The Gate

I have done the exercise again. Here are my findings.

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

I am taking the garbage out,
I am cleaning the garbage bin,
I am mopping the floor,
I am sitting,
I am listening to music,
I am watching a music video,
I am thinking about if I am lying to myself,
I am thinking about taking a shower,
I am typing,
I am vaping,
I am checking the time,

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.

Breathing,
Hearing music,
feeling sweat drops,
thinking about this exercise,
seeing the dark behind the eyelids,
thinking about taking a shower,
feeling wind blowing,
checking a notification on the phone,
typing,
tapping feet,
reading the list from the top,

4. Did you notice any differences in the body?

I did. The body felt heavy and contracted in (1) but light and expansive in (2). There is a bit of doubt though. What if I felt this way because I was expecting things to turn out this way? But then again, labels really have no affect on experience. This is a bit confusing.

"Peaceful" or "stressful" or any other emotion or label is an interpretation of a body Sensation, not a name for the Sensation itself, for example. Do you see that?

I see this now. I neither saw this distinction nor its importance earlier.

Can you imagine a world where everybody knows & follows this?

That would be revolutionary.


I am Really grateful for your time.

Kind regards,
Hussain

You're welcome, Hussain,

What if I felt this way because I was expecting things to turn out this way? But then again, labels really have no affect on experience. This is a bit confusing.

It seems to be quite universal. Usually I don't mention what Sensations come up until after the exercise is done. *Everyone* senses the same thing.

Try it with someone you haven't explained it to until you're satisfied. I've been checking it for over 30 years & I'm completely convinced this happens.

It's very straightforward & simple. The confusion is just your mind adjusting to new knowledge.


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,
Stacy

You just scared the sh*t out of me with an apple. I am completely bewildered.

What about the content of thoughts, what they describe?

They are unknown. They don't exist in actual experience.

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

Only color and thoughts about 'apple'.

Can ‘apple’ be found in actual experience?

No.

However, is an apple actually known?

No.

After doing this exercise, I was anxious for a while wondering if anything was real. I felt like I was about to lose everything. It was only after I came back to direct experience that I calmed down. Everything is still here. Nothing was lost.

But does this mean all the concepts, philosophies and labels we use in life are not really real? In some sense, a lie even?

I have done this exercise a couple of times and intend to do it more today.


Kind regards,
Hussain

HI Hussain,

Relax. If there's no "self," then there never has been.

It was only after I came back to direct experience that I calmed down. Everything is still here. Nothing was lost.

Exactly.

But does this mean all the concepts, philosophies and labels we use in life are not really real? In some sense, a lie even?

Yes, exactly - all lies.

But again, it's always been this way.

One thing that helps is to be clear on the difference between the relative & the absolute. The relative is the land of these concepts & stories that only exist in our minds. In the absolute, none of that is real, you're right.

Let's look some more, okay? Ready?

Palm Flipping Exercise

1. Hold a hand in front of you; palm turned down.

2. Now turn the palm up. And down...and up and so on.

Watch like a hawk.

Don't go to thoughts – examine your direct experience.

Do this as many times as you like, and each time inquire:

How is the movement controlled?

Does a thought control it?

Can a ‘controller’ of any description be located?

How is the decision made to turn the hand over? Track any decision point when a thought MADE THE DECISION to turn the hand over and the hand turns over immediately.

Who or what chose which hand - the left or right hand for the exercise?

Can you find a separate individual or anything that is choosing when to turn the palm up or down?

Loving,

~ Stacy

How is the movement controlled?

- There is color
- There are sensations of movement
- There are thoughts (about hand)
- There are thoughts (about an observer)

Sensations of movement arise just like a sound. It isn't been controlled.

Does a thought control it?

No. Sometimes thoughts (about movement) arise before flipping, but they have no bearing on whether the hand actually moves or not. Sometimes these thoughts coincide, sometimes they don't.

Can a ‘controller’ of any description be located?

No. Not in direct experience. Thoughts arise, sometimes about a controller, sometimes about an observer.

How is the decision made to turn the hand over? Track any decision point when a thought MADE THE DECISION to turn the hand over and the hand turns over immediately.

I can't find decisions in direct experience. Thoughts about decision arises sometimes that coincide with the sensations of movement. But these thoughts arising or not arising or whether no thought arises at all, has no bearing on whether the hand turns over or not.

Who or what chose which hand - the left or right hand for the exercise?

I don't know.

Can you find a separate individual or anything that is choosing when to turn the palm up or down?

No.

I am seeing "apples" everywhere.

Kind regards, Hussain

Good morning, Hussain

Isn't this fun?

I am seeing "apples" everywhere.

Yes ... now how does it FEEL to SEE all of this?

Has anything shifted in your experience?

Much love,

Stacy

Isn't this fun?

It is!

Yes ... now how does it FEEL to SEE all of this?

It feels light and "effortless".

Has anything shifted in your experience?

Not that I can tell.

I spent a lot of time looking today and yesterday. What I noticed was just like the hand flipping exercise, without much control, sometimes I am looking and sometimes I am thinking.

I can see what is happening when I am looking. But what is actually happening when I am thinking? Its like waking up from a dream and by the time I wake up, its too late to look.

Good morning,

But what is actually happening when I am thinking? Its like waking up from a dream and by the time I wake up, its too late to look.

Nothing is *Actually* happening when we think. We're just telling stories. Making it all up.

If you'll send me your email address in PM above, there's a recorded pointer in my Drop Box that shows this.

Much love,

Stacy

Yes ... now how does it FEEL to SEE all of this?
It feels light and "effortless".
Has anything shifted in your experience?
Not that I can tell.

LIGHT & EFFORTLESS IS THE SHIFT

:)

Loving,
Stacy

Good morning Stacy,

LIGHT & EFFORTLESS IS THE SHIFT

Wow! It was so simple all along.

When I came here, I honestly had very little hope this was going to lead anywhere. But you have been so clear from the get go. This was possibly the most consequential dialog of my entire life so far.

Thank you for showing me what actual experience really is, for showing me how to distinguish truth from lies and for showing me the mystery of "apples".

I have not entirely stopped seeking, but every once in a while it is clear that the whole concept of seeking is a lie. There is nothing to seek, nobody to do the seeking.

If you'll send me your email address in PM above, there's a recorded pointer in my Drop Box that shows this.

Thank you <3. I have sent my email via PM.


May you be happy and free from suffering.

Kind regards,
Hussain

Thank you.

We will continue until seeking stops & you're sure you're SEEING.

Then there are some traditional "final" questions which will be shared with other guides to be sure we're not missing anything.

It has been very gratifying guiding you. You're seeing so quickly.

I'll send the DropBox link. Be sure to listen to the Introduction first.

Loving,
Stacy

Good morning,

We will continue until seeking stops & you're sure you're SEEING.

Thank you. Thoughts like the following arise from time to time.

- Did I really see?
- OMG I did see.
- Am I seeing right now?
- How do I get back to seeing?

Then there are some traditional "final" questions which will be shared with other guides to be sure we're not missing anything.

I ll be happy to.

I'll send the DropBox link. Be sure to listen to the Introduction first.

Thank you.


Kind regards,
Hussain

Good morning

None of the questions mean you aren't seeing. They're normal.

SEEING can come & go as we adjust to what is true. Watch this, please:

https://youtu.be/vJQcD588g2w

and

https://youtu.be/PUDzrCLlrj4

Much love,

Stacy

None of the questions mean you aren't seeing. They're normal.

I don't doubt this at all anymore.

Thought doesn't seem to have the same "intensity" as they used to. Their "impact" is so much smaller. And they feel so much "lighter". If any of that makes any sense.

Much love,
Hussain

Well then, would you like to try the final questions? If nothing else they'll show us anything we missed.