‘hand’) and the image ‘of movement’? Or only thoughts suggest it?

There is no connection.

(5) Now, pay attention only to the image in the mirror. Does the image by itself suggest in any way that is ‘you’ or ‘your body’? Does the image itself suggest in any way that it is a ‘body’ at all? Or are there only colours and shapes?

The image itself doesn't suggest it's me or my body. The image itself doesn't suggest it's a body. If I'm being honest, there are only colors and shapes.

(6) Where the mirror ends, some parts of the body (probably legs) cannot be seen. Just by the image in the mirror, is there any ‘knowledge’ that there must be legs, or only thoughts and mental images suggest so?

Just by the image in the mirror, there is no knowledge about the existence of legs.

(7) Now turn away from the mirror and look forward (don’t look directly to any body parts).Is there a ‘body’ anywhere when all thoughts and images are ignored, or are there only sensations?

There are only sensations.

(8) Start to walk slowly.

Is there a ‘body walking’, or are there only sensations?
Is there actual experience of ‘walking’ at all? Or just THOUGHTS ABOUT ‘walking’?

There are only sensations. Walking is a label, i.e., thinking.

Can such a thing as ‘body’ be found OR just THOUGHTS ABOUT a ‘body’?

Just thoughts about a body.

Can such a thing as ‘walking’ be found?
No.

(9) Are the sensations localized in space, like ‘going through the room’; OR is there only an image that is labelled ‘room’ and appearing sensations without any location?

Only an image that is labelled "room" and appearing sensations without any location.

[Anastacia42]

Yes. Exactly.

How does it FEEL to see this?

Loving

[llh333]

On one hand, it feels disorientating and unreal. On the other hand, there is sense of relief, a big sigh from the core of being...