Help going from episodic nondual awareness to permanent recognition of no-self

[autoe]

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

I see the red color

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)?

no the experience is red and the label is green

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?

Just a label

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

its not

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

experience stays red. label changes to whatever it wants to. Only that there is an extra bit of mental effort required to re-orient to the experience when it doesnt match the label

Let me know what is SEEN.

red color

[Anastacia42]

Yes. That is clear seeing.

Now, let's look at this truth/lie question.


Here is how to distinguish truth from lies.


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.

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 or Direct Experience), 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.

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 the Sensation itself, for example.

Do you see that?

Loving,

[autoe]

What is found?

I can feel tightness and heat right below the rib cage upon lying. This feeling isnt there when i say a truth (say 5^2 = 25) . But could this feeling be reliably found? I dont know.

Do you see that?

Yes this is pretty evident. Labels aren't the sensations, only sensations are sensations. When I do the 10 min exercise without the I, there is a feeling that can be labeled as spaciousness - its a feeling of a cooling expansion near eyebrows and cheeks, armpits, back especially lower back

[Anastacia42]

Good.

But could this feeling be reliably found? I dont know.

I've checked it for more than 50 years, but don't take my word for anything. LOOK

Now try this:


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,

[autoe]

I've checked it for more than 50 years, but don't take my word for anything. LOOK

Understood. I'll take that as a homework!

What about the content of thoughts, what they describe?

The content of the thoughts are pointing to the expectation (which is a thought) of the sensory experience of this shape (aka apple). e.g."this is a granny smith. if i bit into it will be a bit tart but juicy". A label along with its sensory memory

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

As discovered above, "Apple" is a label to an expectation (thought). So the thought labelled apple is there. And that is all an apple is.

However, is an apple actually known?

Whats meant by actually known? the word apple is a label to a thought. Unless I actually bite into the fruit there is no sensory experience for this label (aka apple) other than color and touch. So apple is both known(i.e. the label is there in thoughts) and not known (no actual experience of apple until i bite into one)


BTW i do appreciate your patience with me!

[Anastacia42]

Actually known means:


Direct or Actual Experience is

Seeing
Hearing
Feeling (Sensation, not emotion. Emotion is Sensation plus made-up thoughts & labels)
Tasting
Smelling
Thoughts Arising (but not their content)

Remember?

Loving,

[autoe]

However, is an apple actually known?

Of the apple , only

The color and size and shape is known
the smell and taste is known
the crunch and feel in the mouth is known
thoughts are known
..
other than that apple is not actually known

[Anastacia42]

Good.

How does it FEEL to see this?

Loving,

[autoe]

How does it FEEL to see this?

Thoughts (unpleasant) also come up. Feeling of subtle expansion that indicates its true

[autoe]

Hi Stacy, just wanted to wish you a happy thanksgiving. I’m so grateful that you’re working with me in this project!

[Anastacia42]

You're welcome. Thank you.

Happy Turkey Day!

Eating now.

Much love,

[Anastacia42]

How does it FEEL to see this?
Thoughts (unpleasant) also come up. Feeling of subtle expansion that indicates its true

Unpleasant thoughts? That's odd. What thoughts?

Loving,

[autoe]

Unpleasant thoughts? That's odd. What thoughts?

Essentially unpleasantness that if the apple is unknown nothing is known. Some form of fear and confusion rises in response to this recognition.
Thanks again, and hope you had a good turkey day!

[Anastacia42]

That's right! Nothing is known.

Use this for fear:

https://youtu.be/jKX1llYtlKE?si=22yVCJKGzQLtQ5qQ

Loving,

[autoe]

Thank you! That video brought up a lot of emotions. Bookmarked it for reference as I feel once may not be enough