The Gate

However, is an apple actually known?

Have fun and let me know what you find out.

I see an object whose shape is round. simply= seeing
I hold the object and feel it's weight. simply= sensation
I see the colours red and yellow on the surface of the object, simply= sight
i touch the smooth surface of the object . simply= sensation
I bite into the object and feel its texture in my mouth. simply= sensation/ taste
I see the white colour inside. simply= seeing
I think this white substance is called the flesh of the object called apple. simply= thought

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?
No- an apple isn't known. The word apple is just a label and a label cannot be known.

Have fun and let me know what you find out.
I did this with a real apple and sensed it etc exactly as I've noted above. This exercise is not exactly new to me - I've always wondered at how things are labelled as they are labelled. However, each time I do such an exercise, it takes me into a sort of spaciousness and a simple knowing of the experience.

Thank you. Philomena

For the first ten minutes write down what you are experiencing right now using the word “I”.

Post this list here:

Then for the next ten minutes continue writing down what you are experiencing but this time without using the word “I”. Just describe the experience as it is happening using verbs.

Post this list, too

1. Is one truer than the other, and If so, which one?

2. What is here without labels?

3. Do labels affect the experience or just describe it?

4. Did you notice any differences in the body? Describe this.

Be relaxed, have fun and take your time. Looking forward to your replies.

For the first ten minutes write down what you are experiencing right now using the word “I”.

Get right to the point, no past or future fantasy, just a plain description of your experience right here and now.

Post this list here:

I am sitting on a small stool
I am holding a pen in my hand
I am feeling the temperature and texture of the pen
I am using the pen to write words into a booklet
I am writing on lines drawn on the pages of the booklet
I am aware that my face is hot
I am hearing a clock ticking
I am thinking about the zoom meeting later on
I am feeling sensations in my shoulders
I am looking at the words forming on the page
I am sensing a shift in the feelings in the back and head
I am hearing the dog licking his paws
I am looking at the dog in his bed beside me
I am smiling and feeling my facial muscles relax
I am sensing a lock of my hair touching my cheek
I am aware of the sensations of the skin on my cheek
I am looking at the cup of tea
I am thinking it might go cold
I am lifting the cup
I am opening my moth
I am feeling the warmth of the tea inside my mouth#I am tasting the tea
I am aware of sensations in the body as the tea is swallowed
I am looking at the clock
I am aware of the left hand holding the booklet
I am aware of the hand holding the pen
I am feeling subtle sensations in the hand
I am feeling subtle sensations in the body with each breath

Nice long list.

Then for the next ten minutes continue writing down what you are experiencing but this time without using the word “I”. Just describe the experience as it is happening using verbs.

Post this list, too

drinking the tea
hearing the dog snoring
hearing the clock
noticing sensations at the back of the skull
feeling the fingers on the keyboard
noticing sensations in the stomach
listening to the space between the clock ticks
hearing the wind outside
feeling sensations in the leg that is folded
feeling sensations of the side of the foot on the floor
hearing the gentle whirr of the computer
sensing the breath at the nostrils
sensing the tongue resting on the floor of the mouth
feeling the area around the eyes
seeing the colours in the mouse mat
seeing the shape of the mouse
feeling a sensation in the left temple- labelled itch
noticing the rush of blood around the body
hearing the inner sound of blood rushing by the ears
hearing the ping of the phone
feeling sensations at the back of the neck
noticing a smile appearing on the face
taking a deep breath
feeling the body relax


At the end of the twenty minutes compare the two ways in which the experience was labelled and answer the following four questions:

1. Is one truer than the other, and If so, which one?
Both seem fairly true but the second more so

Yes.

2. What is here without labels?

Just the sensing, seeing, touching etc the experience

3. Do labels affect the experience or just describe it?

Just describe it

4. Did you notice any differences in the body? Describe this.
I feel the body as more spacious and as a means of experiencing whatever is to be experienced

If sensing is only body.

Be relaxed, have fun and take your time. Looking forward to your replies.

Thank you for this exercise Machiel and thank you for your time.
Philomena

Please report back with what body Sensations (not interpretations) you feel when you check some of the examples above. You can also revisit the lists with and without "I" and see what is noticed now. Bodies can feel hot or cold, heavy or light, contraction or expansion, etc.

Please report back with what body Sensations (not interpretations) you feel when you check some of the examples above. You can also revisit the lists with and without "I" and see what is noticed now. Bodies can feel hot or cold, heavy or light, contraction or expansion, etc.

Apologies for the late response Machiel.
When I reflect on lies I have told, I am very much aware of the body sensations that occur. with me, there is a stirring in the stomach area , a niggling sensation that increases depending on the severity of the 'lie' . There is some tension at the back of the neck and into the back of the head. Heat can arise in the head and the face too.

Thank you for checking in with me. I appreciate it. Philomena

Where are these feelings now? Where did they come from? Are you them or is it more like being aware of them?

Right, so lying feels bad because is it veils the truth. "I" or self is also a lie, can you see I or self in direct experience? Do you see it where you think it should be? Just plain and simple how does the question 'Is there a self in any way shape or form at all?' make you feel cause that is what we need to question here.

What comes up?

Where are these feelings now? Where did they come from? Are you them or is it more like being aware of them?

Feelings arise and pass away. When I think a thought, the body responds to the thought by way of sensation. Thoughts arise and pass away, feelings arise and pass away. I am, therefore, neither my thoughts or feelings. Rather, I am aware of them - a witness of the experience of them.

Right but that doesn't automatically mean it's true so we have to look into this, if this is really true.

Right, so lying feels bad because is it veils the truth. "I" or self is also a lie, can you see I or self in direct experience? Do you see it where you think it should be? Just plain and simple how does the question 'Is there a self in any way shape or form at all?' make you feel cause that is what we need to question here.

As mentioned above, I recognise that I am not the sensations nor the thoughts, I am aware of my feelings and thoughts. I am not the changing body nor the changing mind but the awareness that witnesses the experience of the body/mind.

Are you the awareness/witness or is being aware/witnessing happening without you doing it? Check in direct experience are you doing anything for witnessing to happen? Are you the experiencer or is there just experience?

What comes up?
I know innately that I am awareness, infinite consciousness and can touch this at times but fall back into the veil of illusion. Part of me knows I am trying too hard to recognise what I truly am. It's as though I am getting in my own way.

Okay I know exactly what you mean I've been there. You look for the origin of I, Who am I?, and try to see that and when you get a glimpse you try to stay there because bliss and other good feelings. This is never going to work, trying to make a state always last or "always see who you are", you are not lasting, worse there is no you and no other higher you... Let that go at least as long as your here during liberation unleashed, we are not trying to go from point A to point B.

You say you innately know you are awareness, infinite consciousness, but who knows? Can you honestly find this you that knows in direct experience? Can you show it to me?
You go in and out of illusion? Could it be so that only you are the illusion, and seeing, hearing, touching, tasting, smelling and thinking are real and just going on without you? knowing is conjured up by the mind that is not what we are looking for.

Time for another exercise now about seeing:
Seeing Exercise - Part I
The usual belief that 'I am this body' is usually tied in with the belief that the body as a
separate item is responsible or 'DOING' the senses - 'I see', 'I hear', 'I feel' etc
We will begin with 'seeing' - Just that one sense on its own.
Close your eyes.
With eyes closed, you will now experience 'blackness'. There may be other things you can
find going on, sure. If you are looking at a bright light, there may be a red glow. There may
be sparkly bits or cloudy flecks appearing and disappearing - It really doesn't matter about
the specifics.
Just to make things simple, whatever you can see with eyes closed, I'm going to refer to it
as 'black' or 'blackness' just for simplicity.
1) With eyes closed, can you confirm that what is experienced is 'blackness' as I
mentioned?
2) Is there anything else in 'seeing' other than 'blackness'?
3) Can what is witnessing the blackness be found?
4) Can a pair of eyes, an 'I' / 'me', a person be found that is witnessing the blackness? Or
is there just 'blackness' to be found?
What do you find?
Can an INHERENT SEE-ER be found? Would anything that is suggested as the see-er, be anything other than a concept/idea/thought?

So lots of questions and an exercise, take your time to look in your direct experience.
Good luck! :)

Are you the awareness/witness or is being aware/witnessing happening without you doing it? Check in direct experience are you doing anything for witnessing to happen? Are you the experiencer or is there just experience?

You say you innately know you are awareness, infinite consciousness, but who knows? Can you honestly find this you that knows in direct experience? Can you show it to me?

You go in and out of illusion? Could it be so that only you are the illusion, and seeing, hearing, touching, tasting, smelling and thinking are real and just going on without you? knowing is conjured up by the mind that is not what we are looking for.

1) With eyes closed, can you confirm that what is experienced is 'blackness' as I
mentioned?

2) Is there anything else in 'seeing' other than 'blackness'?

3) Can what is witnessing the blackness be found?

4) Can a pair of eyes, an 'I' / 'me', a person be found that is witnessing the blackness? Or
is there just 'blackness' to be found?

Are you the awareness/witness or is being aware/witnessing happening without you doing it? Check in direct experience are you doing anything for witnessing to happen? Are you the experiencer or is there just experience?

Witnessing is happening without me doing anything. There is just experience.

Sounds good.

You say you innately know you are awareness, infinite consciousness, but who knows? Can you honestly find this you that knows in direct experience? Can you show it to me?

No- I can't show it to you as there is nothing to show

Right.

You go in and out of illusion? Could it be so that only you are the illusion, and seeing, hearing, touching, tasting, smelling and thinking are real and just going on without you? knowing is conjured up by the mind that is not what we are looking for.
Which 'you' are you alluding to?

Could it be true? That you don't exist?

1) With eyes closed, can you confirm that what is experienced is 'blackness' as I
mentioned?
I confirm what is experienced is blackness

ok.

2) Is there anything else in 'seeing' other than 'blackness'?
No

good answer.

3) Can what is witnessing the blackness be found?
No

right.

4) Can a pair of eyes, an 'I' / 'me', a person be found that is witnessing the blackness? Or
is there just 'blackness' to be found?

There is just blackness to be found. Though this is where I question 'who is it that is experiencing the blackness?'

This would be speculation, a lot of concepts can be made up but that is not going to help.

What do you find?
Can an INHERENT SEE-ER be found? Would anything that is suggested as the see-er, be anything other than a concept/idea/thought?

This is where I get confused. There is no inherent see-er - just I the awareness aware that seeing is going on. Maybe this is just a thought or concept as you suggest.

That would be just another identity you cannot find in direct experience, right? Why call it I? Why call it anything? This awareness is it always there?

So we go on with the second part of the exercise:
Seeing Exercise – Part II
Let's move on to opening the eyes now.
Again, address this very simply - The 'seeing' sense only for the moment.
With eyes open, a world of objects appears . . . a room . . . a computer screen etc
What you can specifically see isn't of interest here, and whatever it is, I am simply going to
refer to it as 'what can be seen'.
This might be a little more tricky, but give it some consideration.

1) With eyes open, can you confirm that what is experienced is 'what can be seen' as I
mentioned?
2) Is there anything else in 'seeing' other than 'what can be seen'?
3) Can what is witnessing 'what can be seen' be found?
4) Can a pair of eyes, an 'I' / 'me', a Philomena be found that is witnessing 'what can be seen'?
Or is there just simply 'what can be seen' to be found?
What do you find?
Can an INHERENT SEE-ER be found? Would anything that is suggested as the see-er,
be anything other than a concept/idea/thought?

Keep going Philomena we are going to get there. Don't think to much about it.
With encouragement, Machiel

So here we are again :) Seeing, hearing, touching, tasting, smelling, thoughts about this sometimes leading to emotions. Body, am I the hair or finger nails or skin? Or is it growing by itself? Am I the eyes, ears, skin, tongue or nose or is sensing going on by itself? Am I doing breathing or is it going on whether I pay attention to it or not? When I'm asleep doesn't it just go on? Am I doing the digestion or does it just go on by itself also while asleep? Look or go outside, look at all the people, the birds the insects, your dog doesn't it all go on and on without a separate controller? Just life going on?

Please look with all your might! Leave everything else, every method, every concept, all thinking about this, don't stop thinking just stop paying attention to it! LOOK!! Directly look, looking if you actually are any of that happening, not as a concept to gain anything or stay anywhere else, can you see that you stays intact when trying to be "who you really are" or in your natural state? You cannot get there. That it isn't about you at all? That you cannot do this? Nothing to do, everything already being done?

Can you see or is seeing just happening

So here we are again :) Seeing, hearing, touching, tasting, smelling, thoughts about this sometimes leading to emotions. Just life going on?....

Yes- I often sit in my little arbour in the garden and ponder that, even if this body was no longer present, everything else would still just be going on. Life just going on ......

OK but let's not stop at pondering, you need to see it for yourself in direct experience! So now you look, is it true? Pondering is about understanding it that is not what we are after. What are you after?

Please look with all your might! Leave everything else, every method, every concept, all thinking about this, don't stop thinking just stop paying attention to it! LOOK!! Directly look, looking if you actually are any of that happening, not as a concept to gain anything or stay anywhere else, can you see that you stays intact when trying to be "who you really are" or in your natural state? You cannot get there. That it isn't about you at all? That you cannot do this? Nothing to do, everything already being done?
Can you see or is seeing just happening?
Seeing is just happening

You missed some questions there. Did I totally miss the mark there about the Self-injury stuff? Absolutely great stuff but in the end it's about you knowing who you are and staying there. Actually all the spiritual stuff is about you, for all different kinds of reasons but always for the person. Maybe you want to keep all that and not know the actual truth, which is also fine, but if you want truth we have to go a little deeper than pondering and repeating after me… All the Holy houses need to crumble so to speak.

Sorry if that sounds a little harsh.

Maybe you are really seeing there is no one doing seeing, no seer and we are done. So if seeing is just happening do you exist? What comes up?


All the best, Machiel
ps. You can just answer the previous questions of the exercise also just thought I'd break the cycle to show you how it can be seen.

That would be just another identity you cannot find in direct experience, right? Why call it I? Why call it anything? This awareness is it always there?

1) With eyes open, can you confirm that what is experienced is 'what can be seen' as I
mentioned?

2) Is there anything else in 'seeing' other than 'what can be seen'?

3) Can what is witnessing 'what can be seen' be found?

4) Can a pair of eyes, an 'I' / 'me', a Philomena be found that is witnessing 'what can be seen'?

Or is there just simply 'what can be seen' to be found?

What do you find?

Can an INHERENT SEE-ER be found? Would anything that is suggested as the see-er,
be anything other than a concept/idea/thought?

Please look with all your might! Leave everything else, every method, every concept, all thinking about this, don't stop thinking just stop paying attention to it! LOOK!! Directly look, looking if you actually are any of that happening, not as a concept to gain anything or stay anywhere else, can you see that you stays intact when trying to be "who you really are" or in your natural state?

You cannot get there. That it isn't about you at all? That you cannot do this? Nothing to do, everything already being done?
Can you see or is seeing just happening?

You missed some questions there. Did I totally miss the mark there about the Self-injury stuff?

Absolutely great stuff but in the end it's about you knowing who you are and staying there. Actually all the spiritual stuff is about you, for all different kinds of reasons but always for the person. Maybe you want to keep all that and not know the actual truth, which is also fine, but if you want truth we have to go a little deeper than pondering and repeating after me… All the Holy houses need to crumble so to speak.

Sorry if that sounds a little harsh.

Maybe you are really seeing there is no one doing seeing, no seer and we are done. So if seeing is just happening do you exist? What comes up?