The Gate

Good morning, Stacy,

Yesterday was ridiculously busy. I'm sorry for the delay.

Here is the next pointer. We're just getting some basics here.

Mind Labeling Experience

Here is an exercise which examines the way in which the mind labels experience - it takes about 20 minutes and you will need a pen a paper.

This exercise is broken into 10 minute lots. For each 10 minute period pay attention to any bodily sensation i.e. is there any tightening, or any relaxing?

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

For example:

I am sitting on a chair,
I am hearing a clock ticking,
I am looking at a computer screen,
I am feeling hungry.

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

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.

For example:

Sitting on a chair,
typing,
breathing,
blinking,
hearing the clock.

(Again, watch what is happening in the body.)

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?

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?

Loving,

Mind Labeling Experience

Here is an exercise which examines the way in which the mind labels experience - it takes about 20 minutes and you will need a pen a paper.

This exercise is broken into 10 minute lots. For each 10 minute period pay attention to any bodily sensation i.e. is there any tightening, or any relaxing?

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

For example:

I am sitting on a chair,
I am hearing a clock ticking,
I am looking at a computer screen,
I am feeling hungry.

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

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.

For example:

Sitting on a chair,
typing,
breathing,
blinking,
hearing the clock.

(Again, watch what is happening in the body.)

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?

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?

I am sitting in a chair.
I am watching TV.
I am texting messages on my phone.
I am hearing the water from the shower.
I am hearing music playing behind me.

Sitting in a chair.
Watching TV.
Texting messages on my phone.
Hearing the water from the shower.
Hearing music playing behind me.

1. I’m not sure if one is more true than another; the I is unnecessary and seems to limit experiencing.
2. Without labels, there is more seeing, hearing, sensing, thinking.
3. Labels are unnecessary.
4. Yes, when the use of I is used, there is a sense of location, fragility, and impermanence. Without labels, there is open direct experience, curiosity, spaciousness.

Yours,

Hi Stacy

Please quote only the questions, not instructions, one at a time separately & write your reply under each one.

Like this;

Question 1

Answer

Question 2

Answer

etc.

I'm heading to work & will reply sometime today.

Much love,

Meanwhile, here is how to distinguish truth from lies.

when the use of I is used, there is a sense of location, fragility, and impermanence. Without labels, there is open direct experience, curiosity, spaciousness.

Very close!

We often lie every day & don't realize it.

For example, the grocery clerk asks, "How are you?" You reply, "I'm fine." While, yes. there is a sense in which we are always fine, even in the middle of suffering, at that moment, you were grieving the death of your dog, you had a slight sore throat & you had a headache, but you didn't feel like sharing all of that with the grocery clerk, so you lied, "I'm fine."

Also, it matters none at all how "distant" the remembered lie is. Besides the fact that time itself is fictional, a kind if lie, as we recall the lie it becomes present in this moment, as if it were happening now. This brings the body Sensation that accompanies lying.

Lies can be intentional or unintentional, conscious or unconscious, even so automatic that we ourselves are fooled.

The story of a separate "self" is a lie.

This is the lie you came here to see through. Therefore, it is helpful to notice the body Sensation of lying as one of the tools for finding the truth of no self.

You want to be in touch with body Sensations & able to clearly express them in words. This will help.

Lies are usually felt in the heart or solar plexus as a contraction that we may label as tight, heavy or tense.

In contrast, truth is usually expansive. We may call it loose, light or relaxed.
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First, can you remember a time when you lied to someone you loved?

Here we count anything, lies we think of as "big" or "small" that "matter" or don't "matter."

How are you? I'm fine. No, your knee hurts, but you don't feel like discussing it with the grocery clerk.

It's a lie. A seemingly "bigger" one will work better for this exercise.

Find the lie. I don't need the whole story, just a few key words to refer to it.

Then scan your body for any Sensation (DE), particularly in the gut or maybe the heart. Check very closely. What is found?


If you think the memory you used wasn't clear enough, find another one or lie to yourself right now, make something up.

1 + 1 = 14 is a lie.

The Sun rises in the West is a lie.

I love eating worms is (probably) a lie.

Or call up a video of a lying politician & notice what Sensations arise as you listen.

I will give you a clue: it is not that peaceful Sensation you felt before when you omitted "I."

Please report back with what body Sensations (not interpretations) you feel. Bodies can feel hot or cold, heavy or light, contraction or expansion, etc.

"Peaceful" is an interpretation of a body Sensation, not a name for the Sensation itself, for example. Do you see that?


Loving,

Yes I see that and I will respond more correctly.

Yes I see that and I will respond more honestly.

First, can you remember a time when you lied to someone you loved?

Yes, as a child.

What is found?

The body sense is gripping in the chest along with a faster thready pulse and an intense heightened alertness.

Yours,

Good.

However, lies did not happen only in childhood in the blatant way you are thinking of.

You are lying now. You have lied today and every day that you believe in this separate "you." And many, many other things, as well. No shame or guilt need attach to that. It just is.

Yes, lies are tight, heavy, contracted. Truth is relaxed, light, expansive.

Write ONLY what is true. This will take some practice.

Cup Exercise

Here is an exercise which points out the difference between Direct Experience and content of thought.

There are two types of thoughts:

(1) Thoughts with words “Here is cup”

(2) Visual mental images of a ‘cup’

So I invite you to do this exercise:

Think of a cup. Get a very clear picture in your mind.

See clearly the size, shape, color 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?

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 are not "real;" they are just fantasies.

Can you see this?

Have fun & relax.

Loving,

Received and will respond later this evening : )

Write ONLY what is true.
Do you have a clear picture in mind?

Yes

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

No

Can you pour tea into it?

No

Can you drink from it?

No

Is there a ‘real’ cup or just an image of a cup?

Image

Is there an appearing mental image?

Yes

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

No

Can you see this?

Yes

Great, Stacy, perfect. "Self" is exactly like that cup. There's nothing there! Hoping you answer from LOOKING, not from "thinking."

The point of pointers is to LOOK.

How about this one?


Actual/Direct Experience - Apple

Have a look at an apple (or any fruit you like.) If you have a ‘real’ apple, you can use it for this exercise. Google for a picture of an apple.



When looking at an apple, there's color; a thought saying ‘apple’; and maybe a thought saying, "I'm looking at an apple."

What is known for sure? Color is known and thoughts are known.

What about the content of thoughts, what they describe?

Actual experience does not refer to thoughts ABOUT something…because that is only just more thought.

Actual experience is sound, thought, color, smell, taste, sensation and the fact of thought arising, but not its content.

Is there really an ‘apple’ here, or only color and a thought ABOUT ‘apple’?

Can ‘apple’ be found in actual experience?

While these thoughts are known, what they talk ABOUT can't be found in actual experience.

This is what is meant by "looking in actual experience." What you know for sure, and, is always here.

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?

Have fun and let me know what you find out.

Loving,

What about the content of thoughts, what they describe?

The content of thoughts describe imagination ABOUT anything, labels designating language, and symbols pointing to OTHER thoughts.

Is there really an ‘apple’ here, or only color and a thought ABOUT ‘apple’?

There is color and thoughts ABOUT 🍎

Can ‘apple’ be found in actual experience?

Luckily, 🍎 CANNOT be found in actual experience.

However, is an apple ever known?

🍎 can never be known, it does not exist as we imagine, label, or symbolize.
🙏
Yours,

Yes.

How does it FEEL to SEE this?

Loving,

How does it FEEL to SEE this?

Well, in this nonverbal, clear SEEING, sensations arise, and thoughts arise. The still source of this SEEING Is as it always Is…

For the purposes of interacting tho, I can describe an experience of *effervescience (🤣 play on words). It’s light and disappearing, it’s still and spacious, empty of emptiness… it is freeing.

Yours,

Yes.

Can you find a separate "self" anywhere? Was there ever?

Loving,