The Gate

Hello Nic

Would you like to review DE exercises

?

Yes definitely.

Ok. You'll probably remember these exercises, but I'd like you to do them again as if it's the first time.

1. Sit quietly and relax, take your time just looking at what is in front of you for awhile.
Observe how the mind is dividing and labelling every thing into objects and is embellishing
them with stories about what they are.

Give it some time.

Then, stop watching the objects as labelled objects. Just look at the seeing itself. Observe
the pure process of seeing. This is direct experience (DE).

Let me know what this exercise is like for you.

2. Here's an exercise that I would like you to try as many times throughout the day as you
can. Label daily activities simply colour/image, sound, smell, taste, sensation, thought.

For example, when having breakfast, become aware of:

Seeing a cup, simply= image/colour
Smelling coffee, simply = smell
Feeling the warmth of the coffee cup, simply = sensation
Tasting the coffee, simply = taste
Hearing the spoon stirring the coffee, simply = sound
Thought about drinking the coffee, simply = thought

Just break down daily activities into these categories (which are all actual/direct
experience) and report back how it goes.

Now, look for the self in DE.
What do you find?
Is it any different after doing the DE exercises?

In your last message, you wrote:

It is an awareness I suppose, more than a thing.. a thing would be something I can see, touch, but this is more like a presence. It is like a state I suppose…

What is this "awareness" or "presence" in DE?

Love
Liam

Hi Liam

Hope all is well 🥰

Let me know what this exercise is like for you.

Blank, clear, nice, calm. I have been doing this exercise quite frequently during different times of the day etc. especially in the car driving to and from work, looking at trees, traffic.

Just break down daily activities into these categories (which are all actual/direct
experience) and report back how it goes.

Now lots of the time am on autopilot so don’t remember to do it - but I realise how ‘flowy’ my life is even when I’m on autopilot so I can certainly see a difference to how I used to be(more controlling, believing in thougts). I will often do the ‘hearing, seeing, sensation , warmth of leg on chair etc…) I seem to be doing it more naturally.

Now, look for the self in DE.
What do you find?

I cannot find a self. However, feel like a seer, but I know this is thoughts. I can also literally see the body as part of other things , colours, other people etc I can see the flowiness, all together, seamlessly , everyone playing a part in this togetherness…

Is it any different after doing the DE exercises?

Yes, more aware of sensations, thoughts, seeing.

What is this "awareness" or "presence" in DE?

It is a stillness that is Always here, mostly see it when I focus on it. It is the part to be seen without the thoughts running the show.

Thank you so much,

Lots of love,

Nic x

Hi Nic

Thanks for these responses.

What is this 'awareness' or 'presence' in DE?

It is a stillness that is Always here, mostly see it when I focus on it. It is the part to be seen without the thoughts running the show.

Let's go back to exercise #2:
Label daily activities simply colour/image, sound, smell, taste, sensation, thought.

For example, when having breakfast, become aware of:

Seeing a cup, simply= image/colour
Smelling coffee, simply = smell
Feeling the warmth of the coffee cup, simply = sensation
Tasting the coffee, simply = taste
Hearing the spoon stirring the coffee, simply = sound
Thought about drinking the coffee, simply = thought

Just break down daily activities into these categories (which are all actual/direct experience) and report back how it goes.

Which category of DE is 'awareness' and 'presence' in?
You say that you "mostly see it when [you] focus on it."
Is it image/colour? Why or why not?
Is it thought? Why or why not?

Here's another DE exercise that might help clarify things. Many of the questions in blue are answered in the text, but please go through and answer them yourself.
Have a look at an apple. If you have a ‘real’ apple, you can use it for this exercise.
When looking at an apple, there's colour; a thought saying ‘apple’; and maybe a thought
saying, "I'm looking at an apple."
What is known for sure?
Colour 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, colour, smell, taste, sensation.
Is there really an ‘apple’ here, or only colour 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 labelled ‘apple’ is known.
Colour labelled ‘apple’ is known.
Sensation labelled ‘apple’ is known (when apple is touched).
Smell labelled ‘apple’ is known.
Thought about/of an ‘apple’ is known.
However, is an apple actually known?

Is this clear?

Now let's go back to the question: What is this 'awareness' or 'presence' in DE?

Many nondual teachers talk about awareness. This can be confusing. Can you find awareness in DE?

Love
Liam