Would love a Guide to help me see the Truth

[Julia]

Hi John,

Thanks for this request from another guide. It feels right. Did not feel the first example given was enough.

Will get back to you shortly, have to do things right now.

Thanks and KR
Julia

[Julia]

Hi John,

Have plenty of time to do this now.

Readdressing question five, giving an example from direct Experience:

Thoughts just happen. They pass in, and pass out, continually, but it doesn't matter.

To decide, intend, choose, control, does not feel important when experiencing in direct Experience. There is a thought that there is no control of events in Life, although we are all part of it. Life unfolds and then experienced. Direct Experience feels relaxed, like a beautiful bubble of calmness and everything seems more vivid and clear. Thoughts becoming calmer, thoughts and feelings are seen through and they pass away, dissolve. Birdsong outside, and other noises are identified, the difference is, they are noticed more easily, including sensations regarding this body, calmly observed in some way. A definite heightened awareness of a body and surroundings, like a moving into the senses. Lovely. Then a feeling of being hollow, or an emptiness, nothing there. A thought passing through about experiencing Life in vivid clarity. How wonderful!

Hope you enjoyed this, "I" did. A great thing to experience. Can it become a permanent state? Better than meditating because this is real, it's being in the here and now.

Anything else to add?

Thanks and KR
Julia

[sqnhoj]

Hi Julia,

Hope you enjoyed this, "I" did. A great thing to experience. Can it become a permanent state? Better than meditating because this is real, it's being in the here and now.

Not to quibble about terminology, but "states" come and go. The reality, however, is always there for the looking. When there are "unpleasant" happenings, as there almost certainly will be, there may not be feelings of bliss. In fact, thoughts and emotions that are quite the opposite of bliss may arise. They will pass, as do all thoughts, emotions, sensations, so that new sensations can arise. It's beautiful to observe, even when it's not "beautiful" in the conventional sense.

Sorry to digress. Your re-response is a vivid and lovely description of direct experience, but it's not an example of question number five. Provide examples of experiences where there was previously the illusion of choice and control, and describe how direct experience yields no evidence whatsoever that there is a self which chooses, controls, or acts. Allow me to provide an example from my own experience.

On most days "I" drive to work on the Washington, D.C. beltway. Not always a pleasant experience, by the way. Before seeing through the illusion of self, I assumed that I decided where to turn the car, that I chose to turn the steering wheel, and I chose to either put my foot on the gas pedal or the clutch or the brake pedal. Wrongly assumed that I was in control. Viewing that experience as direct experience is quite different. Hands move, the steering wheel turns, feet apply the gas, brake, or clutch in an amazing dance of visual and tactile sensations. Visually, there are patterns of shapes and color constantly changing that thoughts interpret as the road, the scenery, other vehicles, hands, steering wheel, gear shift, etc. But the search for a self that is deciding all this, doing all this, making all this happen...that search always comes up empty. Lots of happening...no self. Seeing that is always fresh and new. When another vehicle gets too close, there may be a sensation of tension, there may be the utterance of a profanity heard (from "my" mouth!), and there may be quick movements in response. All part of the dance and no one or no thing doing any of this.

Of course, you don't have to be as verbose as this, but I hope this helps clarify.

Thanks,

John

[Julia]

Hi John,

Will get back tomorrow.

KR
Julia

[sqnhoj]

Julia,

Thanks. Look forward to your reply.

John

[Julia]

Hi John,

Have time to give this the time needed.

Q5: Do you decide, intend, choose, control events in life?

It's so easy to assume that "I" am in control of something like driving a car, until you ask the question, and don't just assume that there is a "you" there. Just lOOking allowed seeing through the illusion of "self". Understand what you explained about driving, as an example of believing "I/we" decide, intend, choose, control events in life.

The simple answer to Q5 is NO. How can "I" control anything if it doesn't exist, it cannot be found by the senses anywhere? There is no "self" deciding anything, never, ever! It has never existed John, I SEE that.

Following on from your example. If a vehicle gets too close when driving, completely agree that tension happens in upper body area, a feeling of focused alertness occurs, and most likely a profanity is uttered also. Some instinctive reaction usually happens, like slowing down, or pulling over. There is no "me, you, self" making these things happen. As you say, it's all part of the dance of Life, and no-one or no-thing, no do-er is doing any of this.

Is this okay, or is it unclear? Will await response.

Thanks John.

KR
Julia


Q5: Do you make anything happen? No, "you, I, Self" doesn't exist, so it cannot affect anything.

[sqnhoj]

Julia,

Can you report this as an exercise of immediate experience? Observe now. What's happening now? Is there a controllet or a chooser or a doer? Describe how this is clear. Avoid explaining in analytical terms. Allow the words to appear that describe present experience and tbe lack of control, decision, and doing.

Thank you,

John

[Julia]

Hi John,

Okay, am not explaining Q5 that well. Oh dear!

Couldn't get to the computer yesterday. Sorry about that, but it's a great example to try answering Q5. Tried to reply to your last message, but other things came up to stop this happening, all day. Whenever a time slot appeared, something else came up. Life unfolded with unexpected events proving that there is no controller/ chooser/doer or anyself-er that controls events. Re-checked, no separate self anywhere. I just had to go with the flow yesterday, no control over anything. Is it being explained any better today? Just observing thoughts and letting them go, not getting drawn into them ...

Thank you John.

KR
Julia

[sqnhoj]

Hi Julia,

Okay, am not explaining Q5 that well. Oh dear!

It's better to avoid the word "explaining," which suggests analytic thinking. Let me bounce your reply off the other guides. I'll get back to you. Thank you for hanging in there.

John

[sqnhoj]

Hi Julia,

I have some more feedback. I hope this clarifies. You say that life unfolds. Can you please give us some examples of you unfolding as life? What can you see - at this moment - that proves that there is no controller/ chooser/doer or anyself-er that controls events? What can you see happening without Julia, even if thoughts say there is a Julia making it happen?


Many thanks,

John

[Julia]

Hi John,

Thanks for the feedback. Am not sure what is going on with Q5? Feelings of going backwards, not forwards?

I have some more feedback. I hope this clarifies. You say that life unfolds. Can you please give us some examples of you unfolding as life? What can you see - at this moment - that proves that there is no controller/ chooser/doer or anyself-er that controls events? What can you see happening without Julia, even if thoughts say there is a Julia making it happen?

Can't give you examples of "me" unfolding as life. ME doesn't exist.

The immediate experience. Observing what is happening now. LOOking at this moment for a self, cannot see a separate entity/self, listening, nothing, no sound, can't touch, smell or taste anything separate like a chooser/doer. So if nothing separate exists then no-self controls events or Life as it unfolds?

What can "I" see happening without Julia, even if thoughts say there is a "Julia" making it happen? The name Julia feels hollow, and is like an identification label for others to recognise.

Grateful thanks.

KR
Julia

[sqnhoj]

Julia,

Not to worry about going backward, rather than forward. Once there is seeing beyond the illusion of self, it is not unseen. There may be contradictory thoughts (or there may not). I read your post here and I don't doubt that you have seen. Some facets are more difficult to articulate than others. As I look at the question, the wording "examples of you unfolding as life" probably caused some concern. It was not meant to be a trick question. Think of it as life unfolding, without a you to do or choose anything.

In order to respond to the concerns expressed by another guide, do an exercise in direct experience but with the intention of seeing whether there is a doer and a chooser. Just be new and fresh with this, as if you have never looked before. Pick at least two, but preferably three, processes where conventional wisdom says that "you" are doing, that you are choosing and deciding. Please don't do it from memory but do it in the present tense. The present is all there is anyway, of course. Look, really look, at the action and describe what you see. If there are sounds involved, listen, really listen. Also attend to the sense of touch and describe what is "felt" if that is relevant. Don't answer by rote, and don't hold back in your description. Allow the senses and the description of them to answer the question, "Is there a doer; is there a chooser?" Don't feel rushed. You've already said that the experience of looking at direct experience is pleasant and enjoyable. Just enjoy it, and pay enough attention that you can report and describe what is seen, felt, etc. I think you already know that the truth is obvious. Let it be obvious. Let it emerge from your direct experience.

Thanks,

John

[Julia]

Hi John,

"Is there a doer; is there a chooser?" I think you already know that the truth is obvious. Let it be obvious. Let it emerge from your direct experience.

Am looking for this decider, intender, chooser, controller of events in life. I can see there is no such thing as a controller, it is only a thought and thoughts based on past conditioning. Can see through all that, but am not as articulate as you all anymore. It's all too cerebral, what happened to just plain talk?

It's all getting too overwhelming, can't cope with all these questions.

KR
Julia

[sqnhoj]

Julia,

Actually, we are just looking for "plain talk" and we don't want it to be cerebral. Describing arms moving, fingers typing, a hand swinging a hammer, feet walking down the grocery aisle, produce being put in a shopping cart or shopping basket...descriptions like that do not have to be flowery, poetic, or intellectual. The just should reflect what is honestly seen.

I'll bounce your response off our guides, but meanwhile I would ask you to relax, look and simply report what you see when actions are done and seeming decisions are made. Keep it simple, unadorned, descriptive.

Hang in there,

John

[Julia]

Hi John,

Actually, we are just looking for "plain talk" and we don't want it to be cerebral. Describing arms moving, fingers typing, a hand swinging a hammer, feet walking down the grocery aisle, produce being put in a shopping cart or shopping basket...descriptions like that do not have to be flowery, poetic, or intellectual. The just should reflect what is honestly seen.

I'll bounce your response off our guides, but meanwhile I would ask you to relax, look and simply report what you see when actions are done and seeming decisions are made. Keep it simple, unadorned, descriptive. Hang in there

Sitting here observing fingers typing a description of what is happening right now. Feeling more relaxed, stretching arms and hands towards the monitor, then back onto the keypad to type this. Notice the continuous whirr of the the computer, it's quite a loud sound. Sitting here is such a familiar feeling that the typing just proceeds without the need to decide what happens from one moment to the next. Body is in a upright position, can feel feet on the carpet, balancing it. A feeling of observing a body, a computer and noticing sounds coming from these. Hearing the breathing, the gentle, rhythmic in and out sensation of movement. Chest expanding and contracting with each breath. The tapping sound of the keypad as fingers press the keys. The sensations and movements are simply "just there" with no need to control them. There is nothing directing any of this, it is just happening. Lovely feelings.

Is there a doer or chooser directing all of this? The simple, obvious, truthful answer is NO. There never has been, is, or will be. So happy that this has now been seen.

Grateful thanks.

Julia