Fetters

[Anastacia42]

Did I get this exercise correctly?

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

That's the point here. Yes, it's an interpretation, and it works.

Got it?

Loving,

[Nomind2noi]

Yes, thanks!

Wonder how the body can tell no self is true or false...🤔

[Anastacia42]

Wonder how the body can tell no self is true or false...🤔

We'll never know. It's a Mystery.

So, going back to whether a label "changes" anything, try this pointer:


Label-Reality Correlation

There is a belief that labels have a one-to-one correspondence with ‘reality’. But there isn’t. Just like it is a generally accepted belief that labels like ‘good’ and ‘bad’ are inherent characteristics of ‘things’. But actually, they are not.

When you look at the word label ‘GREEN' , what is the actual experience?

Is the color red ‘experienced’, or is the color green ‘experienced’ as the label suggests?

Does the label ‘GREEN’ have a one-to-one correspondence with ‘reality’? Or does the label suggest something else other than what is here now (red colour)?

Is 'green' associated in any way with the experience of the colour red; or is green just a label that overlays the actual experience of red?

If the label ‘GREEN’ is replaced with the label ‘GOOD’ or ‘BAD’ , is the redness affected in any way as the labels suggests?

Does redness become ‘good’ or ‘bad’, or do the labels have no affect whatsoever on ‘reality’?

Let me know what is SEEN.

Loving,

[Nomind2noi]

Love your exercises. I already sense something :-)

When you look at the word label ‘GREEN' , what is the actual experience?

Actual experience is GREEN

Is the color red ‘experienced’, or is the color green ‘experienced’ as the label suggests?

Color red - which's wild - not really :-)

Does the label ‘GREEN’ have a one-to-one correspondence with ‘reality’?

No, zero.

Or does the label suggest something else other than what is here now (red colour)?

The label sure is trying to mislead experience out of reality.

Is 'green' associated in any way with the experience of the colour red; or is green just a label that overlays the actual experience of red?

Big time overlay :-(

If the label ‘GREEN’ is replaced with the label ‘GOOD’ or ‘BAD’ , is the redness affected in any way as the labels suggests?

No in actual experience.

Does redness become ‘good’ or ‘bad’, or do the labels have no affect whatsoever on ‘reality’?

Label has no effect on reality.

Let me know what is SEEN.

Reality is plain and simple, labeling can't change what it is. Labeling is a game mind plays to fit the actual into it's own limited small box. Not only misleading, but can also cause unnecessary confusion, issues.

🙏❤️

[Anastacia42]

Good, except for the first answer. The Actual Experience is red. Same principle here:

Friend/Stranger

Bring up a thought about a character labeled "friend."

Then bring up a thought about a character labeled "stranger."

Compare these thoughts.

Is there a difference in these thoughts?

Is there a true difference or is it just different content?

Now, bring up a thought about a character labeled "friend."

After that, look at a thought about the character labelled "me.”

Is there a difference?

Is there anything special about thoughts with the content "me-character?"

Let me know what is found.

Labeling the day, the Sensations, etc. does nothing to reduce their beauty or joy, but can hide them from our awareness.

Loving,

[Nomind2noi]

Thanks!
Did the same Direct/actual experience exercise from yesterday during my morning walk earlier.
That's very helpful.

the first answer. The Actual Experience is red.

Sorry after I posted this, thought I should have clarified "GREEN" = image(lines)/color(red) :-)

Friend/stranger

Is there a difference in these thoughts?

Thoughts are all thought stuff. It won't matter what it refers to.

Is there a true difference or is it just different content?

No. Only difference is the content.

Friend/me

Is there a difference?

Same thought stuff, different content.

Is there anything special about thoughts with the content "me-character?"

Surprisingly nothing special about that "me" thought. Now I can see clearly "me" is only a thought, with content of "me" in it.

Let me know what is found.

I see the difference between a thought and thought content. I used to take the content of thought as actual😒

Labeling the day, the Sensations, etc. does nothing to reduce their beauty or joy, but can hide them from our awareness.

Ok will do.

🙏❤️

[Anastacia42]

Excellent!

Let's move forward.


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,

[Nomind2noi]

Ok I have half cut orange here.

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

Yes, color, shape, smell, thought are known. If I touch it, there is sensation.

What about the content of thoughts, what they describe?

Thought of orange seems refer to something, but that something only stays in thought world. It can't jump out of that world becomes a real thing.

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

Actual experience only color, shape, smell and a thought about orange.

Can ‘orange’ be found in actual experience?

Not at all😐

However, is an orange actually known?

Nope. There is no such thing as an orange 😂

let me know what you find out

Good timing on this exercise. I was wondering can we actually ever know what anything is. Direct experiences are all from senses. I can call orange an eggplant, it won't change the direct experience of color, shape, smell etc.

🙏❤️

[Anastacia42]

True! Can you see that"self" is the exact same way?

It's nothing but the content of thought!

Explore ‘Sense of Self’

Let’s say that you have lost your keys and you swear that you left them in your coat. You go to look and check all the pockets - the keys are not there. You swear they must be as that was the last place you remember them. You have a vivid memory of putting them there after you left the house. But when you check they are not there. At this point you can keep believing that the keys are in your pocket, or you can admit you were mistaken.

This is just like that. You may see clearly that the self is an illusion but still feel a sense of self - just like the keys. But feeling something to be true and seeing that it is or is not is different. This is why we may find ourselves coming back to your expectations at the start and at the end.

Now, I’d like to ask you to explore this SENSE of self very-very thoroughly. Not by thinking about it, but by FEELING it. Keep the focus of attention on the sense of self and inquire:

Does the sense of self have a location?

Does the sense of self have a shape or a size?

Does the sense of self say or communicate anything?

If the answer is yes, how does the sense do this exactly?

Does the sense of self have any characteristics or attributes?

What is the sense of self ‘made of’? An image? Sound? Taste? Smell? Sensation? Thought?

What is found?

Loving,

[Anastacia42]

If you want to go to a Zoom meeting we have a couple. The next one is 1 hour from now

Sunday, (Australia's Monday)

Our next one is: 1 May 06:00 AM Canberra, Melbourne, Sydney time

You can convert time zones here: dateful.com or https://www.timeanddate.com/

Click here to Join Zoom Meeting

https://us02web.zoom.us/j/86991485768?p ... 12Um5DQT09

Meeting ID: 869 9148 5768
Passcode: 083035

[Nomind2noi]

Does the sense of self have a location?

Felt like it's in the head at 1st, but that's a lie. As explored earlier, a head can't be actually experienced. It's only a thought/believe content. Does thought has a location?... Circle back to the head - just another thought. I have to say no it doesn't have a location.

Does the sense of self have a shape or a size?

I used to take it as my body, but that's not correct because there are only sensations there. Sensations don't show up in shape or a size.

Does the sense of self say or communicate anything?

Sense of self seems refer to itself. Then it's just a thought, but a repeating thought content.

If the answer is yes, how does the sense do this exactly?

If yes, it's just recycling itself in to thought "reality", to fake it until it makes it.

Does the sense of self have any characteristics or attributes?

I believed it's my personality before, but now after went through the actual experience exercises with you, I can't find where they can exist other than in thoughts, in turn into a belief.

What is the sense of self ‘made of’? An image? Sound? Taste? Smell? Sensation? Thought?

Thought content with image of the body + body sensations

What is found?

Sense of self is just a thought content which has been taken as actual. It's never been taken under the light to see the truth of it.
🙏❤️

[Anastacia42]

Right. "Sense of self" is just thought content.

How does it FEEL to SEE this?

Loving,

[Nomind2noi]

Thanks for the zoom meeting information!

How does it FEEL to SEE this?

The mind is fighting back. There is thought content - "it can't be that simple, it doesn't make sense."
But that's a just a thought. Feel like there is a thought battle going on...😒😮‍💨

[Anastacia42]

Check.

No apple. No spoon. No "self."

Keep looking. It cannot be found in Direct Experience, can it?


It IS that simple.

Try this pointer:

ButtChair

Please LOOK for any place where your butt ends & the chair begins.

Is there any clear dividing line between them? Or only the Sensation with no clear division?


This is the only pointer I was given here.

Loving,

[Nomind2noi]

No apple. No spoon. No "self."
Keep looking. It cannot be found in Direct Experience, can it?

No, none of them can be found in Direct Experience.

Please LOOK for any place where your butt ends & the chair begins.
Is there any clear dividing line between them? Or only the Sensation with no clear division?

No in direct experience it's just sensation.
I need to stick with direct experience.
It seems the self thought content is more sticky than other ones.

🙏❤️