Help me to enlighten

[Kaiho]

Hello Nic

Thanks for asking the questions and using the quote function correctly!

4. What are you hoping for?

Peace of mind. Peace.

It might be helpful for you to read through the FAQ again: http://liberationunleashed.com/about/faq/#faq-1041
One of the items under "Liberation Unleashed is not..." is:

This is not going to lead you to eternal peace and happiness, it is not about happiness.

While some of the things you're hoping for, such as "ending the spiritual seeking," might happen, it's important to put expectations aside as much as you can. Unrealistic expectations can make it harder to tell if you've seen clearly that there is no self. For instance, if you expect to experience peace all the time, you might think you haven't crossed the gateless gate yet unless you feel peace. Before seeing that there is no self, it's very common for people to expect that the self will be liberated from something (or get something), because we've been thinking this way for many years. The truth is that that when we see through the self, we're liberated from the belief that there ever was a self, and this often feels different from what we were expecting. Let me know if you have questions.

Do I need to continue to do the ‘thoughts / sensations’ task?

Here's a different exercise to help you get super clear on what direct experience is. You can use an apple, if you have one, or any piece of fruit (or simple food).

Have a look at an apple. When ‘looking at an apple’, there's colour, a thought saying ‘apple,' and maybe a thought saying, "I'm looking at an apple." What about the content of thoughts, what the thoughts describe? While these thoughts are known, what they talk ABOUT cannot be found in direct or actual experience. (Thoughts ABOUT something are just more thoughts, not direct experience.) Direct experience is sound, thought, colour(sight), smell, taste and sensation.

Direct experience is what is known for sure:
Taste labelled ‘apple’ is known
Colour (visual information) 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? (Or is it just a label?) Is there really an ‘apple’ here, or only colour and a thought ABOUT ‘apple’? Can ‘apple’ be found in actual experience?

Love
Liam

[Veganmamma]

Hello Liam

Thank you for your time and help ☺️

However, is 'an apple' actually known? (Or is it just a label?) Is there really an ‘apple’ here, or only colour and a thought ABOUT ‘apple’? Can ‘apple’ be found in actual experience

?

I have been practicing with an apple. Then a jacket etc.

So there is a colour and a thought about an apple. I was able to see how I could then go on a further thought tangent and recognise that wasn’t DE as you mentioned (was just further thoughts about said apple). I then wondered what my actual experience was! So that means DE such as taste, thought, colour… So outside of this the apple cannot be found. However it is hard for me to see this as my mind keeps saying ‘Apple’ or similar. I can go to the ‘special place’ (relaxed focus) and see all colours, images, bright as a ‘whole’ and I think maybe this is the place we need to go… it feels so lovely and ‘right’ crisp and clear. So even with apple, or jacket I can see the different colours, textures all together.

As I was doing this last night I did wonder what about ‘look’ as in ‘look at dog’ this is DE? And talking ? Is this DE? I just realised look would be looking at the whole? Not just ‘dog’ which is another label isn’t it?

I can’t help but to think ‘something’ is happening as I am finding it easier to ‘go to the special place’?

Thank you so much Liam xx

[Kaiho]

Hello Nic

Thank you for your time and help ☺️

You're welcome. It's a pleasure.

So there is a colour and a thought about an apple. I was able to see how I could then go on a further thought tangent and recognise that wasn’t DE as you mentioned (was just further thoughts about said apple). I then wondered what my actual experience was! So that means DE such as taste, thought, colour… So outside of this the apple cannot be found.

Right! "Apple" is not found in direct experience. It is a label, which is only found in thought.

However it is hard for me to see this as my mind keeps saying ‘Apple’ or similar. I can go to the ‘special place’ (relaxed focus) and see all colours, images, bright as a ‘whole’ and I think maybe this is the place we need to go… it feels so lovely and ‘right’ crisp and clear. So even with apple, or jacket I can see the different colours, textures all together.... I can’t help but to think ‘something’ is happening as I am finding it easier to ‘go to the special place’?

It sounds like you're getting used to direct experience!

As I was doing this last night I did wonder what about ‘look’ as in ‘look at dog’ this is DE? And talking ? Is this DE? I just realised look would be looking at the whole? Not just ‘dog’ which is another label isn’t it?

Yes, 'dog' is a label, and so is 'talking'. Neither can be found in direct experience.
Seeing a dog, simply = image/colour
Hearing talking, simply = sound
Talking to someone, simply = sound, sensation, perhaps images/colour

The next exercise has a dual purpose: (1) to become aware of each and every thought as
it appears, and (2) to look for the gap between thoughts. (This will help you learn how to
look when looking for the ‘separate self’.)

First, sit for at least 10-15 minutes quietly somewhere, several times throughout your day. Close your eyes
and just notice thoughts. Don’t engage with any thought, just notice them.

1. Notice the current thought that is present.
Like when you sit observing the body, a thought might arise, such as 'my back hurts', 'my breathing is too quick', 'I am bored with this exercise', or any sorts of thoughts.
2. This thought will pass and another thought will come. So just observe this thought passing.
3. Then wait for the next thought to come.
4. When the next thought arises, just notice it, and see how it passes.
5. Then wait for the next thought to come.
6. Repeat #4 and #5 many, many times.

Between the 2 thoughts there is a gap. It can be very short or subtle, just a second or a few seconds before the next thought comes in. Look carefully at how they come and go, observe the short gap between them, notice how the current thought is passing, and wait for the next thought to arise.

Throughout your waking day, try to observe the gap between thoughts as often as possible. It can be done by noticing that ‘thinking’ is happening right now, then stop and just simply wait for the next thought to come. In the ‘waiting’ there is a gap between two thoughts.

Let me know how it goes.

Love
Liam

[Veganmamma]

Hello Liam

So I’m now in Greece and did my practising yesterday mainly on the plane etc!

Throughout your waking day, try to observe the gap between thoughts as often as possible. It can be done by noticing that ‘thinking’ is happening right now, then stop and just simply wait for the next thought to come. In the ‘waiting’ there is a gap between two thoughts.

Let me know how it goes

I realise how negative but ‘silently almost’ my thoughts are running away in the background reminding me constantly to be worried, things go wrong etc - However, when I face them they don’t hold up to much. In fact they start being silly and say silly things as if to fill the ‘quiet gap’. I enjoy the gaps in between, they are fleeting but definitely there! I managed it a few times on the plane yesterday and at one point seemed as though I was watching the tv …. Watching people etc. hmm.

I have been practising the ‘colour / sensation etc’ tasks also.

I will continue to watch the gap between thoughts.


I hope you are having a great day today- thank you ,
Love Nic x

[Kaiho]

Hello Nic

Hope you’re enjoying your time in Greece!

I realise how negative but ‘silently almost’ my thoughts are running away in the background reminding me constantly to be worried, things go wrong etc - However, when I face them they don’t hold up to much. In fact they start being silly and say silly things as if to fill the ‘quiet gap’. I enjoy the gaps in between, they are fleeting but definitely there! I managed it a few times on the plane yesterday and at one point seemed as though I was watching the tv …. Watching people etc. hmm.

I have been practising the ‘colour / sensation etc’ tasks also.

I will continue to watch the gap between thoughts.

What you’re doing is great! Take some time to watch the gap between thoughts when you’re in a quiet place. Planes can be noisy. Would you like more time to work with these exercises? Would you like a new one?

Love
Liam

[Veganmamma]

Hello lovely Liam

Would you like more time to work with these exercises? Would you like a new one?

Tempted though I am (to do a new task) yes let’s do a bit more practice watching the gap between thoughts. As my environment is different and probably could do with the practice.

Thank you so much!

Nic xxxx

[Kaiho]

Hello Nic

Ok, thanks for letting me know. Go ahead and continue watching thoughts arise and pass and observing the gap between thoughts. As mentioned, this an important exercise because it will help you learn how to look when searching for a ‘separate self’.

Let me know how it goes.

Love
Liam

[Veganmamma]

Hi Liam

Let me know how it goes

I will continue practising today ☺️

Please may we have another exercise next?

Thank you so much, once again ❤️

Nic xxx

[Veganmamma]

Let me know how it goes

Sorry I didn’t give feedback. So am able to ‘see’ the gap between thoughts - however have to remember to do so. It is good as it reminds me to look at my thoughts which are running away by themselves being generally negative! So it makes me more aware of my thoughts - and the bits in between.

Thank you! 🙏🏼 xx

[Kaiho]

Hello Nic

Sorry I didn’t give feedback. So am able to ‘see’ the gap between thoughts - however have to remember to do so. It is good as it reminds me to look at my thoughts which are running away by themselves being generally negative! So it makes me more aware of my thoughts - and the bits in between.

Good! Here's another though exercise. Sit quietly for about 30 minutes and notice the arising thoughts.
Just let them appear as they appear. Try your best to COMPLETELY ignore what they are
saying and just notice how they appear without you doing anything at all.
Where are they coming from and going to?
Did you do anything to make a particular thought or thoughts appear?
Could you have done anything to make a different thought appear at that exact moment
instead?
Can you predict your next thought?
Can you select from a range of thoughts to have only pleasant thoughts?
Can you choose not to have painful, negative or fearful thoughts?
Can you pick and choose any kind of thought?
Is it possible to prevent a thought from appearing?
It seems that thought has some logical ordered appearance, but look carefully and just
notice, is there an organised sequence? Or is that just another thought that says ‘these
thoughts are in sequence’ or 'they take content from previous thought', or that ‘one
thought follows another thought’?

Love
Liam

[Veganmamma]

Hello Liam ☺️

Where are they coming from and going to?

It feels as though they are coming from my head - as in ‘up there’ region of my body. I have read in the book that they come from consciousness. When I look at them they sort of disintegrate.

Di

d you do anything to make a particular thought or thoughts appear?

I don’t think I did. They can literally jump in randomly.

Could you have done anything to make a different thought appear at that exact moment
instead?

Again, I don’t think so. If I focus, say to think about an upcoming task I can try hard to focus on it and would probably benefit from writing it down as otherwise the thoughts are so ‘jumpy’.

Can you predict your next thought?

No. One will jump in randomly (or related to labelling things I see going in.

Can you select from a range of thoughts to have only pleasant thoughts?

No.

Can you choose not to have painful, negative or fearful thoughts?

No.

Can you pick and choose any kind of thought?

No.

Is it possible to prevent a thought from appearing?

No.

It seems that thought has some logical ordered appearance, but look carefully and just
notice, is there an organised sequence? Or is that just another thought that says ‘these
thoughts are in sequence’ or 'they take content from previous thought', or that ‘one
thought follows another thought

As you noted it seems that they follow some some sort of order - but actually they don’t. They are very random. I have practised doing a ‘logical order’ of thought and it can do the initial part but then jump onto something completely different! Makes me wonder how we give so much value to thougts (round the merry go round) when they can be so silly really. However, when we don’t look at them and they are whirring on in the background incessantly it sort of becomes ‘the norm’.

Thank you, once again ❤️

Nic xxx

[Kaiho]

Hello Nic

As you noted it seems that [thoughts] follow some some sort of order - but actually they don’t. They are very random. I have practised doing a ‘logical order’ of thought and it can do the initial part but then jump onto something completely different! Makes me wonder how we give so much value to thougts (round the merry go round) when they can be so silly really. However, when we don’t look at them and they are whirring on in the background incessantly it sort of becomes ‘the norm’.

Great observations!

Where are they coming from and going to?

It feels as though they are coming from my head - as in ‘up there’ region of my body. I have read in the book that they come from consciousness. When I look at them they sort of disintegrate.

Isn't it interesting how thoughts disintegrate when you look at them?
In direct experience, can you locate thoughts in your head or the upper region of your body?
Is it possible to locate thoughts at all?

Love
Liam

[Veganmamma]

Hello lovely kind Liam

Isn't it interesting how thoughts disintegrate when you look at them?
In direct experience, can you locate thoughts in your head or the upper region of your body?
Is it possible to locate thoughts at all?

Now I must say - this one ‘got me!’. Okay so I get thoughts are ‘somewhere’. Different to sounds which are heard in DE. Isn’t that the function of the ears? To hear sounds. I woke up this morning hearing background noises and they felt different to my thoughts. I found it hard to not see thoughts as from my head, so have practised ‘looking’ at them and realise you can’t really locate them ! Slippery things. I could imagine them in my head, then behind my eyes etc so really I don’t know where they are only ‘somewhere’.

Thank you, once again

Nic xx

[Kaiho]

I found it hard to not see thoughts as from my head, so have practised ‘looking’ at them and realise you can’t really locate them ! Slippery things.

Right! You can’t locate them.

Okay so I get thoughts are ‘somewhere’. Different to sounds which are heard in DE. Isn’t that the function of the ears? To hear sounds.

Can you find ears in direct experience? Or only sounds?
Can you locate sounds? Outside or inside your head?
Can you find your head in DE? Can you locate your head in direct experience?

These questions are getting challenging, and your doing great.

Love
Liam

[Veganmamma]

Hi Liam

Can you find ears in direct experience? Or only sounds?
Can you locate sounds? Outside or inside your head?
Can you find your head in DE? Can you locate your head in direct experience?

No - cannot find ears in DE. Only sounds. The sounds seem as though they are outside of my head. Cannot find my head in DE.

Thank you,
Nic xxxxx