The Gate

I'm sorry. That may have been stuck on my clipboard. o, move on to this one. Have you see this?

Label-Reality Correlation

There is a belief that labels have a one-to-one correspondence with ‘reality’. But there isn’t. Just like it is a generally accepted belief that labels like ‘good’ and ‘bad’ are inherent characteristics of ‘things’. But actually, they are not.

When you look at the word label ‘GREEN' , what is the actual experience?

Is the color red ‘experienced’, or is the color green ‘experienced’ as the label suggests?

Does the label ‘GREEN’ have a one-to-one correspondence with ‘reality’? Or does the label suggest something else other than what is here now (red colour)?

Is 'green' associated in any way with the experience of the colour red; or is green just a label that overlays the actual experience of red?

If the label ‘GREEN’ is replaced with the label ‘GOOD’ or ‘BAD’ , is the redness affected in any way as the labels suggests?

Does redness become ‘good’ or ‘bad’, or do the labels have no affect whatsoever on ‘reality’?

Let me know what is SEEN.

Loving

Apologies for the delayed response! I’ve been in the middle of a move and haven’t had so much time for myself. Below are my reflections from your last post:

When you look at the word label ‘GREEN' , what is the actual experience?

My experience with the word green is seeing the word itself which is a pattern of light and color along with the thought of the color green which is seeing the color in my mind’s eye and hearing the word in my mind.

Is the color red ‘experienced’, or is the color green ‘experienced’ as the label suggests?

The color red is experienced but the color green is not. At least not in the reality of seeing.

Does the label ‘GREEN’ have a one-to-one correspondence with ‘reality’? Or does the label suggest something else other than what is here now (red colour)?

The label suggests something different than what is here now. What is here now has no label. It just is here and therefore needs no other reference.

Is 'green' associated in any way with the experience of the colour red; or is green just a label that overlays the actual experience of red?

No there is no association between the label green and the actual experience of red. It is an overlay.

If the label ‘GREEN’ is replaced with the label ‘GOOD’ or ‘BAD’ , is the redness affected in any way as the labels suggests?

No, the experience of red is completely agnostic to the label on which it rests. The experience itself does not depend on labels. It’s clear to me that this applies to all experience. There is no label needed for any experience. The experience does not depend on labels nor is it affected by it.

Does redness become ‘good’ or ‘bad’, or do the labels have no affect whatsoever on ‘reality’?

Reality just is. It cannot be changed in any way. We might just perceive reality differently because we apply a label to it with our thoughts. However, thoughts don’t fundamentally change our reality.

Excellent. Now let's put it together a bit.

Actual/Direct Experience - Apple

Have a look at an apple (or any fruit you like.) If you have a ‘real’ apple, you can use it for this exercise. Google for a picture of an apple.



When looking at an apple, there's color; a thought saying ‘apple’; and maybe a thought saying, "I'm looking at an apple."

What is known for sure? Color 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, color, smell, taste, sensation and the fact of thought arising, but not its content.

Is there really an ‘apple’ here, or only color 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 labeled ‘apple’ is known
Color labeled ‘apple’ is known
Sensation labeled ‘apple’ is known (when apple is touched)
Smell labeled ‘apple’ is known
Thought about/of an ‘apple’ is known

However, is an apple actually known?

Have fun and let me know what you find out.

Loving