Jewel of the Nagas

[Anastacia42]

Much better. Now this:

Mind Labeling Experience

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? There ARE Sensations. Find them.

Loving,

[Nagamani]

Hello Stacy

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

The second exercise is truer than the first. The second exercise has the sense of primary experience (mostly), whereas the first is much more mixed primary experience with laying of ideas, thinking, emotions, etc on top. In the second exercise the feeling is of being whole, whereas in the first the feeling is of being pulled or stretched around by thinking.

2. What is here without labels?

Stillness, ease, rest, joy.

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

Labels affect the experience depending on the extent of the labeling. In the first exercise the labeling encouraged concepts and ideas to arise more than the second. In the second exercise there is less 'movement' but just the activity of adding a label creates a distortion. With no attempt to write down anything there is greater ease and rest.

4. Did you notice any differences in the body? There ARE Sensations. Find them.

In the second activity the sensations drop down lower in the body...there is a physical sense of relaxing and being at rest. Attention follows this relaxing down into the body more. There is more awareness of the energy body as being the primary experience with notes of joy and pleasure arising naturally. There is the sensation of being more whole or integrated, less separation between self and world.

With metta

Nagamani

[Anastacia42]

Good morning

Good. Partly right.

1. Yes. The second is truer without the lie of ""I."

2. Good. yes. But only Direct Experience is there
That's why it's peaceful. You're not lying & adding thoughts.

3. The labels do not affect or change the experience. I'll share a pointer about that.

4. Good. I'll share a pointer about that.

First this:


Label-Reality Correlation

There is a belief that labels have a one-to-one correspondence with ‘reality’. But there isn’t. Just like it is a generally accepted belief that labels like ‘good’ and ‘bad’ are inherent characteristics of ‘things’. But actually, they are not.

When you look at the word label ‘GREEN' , what is the actual experience?

Is the color red ‘experienced’, or is the color green ‘experienced’ as the label suggests?

Does the label ‘GREEN’ have a one-to-one correspondence with ‘reality’? Or does the label suggest something else other than what is here now (red colour)?

Is 'green' associated in any way with the experience of the colour red; or is green just a label that overlays the actual experience of red?

If the label ‘GREEN’ is replaced with the label ‘GOOD’ or ‘BAD’ , is the redness affected in any way as the labels suggests?

Does redness become ‘good’ or ‘bad’, or do the labels have no affect whatsoever on ‘reality’?

Let me know what is SEEN.

Loving

[Nagamani]

Hello Stacy

When you look at the word label ‘GREEN' , what is the actual experience?

There is an in interpretation in the mind – the seeing is interpreted into a thought about what is being seen.

Is the color red ‘experienced’, or is the color green ‘experienced’ as the label suggests?

There is no colour experienced, that is a label. The direct experience is only seeing. The colour green is a secondary layer of interpretation by the mind – I am colour blind so it does actually look green to me.

Does the label ‘GREEN’ have a one-to-one correspondence with ‘reality’? Or does the label suggest something else other than what is here now (red colour)?

No. There is simply seeing, the rest is added on top.

Is 'green' associated in any way with the experience of the colour red; or is green just a label that overlays the actual experience of red?

It’s just an overlay.

If the label ‘GREEN’ is replaced with the label ‘GOOD’ or ‘BAD’ , is the redness affected in any way as the labels suggests?

No, they are just labels without a reference.

Does redness become ‘good’ or ‘bad’, or do the labels have no affect whatsoever on ‘reality’?

No effect, that’d be an interpretation which is a thought.

Let me know what is SEEN.

Nothing is seen, there is only seeing.

With metta

Nagamani

[Anastacia42]

Okay. you're overthinking this. Keep it simple.

When you look at the word label ‘GREEN' , what is the actual experience?
There is an in interpretation in the mind – the seeing is interpreted into a thought about what is being seen.

The answer is simply, "red."

direct experience is only seeing.

That's not completely wrong, but we're not going that deep. The answer is "red."

The rest of this is good.

Nothing is seen, there is only seeing.

True.

The point here is that labels have no effect.

Now this:

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.

And keep it simple.

Loving,

[Nagamani]

Hello Stacy

What about the content of thoughts, what they describe?

Thoughts are just ideas.

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

No apple, only experience.

Can ‘apple’ be found in actual experience?

No

However, is an apple actually known?

No

Have fun and let me know what you find out.

Seeing labelled round is known
Seeing labelled pointy stem is known
Seeing labelled table is known
Feeling labelled smooth is known
Feeling labelled cold is known
Feeling labelled lumpy is known
Sensation labelled apple sweet smell is known

With metta

Nagamani

[Anastacia42]

Yes, very good.

How does it FEEL to see this?

Now try this & pay attention to your immediate experience of Sensations.

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,

[Nagamani]

Hello Stacy

How is the movement controlled?

It's not controlled, it feels natural - instinctive.

Does a thought control it?

No, it tries to but cannot.

Can a ‘controller’ of any description be located?

No

How is the decision made to turn the hand over?

It feels instinctive, then the mind sometimes tries to appropriate control or identify with the 'decision'.

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

Thought only occurs after the hand starts moving.

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

Nobody chose.

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

No.

With metta

Nagamani

[Anastacia42]

All true, but you skipped the most important question:

How does it FEEL to see this?


Loving,

[Nagamani]

Hello Stacy

How does it FEEL to see this?

Quiet; calm.

With metta

Nagamani

[Anastacia42]

Good.

We're looking for a shift in perception.

Here is a pointer for looking, not thinking:

ButtChair

Please LOOK for any place where your butt ends & the chair begins.

Is there any clear dividing line between them? Or only the Sensation with no clear division?


It is simple direct & nonverbal. Just LOOK.

Then write what is true.

I did only this and nothing else for 3 months and then saw. It crept up on me while I was sitting at a stoplight. Seeing often happens when we are simply relaxed and looking. I should say, it ONLY happens when we are relaxed and LOOKING.

Loving,

[Nagamani]

Hello Stacy

Please LOOK for any place where your butt ends & the chair begins.

There are sensations without a clear end/beginning.

Is there any clear dividing line between them? Or only the Sensation with no clear division?

There is no exact dividing line...only a field of sensation with no clear edges.

With metta

Nagamani

[Anastacia42]

Good

Continuing to meditate on that can create the conditions for you to see that there is no separate self.

Please continue with this and comment here daily or every other day.

Loving

[Nagamani]

Hello Stacy

Please LOOK for any place where your butt ends & the chair begins.

Is there any clear dividing line between them? Or only the Sensation with no clear division?

Sensations are present labelled pressure
Sensations are present labelled cloud of sensations
Sensations are present labelled as whole body
Feelings are present labelled as joy

With metta

Nagamani

[Anastacia42]

Good!

Can you find any separate self?

Loving