Re: Diving into direct experience
Posted: Thu Nov 09, 2023 2:14 pm
Hi Henri,
Thanks :)
~Jaïr
So when I look at a pen, only the image of the pen exists. There is no physical pen that remains in existence when I look the other way. Then only thoughts about the location/density etc. of the pen remain. I used to think that there were physical objects in the world that had certain characteristics (an image, a location, a feeling, a smell, a sound etc.). However, while the characteristics appear (like the image of the pen sometimes appears), the physical object behind the characteristics never appears.Meaning, if you look at a pen, does a 'pen' exist, or is it just ink, plastic, etc? (even the parts are empty of self-nature or essence)
The metaphor about the mathematical zero really spoke to me as I studied Mathematics and Statistics in college hahahah. On a more serious note, empty of independent existence is a perfect explanation! There are no 'things' that exist beyond their characteristics.90sec video on emptiness: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CYqaWmc4OGA
So, notice where the thought itself is coming from instead of where the content of the thought is coming from?Only thing you may want to look at are the origins and connections. Instead of tracing back a thought to a sensation, for example, notice where the thought is coming from. So asking Who thinks this thought? Who am I?
Trust your intuition on this though. If you resonate with what you're doing, keep doing that, and I'll do my best to help.
Thanks :)
I did notice this, sometimes it seems like there is no connection between thoughts and sensations. There seems to be no rational explanation for why this happens, which made it a little bit scary at first. However, it truly does not matter because the sensations that often follow such thoughts are also just simply sensations.I offer the above suggestion since you mentioned confusion, and the confusion may simply be because there's not always a connection. In fact, at some point you may start feeling like sensations and thoughts are not connected.
~Jaïr