jacki

[Quincy]

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

The color we label as RED is actually experienced.

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

The color RED is experienced.

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)?

The label GREEN does not have a one-to-one experience with reality, no matter what font color is used. It is a word or symbol used to communicate. You could use another word. These are the labels we were taught to use as children for the experiences of different colors.
The label suggests GREEN, but the actual experience is RED in this example.

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?

No, ‘green’ is not associated in any way with the experience of the color red. Green is 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, if you replace ‘GREEN’ with the label ‘GOOD’ or ‘BAD’ the redness is unaffected. These are all just labels.

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

Redness cannot become ‘good’ or ‘bad. The labels have no effect on reality. The labels have no effect on direct experience.

Let me know what is SEEN.

What is seen is color. Labels do not affect what is actually seen. Labels can change depending on the language used. What is seen does not change.

[Anastacia42]

Excellent.

How does it FEEL to see this?

Loving

[Quincy]

Hi Stacy,

How does it FEEL to see this?

It FEELS LIGHT.

Love,
Jacki

[Anastacia42]

Good! That is the truth feeling.

We're looking for a shift in perception.

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,

[Quincy]

Hello Stacy!

What about the content of thoughts, what they describe?

I am actually able to look at the "apple" without thoughts about it. This includes other objects.I can look at objects without labels. This has been happening more and more. Sometimes labels pop up in the mind and I recognize that is happening.

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

There is no "apple" here, just form and color.

Can ‘apple’ be found in actual experience?

"Apple" is a label. It is not found in direct experience.

However, is an apple actually known?

An apple is not actually known. It is known as taste, touch, smell, and color.

Have fun and let me know what you find out.

I tried this with other objects as well. There is just color and lines and shapes, the forms of the objects. The names of objects are added on to experience. They are not direct experience. The mind likes to label. It is a habit of the mind.
Do the eyes experience form or is it a thought because I perceive objects as separate?

[Anastacia42]

Good.

Do the eyes experience form or is it a thought because I perceive objects as separate?

Pretty sure it's thought.

How does is it FEEL to see this?

Remember. we're looking for a shift in perception.

The *idea* of "self" is a lie feeling of contraction plus the lie thought of a "self." That's it.

Awareness is not a "self."

This will make no sense at all to you until you drop all thinking and actually see it. Until then It is all concepts.

"Enlightenment is an accident. Meditation makes us accident prone."

Sunryu Suzuki

We cannot predict it and we cannot make it happen. We can only practice the conditions in which it is more likely.
This is the only pointer Ilona gave me when I was guided here. i practiced this for about 3 months. I call it:

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.

Loving,

[Quincy]

Hi 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?

There is only sensation in that area of the body. A clear dividing line between the butt and the chair cannot be found.
It is the same with other points of contact. For example, my foot on the floor. I cannot find a clear dividing line between my foot and the floor, only a sensation.

I love this quote:"Enlightenment is an accident. Meditation makes us accident prone."
Thank you for posting it.

Love,
Jacki

[Anastacia42]

You're welcome

Like all the pointers this is a meditation. It helps create the conditions for awakening

Please continue to practice & post here

Loving

[Quincy]

Stacy,

I will continue to practice and post.
Thanks for sticking with me!

Love,
Jacki

[Anastacia42]

You're welcome


Loving

[Quincy]

Good morning,

One thing I have noticed is that life is just happening. A movement of the body happens without me noticing or telling it to do something. The mind notices or takes ownership after the fact.
All day I notice thoughts and sensations. I still get lost in thought but I notice fairly quickly.
Interactions with people are the most challenging and heady. They tend to take me out of presence.
I wake up and go to sleep inquiring. I mediate and inquire. Slowing everything down.
The self is still there. Some days more lost in thought than other days during meditation.
There are less moments of fear. I'm so ready to let go.

Would you like to tell me a little about how things went for you and how you experience life now? If not, I understand.

Enjoy your day.
Love,
Jacki

[Anastacia42]

Good morning

The self is still there.

That is impossible.

There is no such thing. That is like telling me the Easter Bunny is still there.

Would you like to tell me a little about how things went for you and how you experience life now? If not, I understand.

Sure. I actually included a little bit of that in the beginning of ButtChair. I had many brief glimpses over many many years. Then 2 major episodes of awakening that gave me honeymoon periods of complete bliss.

For some people it's slow and gentle and for others it lands like a ton of bricks. Mine were like a ton of bricks.

The one that happened with LU happened while I was sitting in the car at a stoplight. I looked out the window and everything was glowing and beautiful. I felt high.

That lasted a long time. Weeks, I think. And then as I believed things that were not true, it faded. Specifically, there was someone I wanted to be in a relationship with and they did not want a relationship with me. So believing that we should be dating was stressful and brought me down.

But I have never lost the awareness that I am connected to everything and there is no self.

Almost nothing bothers me anymore. But that is also due to the Work of Byron Katie, not just LU.

You probably don't need this pointer but just for fun.

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

[Quincy]

That is impossible.

There is no such thing. That is like telling me the Easter Bunny is still there.

Now THAT was a great pointing! I was stopped in my tracks!

You probably don't need this pointer but just for fun.

I will try any pointer I can get!

How is the movement controlled?

The hand just moves.

Does a thought control it?

No, a thought comes in after the fact.

Can a ‘controller’ of any description be located?

No, a 'controller' cannot be located.

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

The left hand just started moving. No decision was made. No one seemed to make the choice.

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

I actually cannot find anything that chose to turn the hand. It was as though I was just observing it happening. The thought about it came after the fact.

[Anastacia42]

Thanks. You're doing great.

How does it FEEL to see this?

Loving

[Quincy]

How does it FEEL to see this?

It feels lighter and lighter, the more it is seen.

Thank you for sharing and being my guide. Will you be able to continue to do this, as long as it takes?

Love,
Jacki