The Gate

- I don't bring thoughts. In my experience thoughts just come
- I've tried to stop the negative thoughts but all I can do is not give them space by not laying in bed evening or morning
- Sometimes after a thought or a train of them I think 'where did that come from!' as if it just attacked
- Other times they pop up like bubbles
- Trying to predict a thought doesn't work
- I have tried to plan to think about something, to figure it out, but I don't feel there's any control
- No I haven't been able to control thoughts
- A thought has no power unless you focus on it, & even then I'm not in control really
- Do I experience the content..... no it's just a thought

Hey Lynda
Excellent noticing!

but all I can do is not give them space

How do you do that. Don't tell me what happens - but how you do it if you see what I mean.

A thought has no power unless you focus on it,

How does it have power? What can it do?
Hugs Sarah xxx

How do I not give the negative or unwanted thoughts space -- I don't go to bed unless I'm ready for sleep so there's no time for 'wandering thoughts'.. & same in the morning... to not stay there open to whatever thoughts might invite themselves in... while knowing I'm not a 'victim'. I also tried what they call 'thought-stopping' if I can be aware enough & don't like what thoughts are there I seem to be able to change to something else. This is effort though so it doesn't feel natural... it feels like resistance.

When I think about whether a thought has power... if I focus on it I'm giving it any power I might think it has. I guess in 'manifesting' repetition appears to create & I'd say I've experienced this.. example.. the house we're living in. But.... I know that this is all the illusion. So I'd say thought affects the illusion which is not reality so how powerful
can thought be. So thought doesn't have power & it can't really do anything.

Hi Lynda

I don't go to bed unless I'm ready for sleep so there's no time for 'wandering thoughts'.. & same in the morning... to not stay there open to whatever thoughts might invite themselves in...

So you distract? How do you ‘not stay open’?

I also tried what they call 'thought-stopping' if I can be aware enough & don't like what thoughts are there I seem to be able to change to something else.

How did you change them? What would not like certain thoughts being there? Anything other than another thought?

When I think about whether a thought has power... if I focus on it I'm giving it any power I might think it has.

How do you focus?
Hugs Sarah xxx

How do I not stay open? If I'm sleeping my (this) mind is not aware of thoughts as it is when it's conscious.

What would not like certain thoughts being there. Yes it would be another thought.. right.. just another thought from the 'me'. I got a little ping here (realization).

How do I focus? It feels like 'I' keep it in mind but I know (in my head) there is no I, me, my.... so... that's part of the thoughts that come & go like wind blowing past.. & just disappear. So they're not 'my' thoughts, any of them!

So how do I focus? Well I don't exist so I can't focus.... focusing is happening. I think I'm pinging here....... no pinging is happening too!!!

Wow Lynda!
OK then lets have a little look at separation and sensory experience. We are going to start with seeing.

Gaze at an object. Turn up that inner magnifying glass to observe what's happening in direct experience. In seeing, what is being experienced? What is happening when "seeing" is happening? What is doing the seeing? What is being seen? What does "seeing" consists of? Describe the actual, direct experience of seeing. Do you first perceive the object using some other sense, and then see it later? Can you find a dividing line between the object and the seeing of it? Or are the object and the seeing of it inseparable? Is there an entity called "you" experiencing the seeing? Can you find a dividing line between "you" and seeing? Is it an accurate description of direct experience? Are there really three entities there in direct experience, an "I" and seer and an object? Or is there only seeing? What do you see about the thought, "I'm seeing that object"?

Try it with various sights e.g. out of the window at a distant view. See if you can find a way to separate the object from the seeing and the seeing from the seer. Where does one start and the other end? How many senses are there here - 1 or more?
Hugs Sarah xxx

What is doing the seeing? I'ts just happening

What is being seen? An object on a table

What does seeing consist of? a focus on one object closer than the ones around it.. though they are seen too

Describe the actual direct experience of seeing - Both ways seem to be there... there's the seeing happening,, seer seeing & seen all in one.. but at the same time there's still some separation that is so habit

Do you first perceive the object using some other sense & then see it later? I don't think so.. it's just there

Can you find a dividing line between the object & the seeing of it? No

Or are the object & the seeing of it inseparable? Yes

Is there an entity called 'you' experiencing the seeing? I'd say no.. but I think there used to be

Can you find a dividing line between 'you' & seeing? Same as last answer.

Is it an accurate description of direct experience? I think so

Are there really 3 entities there in direct experience? I seer & object? No

Or is there only seeing? Yes

What do you see about the thought 'I'm seeing that object'? I'd say I'm not totally there but I feel like I'm seeing through that separation more smoothly now

In trying to separate the 3, how many senses are there, 1 or more? Just seeing

Hey Lynda
Lovely noticing!
Does seeing happen even when attention is one something else?

So onto hearing:
Notice the sounds you’re hearing, like the chirping of the birds. Notice the habitual thought, "Those are birds." Notice the habitual thought, "I hear that." Now just pay attention to how hearing happens. Take your time with it. Can you find a dividing line between the sound and the hearing of the sound? Are you doing the hearing? Or is it truer to say that hearing is just happening? Then look to see whether there's a dividing line between the hearing of it and a separate entity, a "you," doing the hearing. In other words, what does it mean when you say, "I'm hearing that sound"? Are there really three entities there in direct experience, an "I" and hearing and a sound? Or is there just one experience of hearing, with no one as a hearer. Look closely. Try it with various sounds. See if you can find a way to separate the sound from the hearing and the hearing from the hearer. Where does one start and the other end? So what do you see about the thought, "I'm hearing that sound"? Is it an accurate description of direct experience?
What is a noise? Is that a label also? Is the sound there? Can you really know?
Hugs Sarah xxx

Does seeing happen even when attention is on something else? Yes

Paying attention to how hearing happens - There can't be a line between the sound & the hearing of it. It happens at the same time. It's truer to say that hearing is just happening. To be 3 parts to hearing would take a conscious division into 3.. & there's not. In direct experience if I say 'I'm hearing that sound'... it's actually just happening all at once.. so where is there an 'I'? It would be very cumbersome to separate the hearing into 3 parts. So no.. 'I'm hearing that sound' is not an accurate description of direct experience. Hearing is happening & as I see it we add.. because we believe it.. the hearing & especially the I so we confirm ourselves as somebody.. an ego.

A noise does not have any sound. Can I really know? Yes.. because I can say it as long as I want & it won't produce sound so it must be just just a word.. a pointer.. a label.

Hey Lynda
So again as with seeing, does hearing happen even when attention is elsewhere?

Quite a bit for touch so feel free to take a couple of days if you need.

Touch the table (or any object) with your eyes shut (or open). Pretend like it’s the first time you have ever touched a table. Go straight to the raw sensation/perception. What is your direct experience of this ‘table’? List your direct experience. Is it senses again? Is it thoughts again? Look very closely. Which comes first the senses or the thoughts?
Does the sensation of touching come with a shape, density, weight, size, colour, age or function? Does this sensation come with a ‘not me’ label or ‘other’ label? Is it one sensation/perception or two?
Look at how thoughts try and take over, try and explain, try and prove. Notice your memories or references with which you compare the experience.
Sit with these sensations. Look at them. Look at the labelling e.g. table, hand. Look at the thoughts or story that attach at the end of this list if any. What is your direct experience of these words? Do they exist outside of thought? Are they sensations again? Are they just thoughts again? Look very closely. Which comes first the sensation or the thoughts? Don’t pay attention to the thoughts just look at what they do, when they come in.

Sit on a chair with your eyes closed. Feel the Direct Experience of sitting there. Notice thoughts thinking, labelling and explaining. Notice memory too. Notice sensations experiencing. Notice the sensation of bottom on chair – what is that – a thought? Notice the ‘me’ ‘mine labels e.g. this is my bottom – but look closely at that sensation labelling – is it yours, or just coming and going along with thoughts, ever changing. Is it the thought that wants to own? How many sensations do you notice? 2? One bottom sensation, and one chair sensation? How is that possible? Where does one sensation end and another begin? Locate that line. Can you feel that line? Or is that thought? Can you sense that line – or is that thought explaining the sensation?

Do we experience sensations or do we experience sensing? For us to experience a sensation it would have to be independently walking around?

Eyes closed. Turn your attention to your skin. Do you have Direct Experience of it being outside?
Hugs Sarah xxx

Yes, hearing happens even when attention is on something else.

Which comes first - senses but thoughts are very close.
Does touching come with 'descriptions' - not with eyes closed too much.. but more with eyes open.
Not me or other label? - not me... no. But other.. maybe a little
One perception or 2? - one... there's a bit of distance between me & other
Thoughts try to take over & explain - yes & they get in there & ramble on as fast as possible before you can even hardly notice... as if they belong.
What is my direct experience of these words? - well.. they don't really exist.. they don't do anything & how do I know if they're true... they just sort of feel in the way.
Do they exist outside of thought? - no
Are they sensations or thoughts? - 'just' thoughts
Which comes first? - thoughts
What do the thoughts do when they come in? - they barge right in & rudely take over like bullies as though they have to fill any space that's there.

The direct experience of sitting in the chair - yes there's thoughts about how it feels & the memory of how a more comfortable one feels. The sensation of the bottom on the chair is a thought.

The line would be 'my' bottom feeling the discomfort, separate from the chair but yes that's a thought that's trying to explain the sensation & I'd say it's a thought that wants to own. It is coming & going along with other thoughts.. ever changing. Otherwise it's just one thing happening.

A sensation would have to be walking around because there would be a sensation separate from a me.. whereas sensing is just happening.

Skin would be outside 'what'... i'm not sure there's anything in there.. wow.. it's a sensation where this me comes & goes. It's not permanently stifled or trapped because it's not permanent but there's an awareness that it's so possible & I've been waiting so long to experience it..........................................................



I felt tears coming here & they came & I laugh/cried & they kept coming & I went on like this for some time. I actually saw this me 'idea' coming out of a body into the bright fresh open air & there was no skin, no casing holding me in. There's no words for the crying/laughing... it has to be experienced... but now there's a 'knowing' without words & I wanted it to go on & not lose it. At the same time I kept saying 'there's no me' & even looked in the mirror. I felt I'd been pushing on the door from inside & then it was just gone. Yes just saying this I can bring it back up again. When I stopped the cry/laughing the thought came again... I don't want this to go away, then more thoughts of others like Lisa Kahale & others on the screen. Also the thought of reading or watching things that held much meaning & importance to see if they seem any different. Anyway I can't wait for some feedback from you Smile

Hey Lynda
Lovely post. Have some fun with taste and smell - good excuse for coffee and chocolate! Or whatever! Let me know what you notice!

but now there's a 'knowing' without words & I wanted it to go on & not lose it.

What state is permanent? Is anything experienced permanent?
Does that which notices have a preference? Does a mirror prefer one reflection to another? Have a look.
Hugs Sarah xxx

Does taste happen even when attention is on something else? - Yes. If tasting something & being talked to at the same time.. the tasting is still happening.

Does smell happen even when attention is on something else? - yes... smells tend to take over... from faint to strong. Therefore a smell is just there... whatever else is going on.

No, no state is permanent. Nothing is experienced permanently. Everything is always changing.

Does that which notices have a preference? That which notices is an awareness but there's no feeling of choice or control ... either before or during the noticing.

Does a mirror prefer one reflection to another? No there's nothing there to prefer & it's all just there.. happening. So I'm getting that 'that which notices' is the same as the mirror! It's just reflecting what's going on at the time.

Hey Lynda
Stand in front of a bigger mirror.
First, close the eyes and feel the sensations in the body.
Then open the eyes and look into the mirror, while still pay attention to the bodily sensations.
Is there any connection between the felt sensations in the body and the sight in the mirror?
Or just thoughts (and/or mental images) suggest that there is any?
While still paying attention to the bodily sensations move one of the hands and observe the movement from the mirror.
Is there any connection between the felt sensations (in the hand) and sight of movement in the mirror?
Now do the same movement with the hand, but this time look at the hand directly, not from the mirror.
Is there any connection between the felt sensations (in the hand) and sight of movement?
Or only thoughts suggest it?
Now, pay attention only to the sight in the mirror.
Does the sight by itself suggest in any way that what is seen is ‘you’ or ‘your body’?
Does the sight itself suggest in any way that what is seen is a body at all?
Or there are only colours and shapes?
Where the mirror ends, some parts of the body (probably legs) cannot be seen.
Just by the sight, is there any ‘knowledge’ that there must be legs, or only thoughts and mental images suggest it?
Now turn away from the mirror and look forward (don’t look directly to any body parts).
Is there a body anywhere when all mental concepts and images are ignored, or there are only sensations?
Start to walk slowly.
Is there a body walking anywhere, or there are only sensations?
Have fun! Hugs Sarah xxx

Sensations - feet touching floor, stomach making noises, eyes wanting to open, aware of breathing, hands hanging on arms. No, it doesn't feel like any connection between the sensations & the seeing.
Yes, when there's thoughts then they 'suggest' there's a connection.
Is there connection between felt sensation in the hand & the sight of movement in the mirror? - not really.. it's subtle because it's fast.. but there still seems to be a bit of connection. I would say it's the thoughts that make a connection. Without thought... no connection? This one was a bit harder for me.
Then looking at he hand directly - About the same as with the mirror. These two were not clearly seen.. or maybe I'm over analyzing.

Does the sight itself suggest a 'you' or 'your body'? - This is easier... no without thought... who is that?
Does sight suggest a body at all? No thought has given it all the meaning it has.
Yes there are only colors & shapes.
Where mirror ends there are only thoughts & mental images suggesting there must be legs.
When all mental concepts & images are ignored, is there a body.. or only sensations? - no body, only sensations.
There's no body walking anywhere... only sensations.