Thread for vierowb

[EmptySet00]

Is there an "I" that makes decisions?

Put two objects in front of you, say a pen and a pencil. Pick up one or the other.

How did the decision happen? Can you find a "you" making the decision?

[vierowb]

The thought to pick up one object occurred, mind sent the signals (behind the scenes) and picked up an object - sunglasses in this case, over the pen. There was no "Me" making the decision. Just as when I raised my hand there was no "me" that raised my hand. Just the thought of raising the hand and the hand raising. Just the thought of lifting the object and the picking up of the object. No "me" making the decision of which object to pick up, just the thought to pick an object, which the mind did on its own (chose one randomly in this case - which happened to be the sunglasses, probably because they were on the right side and I am right handed).

[EmptySet00]

Do you experience a mind sending signals?

Does the thought come before or after you start to pick up the object, or at the same time? Is the order always the same?

Does the thought cause the object to be picked up?

[vierowb]

The only experience of the mind sending signals is thought.

The thought often seems to come after the object is picked up. However, the order seems like it can be different because there are time when the thought comes before the object is picked up.

Hmmm. No the thought does not seem to cause the object to be picked up because the thought often comes after the object is picked up. ...Very strange. I am guessing this is like the article on the site, about how the mind solves a problem before the 'I' or 'me' claims to have solved it. Picking up the object seems to happen, then the thought of it appears.

[vierowb]

Still kind of tripin' on the fact, that there is no thought before picking up the object. :-)

[EmptySet00]

Close your eyes and listen to whatever sounds are going on.

Is there sound and a hearer of the sound, or just sound?

[vierowb]

Just sound. No hearer.

[EmptySet00]

What about seeing? Is there a seer?

What about the other senses?

[vierowb]

Funny, you would say that. After the hearing exercise, I thought... hmmm. I wonder if seeing is the same way. Then I looked and there was no seer, only seeing. And as I type this, there is typing and seeing but no typist and no seer. Still checking some other senses. Tasting, feeling, etc. and exploring this.

[EmptySet00]

Yes, I was going to ask about the other senses next. :)

Keep checking it out and let me know what you find.

[vierowb]

Most take place without thought, or without 'me' doing anything. Smelling is just always happening, tasting, walking, feeling, etc. There are time I can invoke them with thought, but they are really just happening all the time without any thought taking place or controlling them.

[EmptySet00]

How do you invoke the senses with thought?

[vierowb]

The thought arises... "would like to go over and smell that rose". Then, I go over, and take a deep breath in through the nose to smell the rose. Or open cupboard and see cookie, mmmm, would like to taste/eat cookie (then tasting and eating happen).

[EmptySet00]

So, there are thoughts about actions that lead to the sensations.

Is there a "you" anywhere in this process?

[vierowb]

There is the thought of breathing in. But no control over the sensation of smelling, or of feeling, or seeing. There is no 'me' in any of it.
Reach over pickup pen. Can feel texture of pen, but no 'me' picking up the pen or feeling the smoothness of the pen. The intent is there (through a thought) to pickup the pen a second time, Pick up the pen, feel the smoothness. But no trace of a 'me' or 'I'.