Hoping to find relief

[Noro]

On we go!

What is this sense of self made of? An image? Sound? Taste? Smell? Body Sensation? Thought?

I'd say it's a mixture of sensation and thought.

So an apparent multi-sensory phenomenon. i.e. two sense fields appearing as a kind of self-referencing habit pattern.

Does this familiar "sense of self" confirm the existence of an actual self. Yes/No

It doesn't. But that doesn't take away the convincing nature of the thing.

What makes it convincing is that it has never been looked into clearly.

In conclusion, is there any separate self to be found?

Only as far as I mentioned in the answers above.

Ahhh..... you did not answer the question!
If there was only a Yes or No answer required, what would you have answered?
Yes or No?


This sensation behind the eyes that you experience as confirmation of a separate self or "I" or "me" is very common, especially when there is a lot of mental activity going on. These sensations will not disappear, they are common appearances within the field of body sensations that are noticed more than others. In fact, the more attention is placed there, this seems to activate the familiar pattern.

EXPLORE BODY SENSATIONS

Take a moment to relax and take few deep breaths, let go of all thought as you do this exploration.

Become aware of the whole field of sensation of the body, as much as is appearing in the moment.
Now, feel the sensation of your feet on the floor.
Now feel the sensation of your hands resting on your thighs.
Now feel the sensation of your inhale and exhale as you breathe.
Now feel the sensation in your head behind your eyes as you described above.
Now expand your attention to the whole field of body sensation from head to feet.
Alternate between locations of sensation.

Without the thought "I" or "me", in your direct experience, do any of the areas of sensation point to anything other than
simply sensations? Yes or No?

Now, repeat the same exercise and ask "Where am I"?
In your direct experience, what do you find? (Clue: Look at body sensations)
Can an actual "I" be found anywhere? Yes or No?

Warm regards,
Rowena

[vistascan]

If there was only a Yes or No answer required, what would you have answered?
Yes or No?

No

Without the thought "I" or "me", in your direct experience, do any of the areas of sensation point to anything other than
simply sensations? Yes or No?

No

In your direct experience, what do you find? (Clue: Look at body sensations)
Can an actual "I" be found anywhere? Yes or No?

I find nothing. Only the sensations.

There are two other developments that I think you should know.

One is that my attention has been going more often to the associated neutral body sensations when I feel strong emotions. Putting attention on what the body feels like seems to diffuse the emotion. I don't know if this a good thing or a bad thing.

Also, last night I realised very clearly that the sensation behing my eyes cannot be a sense of self. It is what it is, a sensation like any other sensations. My eyes felt a bit tingly for a while after this, but that may have been because I was cold. Anyway, the sensation behind the eyes does not have the convincing power it used to have even a day ago.

[Noro]

Hello Vistascan,

One is that my attention has been going more often to the associated neutral body sensations when I feel strong emotions. Putting attention on what the body feels like seems to diffuse the emotion. I don't know if this a good thing or a bad thing.

This is the way to go. If a lot of attention is placed on a particular sensation then it can actually seem to tighten whereas if the sensation is treated as one body sensation amongst all other body sensations not yet noticed then it can more easily disperse. This can be useful for any physical sensations.

Also, last night I realised very clearly that the sensation behing my eyes cannot be a sense of self. It is what it is, a sensation like any other sensations. My eyes felt a bit tingly for a while after this, but that may have been because I was cold. Anyway, the sensation behind the eyes does not have the convincing power it used to have even a day ago.

This is a really good realization!


BUTTCHAIR

Sit down on a chair, get yourself comfortable and take a few deep breaths to relax and if you like, close your eyes:

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 be with the sensations.

Sink into that noticing. Notice how it FEELS.

You can do this with other body parts as well.

What do you find?


PALM FLIPPING MEDITATION

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 the movement?

- Can a ‘controller’ of any description be located?

- Where 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 "I" or anything that is choosing when to turn the palm up or down?

Can a thought initiate anything or is that just another thought story, an overlay to what is actually happening?


Warm regards,
Rowena