Hello MN,
A label is just a thought. A label is a word/name used to identify and describe something ie objects. For example ‘apple’ is a label which points to an object that is described as a round sweet edible fruit of a tree, which has thin green or reddish skin and crisp flesh. When someone says they are going to eat an ‘apple’, you know what they are talking about don’t you? You don’t need them to tell you what it is, because the label ‘apple’ tells you exactly what it is. Just like when someone says they are going to walk their dog, you don’t need them to explain to you that a dog is classified as an animate object under the genus ‘animal’ and that it has 4 legs, fur, a tail and barks.
Tell me ONE noise that you heard when doing this?
The sound of a seagull crying.
- How is it known there is a seagull crying ?
The sound of the seagull crying
This question is asking you what is it that is saying it is a “seagull crying”? It is a thought that says the sound is that of a “seagull”. Without thought, how would that be known?
- What is it that says there is seagull crying?
A thought says there is a “seagull crying”
Yes, exactly. So thought is labelling the sound as a “seagull”.
- What is the actual experience of ‘seagull crying”?
Listening to the sound
It is simply the AE of sound. Thought then labels the sound as a "seagull" .
So you are clear about AE, let’s have a look at the apple again. If you have an ‘apple’ or any other piece of fruit or even a piece of cheese or chocolate will do….go get it and then place it in front of you on the table.
Now LOOK carefully.
1. The image of the ‘apple’ is the actual experience of colour and NOT the AE of an apple. The shape/form referred to as ‘apple’ is just different shades and patterns of colour. Ignore ALL thoughts and ‘mental’ images that appear of and about the ‘apple’ and just focus on the colour.
Does the colour itself suggest in any way that it knows anything about an ‘apple’? Or is it just simply AE of colour?
Without thought, without any preconceived ideas, how is it known that the colour appearing is that of an ‘apple’?
2. Now, pick up the ‘apple’ and close the eyes. Ignore ALL thoughts and ‘mental’ images that appear of and about the ‘apple’ and of ‘hands’ and just focus on the sensation.
Does the sensation itself suggest in any way that it is an apple, and that it knows anything about an ‘apple’? Or is it just simply AE of sensation?
Without thought, without any preconceived ideas, how is it known that it is the sensation has anything to do with an ‘apple’?
3. Now, take a bite of the ‘apple’. Ignore ALL thoughts and ‘mental’ images that appear of and about the ‘apple’ and just focus on the taste.
Does taste itself suggest in any way that it knows anything about an apple? Or is there just simply AE of taste?
Without thought, without any preconceived ideas, how is it known that it is the taste of an ‘apple’?
4. Now, have a smell of the ‘apple’. Ignore ALL thoughts and ‘mental’ images that appear of and about the ‘apple’ and just focus on the smell.
Does smell itself suggest in any way that it knows anything about an apple? Or is there just simple AE of smell?
Without thought, without any preconceived ideas, how is it known that it is the smell of an ‘apple’?
5. Now, listen to the sound of the ‘crunch of an apple’. Ignore ALL thoughts and ‘mental’ images that appear of and about the ‘apple’ and just focus on the sound.
Does the sound itself suggest in any way that it knows anything about an apple? Or is there just simple AE of sound?
Without thought, without any preconceived ideas, how is it known that it is the sound is that of an ‘apple’?
6. So now look at the label ‘apple and the thought “I am looking at, and eating an apple”.
Does the label itself or the thought itself know anything about an ‘apple’? Or are they just simply AE of label/thought?
The label ‘apple’ is the AE of thought and not the AE of an apple
The image labelled ‘apple’ is AE of colour and not the AE of an apple
The smell labelled ‘apple’ is AE of smell and not the AE of an apple
The taste labelled ‘apple’ is AE of taste and not the AE of an apple
The sound labelled ‘crunchy apple’ is AE of sound and not the AE of an apple
The sensation labelled as ‘hard, round apple’ is the AE of sensation and not the AE of an apple
Thought overlays actual experience with concepts. An example being the AE of colour is being labelled as an 'apple'.
So is there really actual experience of an ‘apple’, or what is actually appearing, what the actual experience is, is colour, sensation, taste, smell, sound, which thought then labels and describes as an 'apple'?
In other words, is an apple actually known or only thoughts about an apple are known?
Love, Kay
Nothing real can be threatened. Nothing unreal exists.
