Seeking a Guide

[Myrmidonktm]

Thanks Vivian,

Can a thought decide?

No, a thought is not sentient.

Can a thought do anything?

No, a thought cannot "Do" anything at all.

Or are there only thoughts appearing ABOUT decision?

Thoughts appear ABOUT decisions but themselves "DO" nothing but fall away.

Can you see the difference?

Yes, thoughts arise and fade but themselves have no power to DO anything.

Can it be known how tall the body is?

Absolutely not.

Does it have a weight or a volume of the body?

No

In the actual experience does the body have a shape or a form?

No shape, no form

Is there a boundary between the body and the clothing?

No

Is there a boundary between the body and the chair?

No

Is there an inside or outside?

No inside. Not sure what is meant by "outside". The outside surface of the body itself cannot be experienced, only what is touching it can be perceived.

What is the body in the actual experience?

A receiver of outside stimuli.

[Vivien]

Dear Kevin,

Vivien: Is there an inside or outside?

Kevin: No inside. Not sure what is meant by "outside". The outside surface of the body itself cannot be experienced, only what is touching it can be perceived.

The inside or outside falls away when it’s seen that what the body REALLY IS.

Generally there is a belief that there is a ‘me’ inside the body, or I’m the body, and everything else that is outside of this body is not ‘me’. But this is just another unexamined assumption (belief).

We will come back to this later, but first let’s have a look on the ACTUAL experience of the body.

Vivien: What is the body in the actual experience?

Kevin: A receiver of outside stimuli.

And how is this known? Just because a thought say so?

This is not the ACTUAL experience of the body. This is just a THOUGHT interpretation.

In the actual experience there is seeing, hearing, toughing/feeling/sensing, smelling, tasting and noticing the arising thoughts. We are interested only in the ACTUAL EXPERIENTIAL evidence and what thoughts say.

So, what is the ACTUAL experience of the body?

But before we go deeper into the body, let’s have a deeper look on the content of thoughts.

An arising thought is ‘real’ only as an arising thought, but NEVER its content (what it’s about).

When there is a thought, it is obvious that it is there. (So the arising thought is ‘real’), but what it is ABOUT (its contents) are not. The content of thoughts is always imaginary. That there is a thought is clearly true; but their content is pure imagination.

There are two types of thoughts:

• (1) Thoughts with words “Here is cup”
  (2) Visual mental images of a ‘cup’

I invite you to do this exercise:
Think of a cup. Get a very clear picture in your mind. See clearly the size, shape, colour and volume of the cup. Notice whether it is decorated or plain. Notice whether it has a handle. Notice whether it is heavy or fragile. Do you have a clear picture in mind?

Now, can you physically grasp that image of a cup?
Can you pour tea into it?
Can you drink from it? In Reality?

Is there a ‘real’ cup or just an image of a cup?
Is there an appearing mental image?
Is the content of the mental image (the cup) ‘real’?

The thoughts and mental images are real only as arising thoughts and mental images, their ‘presence’ cannot be denied. However their contents, what are they about (like the cup) are not ‘real’, they are just fantasies. Can you see this?

Over the course of the next few days, I'd like you to notice the content of thoughts. Whenever there is an arising thought or mental image, check whether its content (what it’s about) it is REALLY happening or the content it’s just pure imagination.

Love, Vivien

[Myrmidonktm]

Thanks Vivian,

And how is this known? Just because a thought say so?

and

So, what is the ACTUAL experience of the body?

I shortened my answer...sorry. My legs feel their weight on the leg rest of the chair, as does my rear-end. my back feels the back of the chair. My hands and forearms feel the arm-rests. I can't smell or taste (head cold, stuffy). My ears hear the refrigerator running.

Now, can you physically grasp that image of a cup?

No

Is there an appearing mental image?

Yes, a red solo cup.

Is the content of the mental image (the cup) ‘real’?

No

The thoughts and mental images are real only as arising thoughts and mental images, their ‘presence’ cannot be denied. However their contents, what are they about (like the cup) are not ‘real’, they are just fantasies. Can you see this?

Without a doubt.

[Vivien]

Dear Kevin,

Vivien: So, what is the ACTUAL experience of the body?

Kevin: My legs feel their weight on the leg rest of the chair, as does my rear-end. my back feels the back of the chair. My hands and forearms feel the arm-rests. I can't smell or taste (head cold, stuffy). My ears hear the refrigerator running.

OK, let’s investigate this a bit more deeply. Please go to the ACTUAL experience, and ignore what thoughts and images suggest.
Do the exercises one-by-one, and answer ALL the questions one-by-one, don’t miss any.

“My leg feel their weight on the leg rest of the chair”
(hint: as soon as the attention goes to a sensation a mental image appear with it… so all ‘so called information’ is derived from that image and not from the actual sensation)
Does the ACTUAL sensation suggest in any way that a leg (subject) is touching a chair (on object), or only thoughts and mental images suggest this?
Does the ACTUAL sensation suggest in any way that there is a leg and a chair, or is there only a SINGLE sensation?
Does the sensation suggest in any why that that sensation has a weight, or only thoughts suggest this?
Does a sensation has ANY attributes or characteristics (like weight) at all, or is it totally neutral and only mental labels suggest otherwise?

“My back feels the back of the chair”
Does the ACTUAL sensation suggest in any way that the back (subject) is touching the chair (on object), or only thoughts and mental images suggest this?
Does the ACTUAL sensation suggest in any way that there is a back or a chair, or is there only a SINGLE sensation, only touching?

“My hands and forearms feel the arm-rest”
Does the ACTUAL sensation suggest in any way that the hands and forearms (subject) is feeling the arm-rest (on object), or only thoughts and mental images suggest this?
Does the ACTUAL sensation suggest in any way that there are hands, forearms and arm-rests, or is there only a SINGLE sensation or touching?

“My ears hear the refrigerator running”
Does the ACTUAL sound suggest in any way that the ears are doing the hearing and of the sound of a refrigerator or only thoughts and mental images suggest this?
Does the sound itself suggest in any way that the sound is coming from a refrigerator, or only thoughts and mental images suggest this?
Does the ACTUAL sensation suggest in any way that there are ears or refrigerator, or is there only a SINGLE sound or hearing?

Love, Vivien

[Myrmidonktm]

Thanks Vivian

Does the actual experience suggest a leg is touching the chair or is this oh a though?

It is only thought

Does the actual sensation suggest there is a leg and a chair

No it is a single sensation "feeling"

Does the suggestion say why the feeling had weight

No this is only thought

Does sensation have any attributes of its own

No. There is only "feeling"

Does the sensation suggest a back is touching a chair

No. Thought does.

Is there only a single sensation

There is only the sensation of "Feeling".

Does the sensation suggest that there hands and arms and an armrest

No

Does the sensation suggest arms/hands are feeling the armrest

No. There is only a single sensation.

Does the sound suggest ears are doing the hearing and there is a refrigerator heard

No. There is only sound heard.

Does the sound suggest the sound is coming from a refrigerator

No there is only "hearing".

Does the experience suggest there are ears hearing a refrigerator

No. There is a single sensation "Hearing"

Thanks Vivian. Great Great Great !!!
Let's keep going :)

[Vivien]

Dear Kevin,

Very nice looking :)

Thanks Vivian. Great Great Great !!!
Let's keep going :)

You’re more than welcome :)

OK, let’s have a look on time now.

There is a general assumption that there is a linear time that started (if started at all) somewhere very far in the past and advances to the distant future. The present moment (now) is considered to be a very small fragment of time or an event that is moving forward on this linear time, coming from the past and advancing to the future.

But do you have an experience that the now is moving along the line of time?
How fast the present moment is actually moving?
How long does the now last?
Where does it start and where does it end?
When does the now exactly become the 'past'?
What is the past in the ACTUAL experience?

Love, Vivien

[Myrmidonktm]

Thanks Vivian :)

But do you have an experience that the now is moving along the line of time?

There is no experience of the Now moving.

How fast the present moment is actually moving?

The present moment is not moving.

How long does the now last?

The Now is not passing. It is eternal.

Where does it start and where does it end?

The Now does not begin or end. It is perpetual.

When does the now exactly become the 'past'?

The Now does not pass.

What is the past in the ACTUAL experience?

The past is only experienced in thought.

Thanks !!
Kevin

[Vivien]

Dear Kevin,

The past is only experienced in thought.

Is the ‘past’ REALLY experienced in thought?
Can anything be experienced in thought?

Does past or future ‘exists’ other than content of thoughts?

Is the ‘content’ of a thought (what the thought is about) ever ‘real’ or ever happening?

Can the ‘past’ be experienced in a thought or are there only THOUGHTS ABOUT ‘past’?

Is there a proof that you had dinner last night?

Can an ACTUAL ‘past’ be found?

Is there any proof whatsoever that the past has ever happened?

Love, Vivien

[Myrmidonktm]

Thanks Vivian,

Is the ‘past’ REALLY experienced in thought?

No, not "experienced". Only "remembered"-thought

Can anything be experienced in thought?

No

Does past or future ‘exists’ other than content of thoughts?

No, it is only Now.

Is the ‘content’ of a thought (what the thought is about) ever ‘real’ or ever happening?

No, it is only thought.

Can the ‘past’ be experienced in a thought or are there only THOUGHTS ABOUT ‘past’?

There are only thoughts about past, only thoughts about future.

Is there a proof that you had dinner last night?

There is only thought about me having dinner last night.

Can an ACTUAL ‘past’ be found?

No, there is only Now.

Is there any proof whatsoever that the past has ever happened?

My body bears scars from minor incidents.

Thanks Vivian,
Kevin

[Vivien]

Dear Kevin,

Vivien: Is the ‘past’ REALLY experienced in thought?

Kevin: No, not "experienced". Only "remembered"-thought

This statement implies that the past has happened. It also implies that there is a linear time. But is there really?
The belief in a linear time is a very deeply ingrained belief. So look very carefully.

Is there any resistance to investigate the belief of time? (for most people there is :)

Where is that ‘past’ exactly that could be remembered?

And what is it that could remember of it (past)?

What is the ACTUAL experience of remembering of the past?

Vivien: Is there any proof whatsoever that the past has ever happened?

Kevin: My body bears scars from minor incidents.

OK, let’s look at this thought step-by-step.

“My body bears scars…” – What is it exactly that has a body?

What is the body in the actual experience?

What is the link between a scar and appearing thought ABOUT a so called past?
Is there any at all? Or only thoughts suggest this? – look very carefully.

When does the image of a scar appear? Doesn’t it appear here and now?
When do thoughts ABOUT past appear, don’t they appear now?

Where is that incident exactly (where is the past exactly) that could be the supposed caused of the scar?


We are looking for a REAL past, not just THOUGHTS ABOUT past.

So find THE incident that is the supposed cause of the scar. The scar is here NOW, in this moment. But where is the cause of the scare?

The THOUGHTS ABOUT past DON’T prove the past. The thoughts about past prove the NOW.
They appear now, don’t they?

Love, Vivien

[Myrmidonktm]

Thanks Vivien :)

Is there any resistance to investigate the belief of time?

Yes, the mind stores memories. These memories are of "past" events, even though they are always accessed Now, they are still there.

Where is that ‘past’ exactly that could be remembered?

In thought only, thinking Now.

And what is it that could remember of it (past)?

The mind.

What is the ACTUAL experience of remembering of the past?

Thought and mental images recalled in the Now.

“My body bears scars…” – What is it exactly that has a body?

Nothing "has" this body, "This" body has scars.

What is the body in the actual experience?

The body moves through space, manipulates and feels the environment, eats, drinks, breathes, expels waste.

What is the link between a scar and appearing thought ABOUT a so called past?

Thought recalls the memory concerning what caused the scar and when and where it happened.

Is there any at all? Or only thoughts suggest this?

Thought, occurring in the Now, suggest a link between the scar and a past event causing the scar.

When does the image of a scar appear? Doesn’t it appear here and now?

The scar can only ever be seen in the Now.

When do thoughts ABOUT past appear, don’t they appear now?

All thoughts only occur in the Now.

Where is that incident exactly (where is the past exactly) that could be the supposed caused of the scar?

In thought, when thought of it arises, in the Now.

They appear now, don’t they?

They could not appear at any other "time" then Now. Now is All There Is :)

Thanks Vivien !!!!!
Kevin

[Vivien]

Dear Kevin,

Vivien: Is there any resistance to investigate the belief of time?

Kevin: Yes

Resistance is just a protective mechanism, and it does its job well. It highlights that there is a story there about pain or negative consequences to this investigation.

What I’d like you to do is to investigate this resistance. Examine it closely. Feel it. Don’t try to fix it or solve it, just sit with it.

Ask the resistance as it were a some kind of entity:
What do you want to protect me from?
What is the ‘negative’ story, what could happen?

Observe what images and stories come up ‘justifying’ its right to resist.

If you ignore the stories (thoughts) and mental images what is BEHIND the resistance?

the mind stores memories. These memories are of "past" events, even though they are always accessed Now, they are still there.

“The mind stores memories” – how is this known exactly?

What is the ACTUAL experience of ‘the mind storing memories’?

What is the ACTUAL experience of ‘mind’?

Vivien: And what is it that could remember of it (past)?

Kevin: The mind.

What is the ACTUAL experience of ‘the remembering of the mind’?

What is the ACTUAL experience of ‘remembering’?

Vivien: What is the ACTUAL experience of remembering of the past?

Kevin: Thought and mental images recalled in the Now.

What is the ACTUAL experience of ‘recalling’?

Are the thoughts and mental images REALLY recalled, or are there just appearing thoughts and mental images?

Is there really such thing as recalling, or only thoughts about it?

Vivien: What is the body in the actual experience?

Kevin: The body moves through space, manipulates and feels the environment, eats, drinks, breathes, expels waste.

This answer is not the actual experience of the body. This answer didn’t come from looking, this is just the content of a thought.
Please go to the ACTUAL experience of the body, and ignore all thought explanations.

What is the body in the ACTUAL experience?

Vivien: What is the link between a scar and appearing thought ABOUT a so called past?

Kevin: Thought recalls the memory concerning what caused the scar and when and where it happened.

Look very closely.

What is ‘memory’ in the ACTUAL experience?

Is there any difference between a ‘general thought’ and a ‘memory’?
Or only another thought say that ‘the previous thought is from a memory that has happened’?

They could not appear at any other "time" then Now. Now is All There Is :)

Yes exactly! So what this seeing ‘tells’ the past?

Thanks Vivien !!!!!

You’re very welcome :)

Love, Vivien

[Myrmidonktm]

Thanks Vivien :)

If you ignore the stories (thoughts) and mental images what is BEHIND the resistance?

It was thought. Thought was the resistance. Thought of "Of course there is a past, it is remembered"

“The mind stores memories” – how is this known exactly?

Memories are stored. Science tells us they are stored in the mind.

What is the ACTUAL experience of ‘the mind storing memories’?

There is no experience of the mind storing memories. It cannot be experienced.

What is the ACTUAL experience of ‘mind’?

Mind cannot be experienced. Looked for it cannot be seen, felt, or experienced.

What is the ACTUAL experience of ‘the remembering of the mind’?

There is no experience of the mind remembering.

What is the ACTUAL experience of ‘remembering’?

Remembering appears as thought and mental images.

Are the thoughts and mental images REALLY recalled, or are there just appearing thoughts and mental images?

There are appearing thoughts and mental images about thoughts and mental images. More thoughts...about thoughts.

Is there really such thing as recalling, or only thoughts about it?

There is only thought about it. A thought arises and more thought arises about the thought arising.

What is the body in the ACTUAL experience?

I feel my heart beating. I feel my lungs expanding. I hear my breathing.

What is ‘memory’ in the ACTUAL experience?

Thought

Is there any difference between a ‘general thought’ and a ‘memory’?

A thought is a thought. No difference.

Or only another thought say that ‘the previous thought is from a memory that has happened’?

Only thought says the previous thought is from memory.

Yes exactly! So what this seeing ‘tells’ the past?

The past doesn't exist. Linear time doesn't exist. There is no "time" other than Now.

Thanks Vivien :)
Kevin

[Vivien]

Dear Kevin,

It was thought. Thought was the resistance. Thought of "Of course there is a past, it is remembered"

Yes :) So is there an actual experience of resistance or only THOUGHTS ABOUT resistance?

Vivien: “The mind stores memories” – how is this known exactly?

Kevin: Memories are stored. Science tells us they are stored in the mind.

What is the actual experience of science?
What is the actual experience of ‘science tells us they are stored in the mind’?

This science story is based on the belief that the brain is doing things. As long as the science story is not seen through, there is an identification with the brain and of course with the body. So from now on, not ‘me’ (the separate individual) is the doer of actions, but the brain (which is in a body). So the belief in separation (separate entity) is now layered over or covered up with a new version of the original belief… thus the original belief (I’m a separate individual) is kept intact.

But what is the actual experience of the ‘brain’?
What is the actual experience of a brain doing things?

The past doesn't exist. Linear time doesn't exist. There is no "time" other than Now.

If there is only now, and there is no past… then what about the idea of ‘memories are stored in the brain’?

Storing anything requires linear time, but if there is no past and linear time then how storing anything would be possible?

Vivien: What is the ACTUAL experience of ‘the mind storing memories’?

Kevin: There is no experience of the mind storing memories. It cannot be experienced.

This answer is open to the possibility that although the mind cannot be directly experience, it might be there somewhere outside of the actual experience.

So is there anything outside of experience?
Is there anything outside of this moment?
If yes, how it is known?

Is there direct experience and non-direct experience?
If so, how non-direct experience is experienced?
Where is this non-direct experience exactly?

That which is not known (like non-direct experience) is not knowable. Such a ‘thing’ is just an idea. And what is an idea? The content of an appearing thought.
Can you see this?

And what is the ‘content’ of an appearing thought?

Vivien: What is the body in the ACTUAL experience?

Kevin: I feel my heart beating. I feel my lungs expanding. I hear my breathing.

What is it exactly that supposedly feels the heart beating?
What is it exactly that supposedly feels the lung expanding?
What is it exactly that supposedly hears breathing?

What is it exactly that could have a heart, lung or breathing?

What is the ACTUAL experience of a heart?
What is the ACTUAL experience of a lung?

What is the ACTUAL experience of breathing?
Look very closely… is there REALLY breathing happening, or are there only sensations that are labelled by thought as ‘breathing’?
Can such thing as breathing be found?

Love, Vivien

[Myrmidonktm]

Thanks Vivien :)

Yes :) So is there an actual experience of resistance or only THOUGHTS ABOUT resistance?

There is only thought about resistance

What is the actual experience of science?

and

What is the actual experience of ‘science tells us they are stored in the mind’?

Someone else's thoughts being believed as truth

But what is the actual experience of the ‘brain’?

The brain cannot be experienced

What is the actual experience of a brain doing things?

The brain doing things cannot be experienced

If there is only now, and there is no past… then what about the idea of ‘memories are stored in the brain’?

It is just an idea, an assumption that cannot be experienced directly.

Storing anything requires linear time, but if there is no past and linear time then how storing anything would be possible?

Again, "stored" memories is an idea and nothing more.

So is there anything outside of experience?

No

Is there anything outside of this moment?

No

Is there direct experience and non-direct experience?

No. Only direct experience can be had.

That which is not known (like non-direct experience) is not knowable. Such a ‘thing’ is just an idea. And what is an idea? The content of an appearing thought.
Can you see this?

Beyond question, Yes.

And what is the ‘content’ of an appearing thought?

mental images and more thought

What is it exactly that supposedly feels the heart beating?

There is feeling

What is it exactly that supposedly feels the lung expanding?

There is feeling

What is it exactly that supposedly hears breathing?

There is hearing

What is it exactly that could have a heart, lung or breathing?

The body

What is the ACTUAL experience of a heart?

and

What is the ACTUAL experience of a lung?

Sensations labeled by thought. "That is the heart beating", "That is the lungs expanding".

What is the ACTUAL experience of breathing?
Look very closely… is there REALLY breathing happening, or are there only sensations that are labelled by thought as ‘breathing’?

Labeled thoughts only

Can such thing as breathing be found?

"Breathing" is a label, an idea, a thought, and cannot be found.

Thanks Vivien :)