ISO The Guide which Resonates

[72457245]

Hi!

Thanks for your tips on diversion, I will celebrate it and notice the sensations and any other thoughts/feelings/beliefs that arise.

What is memory exactly?

Thoughts.

What is the memory ‘made of’?

Thoughts.

WHEN does the memory appear?

In the ongoing moment

What is the exact difference between a ‘general’ thought and a ‘memory’ thought?

None that I can see. In terms of content, perhaps memory thought refers to past events and a general thought refers to future or current events perhaps, but even those draw from past experiences.

How is it known EXACTLY that a ‘memory’ thought refers to something that has happened?

It is not known. The memory thought is often perceived differently between individuals and even the same person can recall different memory thoughts of the same event.

What is the future thought ‘made of’?

Thought stuff?? Imagination based on past experiences.

WHEN does the future thought appear?

In the ongoing moment.

What is the exact difference between a ‘general’ thought and a ‘future’ thought?

Intention of the thought content to be predictive vs. about what's happening now.

How is it known EXACTLY that a ‘future’ thought refers to something that will happen?

It is not known. It is a predictive thought or guess about the future.

What is the EXACT difference between the thoughts about past and future?

Just their intended content in terms of how they reference a point in time. But the thoughts themselves are just thoughts. Imagination and memory are very blurry.

If there is difference, how is that difference is known exactly?

Imagination and memory are really just thoughts. Whatever a thought is, they both are. They both fit into that category. But the only difference is in the intention of time referenced that frames their content.

[Noro]

Hi Colin,

You are seeing very clearly!

HEARING EXERCISE

Find somewhere quiet to sit. Rest for a moment and listen to the sounds in the room where you are, or sounds from outside. Whatever it is, I'll just refer to it as 'what can be heard'.

1) In 'hearing' can anything be found other than 'what can be heard'?

2) Can what is doing the hearing be found? Or is there only 'what can be heard'?

3) An 'I'? a 'body'? a 'person'? a brain? a pair of ears? Can these be found doing the hearing? Or is there just what can be heard'?

4) Can a boundary be found between the hearer and what's heard or is there only what's heard?

5) What is the difference in experience between listening and hearing?

What do you find?

Use the word hearing and elaborate on what you experienced a bit more.

Can an INHERENT HEARER be found? Would anything that is suggested as the hearer, be anything other than a concept/idea/thought?

Put some music on. Preferably classical. Use earphones if you have them.
Unless you are a musician, it is harder to label what you are hearing.
Allow yourself to become really absorbed in the sounds. See if you can feel the body resonating with certain instruments (or the music in general)
When you are really 'into' hearing the sounds, ask yourself who is listening, and notice if the listening stops while that thought is active.
Using memory, ask yourself if there was a moment when there was only (the effects of) listening. No you, no thoughts, no device, not even a tune called something. Just listening.

Love,
Rowena

[72457245]

1) In 'hearing' can anything be found other than 'what can be heard'?
2) Can what is doing the hearing be found? Or is there only 'what can be heard'?
3) An 'I'? a 'body'? a 'person'? a brain? a pair of ears? Can these be found doing the hearing? Or is there just what can be heard'?
4) Can a boundary be found between the hearer and what's heard or is there only what's heard?

No, only the heard.

5) What is the difference in experience between listening and hearing?

I cannot detect one.

Can an INHERENT HEARER be found? Would anything that is suggested as the hearer, be anything other than a concept/idea/thought?

No. No.

Put some music on. Preferably classical. Use earphones if you have them.
Unless you are a musician, it is harder to label what you are hearing.

Allow yourself to become really absorbed in the sounds. See if you can feel the body resonating with certain instruments (or the music in general)

Yes I can feel that.

When you are really 'into' hearing the sounds, ask yourself who is listening, and notice if the listening stops while that thought is active.

Hmmm... there is a distraction and attention in brought to the heart area but the listening does continue. It comes with a very slight increase in discomfort.

Using memory, ask yourself if there was a moment when there was only (the effects of) listening. No you, no thoughts, no device, not even a tune called something. Just listening.

It seems like this is true.

Best, C

[Noro]

Hi Colin,

When you are really 'into' hearing the sounds, ask yourself who is listening, and notice if the listening stops while that thought is active.

Hmmm... there is a distraction and attention in brought to the heart area but the listening does continue. It comes with a very slight increase in discomfort.

Fine observation. Good intro to the next exercise!


HOW TO DISTINGUISH TRUTH FROM A LIE

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 (in 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.

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" or "Relaxed" is an interpretation of a body Sensation, not the Sensation itself, for example.

Do you see this?

Do you see the difference between Actual Sensation & the thought interpretation of Sensation?

Can you find any "self" in anything Actual?

Lies are contractions. tense, tight & heavy.
Truth is expansive, relaxed, loose & light.
Most people can find this in their gut or heart.

Love
Rowena

[72457245]

Hi Rowena, hope you're doing great today. Thanks for keeping up with me here.

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

Yes.

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 (in DE or Direct Experience), particularly in the gut or maybe the heart. Check very closely.
What is found?

A kind of heaviness or contraction in the heart. Similar to the one that came up during the "I am sitting in a chair" exercise

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

Yes. Relaxation/peacefulness is more like a combination of certain sensations that is interpreted as "relaxed/peaceful". "When there are very few contractions, there is relaxation of the entire body" etc.

Do you see the difference between Actual Sensation & the thought interpretation of Sensation?

Yes, also it is very difficult to describe the sensation at all without using thought. Even saying "contraction" is a thought/description about the sensation?

Can you find any "self" in anything Actual? [/quote]
No.

Best, C

[Noro]

Hi Colin,

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 (in DE or Direct Experience), particularly in the gut or maybe the heart. Check very closely.
What is found?

A kind of heaviness or contraction in the heart. Similar to the one that came up during the "I am sitting in a chair" exercise

YES!

We are moving along fast here, it seems like you are seeing clearly through the illusion of an independent or separate self.
I will keep on sending you a few more exercises, but would love an update on how you are feeling generally about the inquiry.
How do you relate to your thoughts?
How do you relate to your emotions?
Has your relationship to other people changed?
How do you react when conflict/problems arise?
What is you relationship to life?
Are there doubts? If so, please describe them.
If you are not the separate self, who/what are you?

No right or wrong way to answer the above, but please answer from direct experience.
Feel into the questions rather than think about them.


BODY EXERCISE

Sit with eyes closed for about 15 minutes. Paying attention only to the pure sensations, without relying on thoughts or mental images:

Can it be known how tall the body is?
Does the body have a weight or volume?
In the actual experience does the body have a shape or a form?

Is there a boundary between the body and the clothing?
Is there a boundary between the body and the chair?

Is there an inside or an outside? If there is an inside - the inside of what exactly?
If there is an outside - the outside of what exactly?

What does the word/label ‘body’ actually refer to?
What is the ACTUAL experience of the body?

Look very carefully, especially with the last question. Take your time, don’t rush. You can look several times during the day while doing other things (like washing hands, showering, having a short break from work, walking, etc) before replying.

Love
Rowena

[72457245]

Thank you Rowena,

Generally the inquiry has been great! Although I feel like I don't remember very well what we recently did. Like it just slides away and I wonder "did I get it?", like maybe I got it while I was doing the exercise but then the next day I may have lost it. It is slowly seeping in I think, but somehow I wonder if I will have to go back and redo some exercises to get clear. But for now, I guess just going with the flow of the inquiry and not getting too academic about it all. There is a lot of gratitude for your help and expertise.

How do you relate to your thoughts?

I don't know if they are even "my thoughts". And I don't know if "I" can even relate. Kind of a blank answer to this one! Maybe a thought comes and that can turn into sensation and perhaps that is relation. In DE, I do not relate to my thoughts.

How do you relate to your emotions?

BLANK! I don't know if they are mine or if I relate, of if there is an I at all.

Has your relationship to other people changed?

BLANK! I think I am becoming more "tolerant" things are less personal. Less affected.

How do you react when conflict/problems arise?

Less reactive lately.

What is you relationship to life?

There is sort of a lingering tension of trying to figure it out I think. But overall also many times of letting things unfold and a relaxed attitude that things are happening and not so much TO ME.

Are there doubts? If so, please describe them.

I think it is just slowly seeping it but not solid yet. Like I feel like what I am discovering is like beliefs, even though I am looking in DE. I think it is just a bit fresh and there is a lot of momentum of believing the self.

If you are not the separate self, who/what are you?

BLANK!

[72457245]

Can it be known how tall the body is?

No

Does the body have a weight or volume?

No

In the actual experience does the body have a shape or a form?

No

Is there a boundary between the body and the clothing?

When I sit still it seems like no. But when I put my finger between the clothing and the other body part, it seems like yes but maybe the clothes and the body are all imagined concepts really if it is only DE permitted with eyes closed. Just sensations and sound I suppose in DE.

Is there a boundary between the body and the chair?

No

Is there an inside or an outside? If there is an inside - the inside of what exactly?

No just sensations.

If there is an outside - the outside of what exactly?

No

What does the word/label ‘body’ actually refer to?

Sensations?

What is the ACTUAL experience of the body?

Sensations and sound, scent, taste but also, is it really there at all? Or are these sensed things only what is there? Body is a concept. Those things are the experience.

[Noro]

Hi Colin,

Generally the inquiry has been great! Although I feel like I don't remember very well what we recently did. Like it just slides away and I wonder "did I get it?", like maybe I got it while I was doing the exercise but then the next day I may have lost it. It is slowly seeping in I think, but somehow I wonder if I will have to go back and redo some exercises to get clear. But for now, I guess just going with the flow of the inquiry and not getting too academic about it all. There is a lot of gratitude for your help and expertise.

Some exercises are good to review. Wondering "did I get it?" is normal, thoughts like that will continue for a while. When you notice such thoughts arising it is helpful to make a small recognition - 'thinking happening'. If they are more intrusive then perhaps some deeper inquiry would be helpful. Looking for the thinker of thoughts and looking into the body for sensations arising that APPEAR to be connected to the thoughts.

How do you relate to your emotions?

BLANK! I don't know if they are mine or if I relate, of if there is an I at all.

OK, let's look a little more into this.

An emotion is a body sensation that is linked to a label (Fear, Anger, Guilt, Shame, etc.) to which a story or belief is attached. Even if an "I" can't be found and therefore no "I" to own the emotions, there are still body sensations arising + thoughts (label and belief.)

I would like you to look at something that you would normally have an opinion about relating to what is going on in your life or in the world. Something that would trigger some emotional response and that you have (strong) opinions about.
Please look carefully.

What is your reaction to that situation?
Does thinking about the situation trigger an emotional response? If so:
What sensations are arising in the body?
Where in the body are those sensations felt?
Can you stay with the sensations and see what happens to them?
Do they stay the same, in the same place, or do they change and move around?

Are there doubts? If so, please describe them.

I think it is just slowly seeping it but not solid yet. Like I feel like what I am discovering is like beliefs, even though I am looking in DE. I think it is just a bit fresh and there is a lot of momentum of believing the self.

It won't be 24/7. There's likely to.be a "honeymoon period," and then what we call, "got it, lost it," as untrue beliefs come up to be questioned. These two videos might be useful to look at.

https://youtu.be/vJQcD588g2w
"FALLING", Integration of Awakening. Ilona Ciunate

and

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PUDzrCLlrj4
"Sometimes waking up goes back and forth a bit"


OBSERVING THOUGHTS
Sit quietly for about 30 minutes and notice the arising thoughts. Just let them appear as they appear.
Try your best to COMPLETELY ignore what they are saying and just notice how they appear without you doing anything at all.

Where are they coming from and going to?

Did you do anything to make a particular thought or thoughts appear?

Could you have done anything to make a different thought appear at that exact moment instead?

Can you predict your next thought?

Can you select from a range of thoughts to have only pleasant thoughts?

Can you choose not to have painful, negative or fearful thoughts?

Can you pick and choose any kind of thought?

Is it possible to prevent a thought from appearing?

It seems that thought has some logical ordered appearance, but look carefully and just notice if there is an organized sequence? Or is that just another thought that says ‘these thoughts are in sequence’ or “they take content from previous thought”, or that ‘one thought follows another thought’?

Thoughts don't often stop. Mostly you just lose your attachment to them and let them fly by. I mean - you don't grab each snowflake, do you? And if you did, they would just melt. So it is with thought - especially when you question them and LOOK with Direct Experience.

Love,
Rowena

[72457245]

Hi Rowena, hope you are doing great today. Answers below, Best, C

I would like you to look at something that you would normally have an opinion about relating to what is going on in your life or in the world. Something that would trigger some emotional response and that you have (strong) opinions about.
Please look carefully.

This is going to sound perhaps odd, but it is taking me a very long time to come up with something triggering. My reactivity has really been dying off and I can't find any strong opinions. To do this right, I will have to come back to it another time I think when I am triggered. I will keep this in mind for then. Unless you prefer I just pick the most triggering thing I can think of (it seems to have no charge at the moment)

Where are they coming from and going to?

It seems like they pop up, somewhere inside the head and disappear there also.

Did you do anything to make a particular thought or thoughts appear?

No, mostly not.

However it seems like I can in some ways say if I say "Okay think about monkeys", then an image of monkeys appears. But what made the image appear? I don't know, can't find anything, maybe the intention to think of monkeys did it?

Could you have done anything to make a different thought appear at that exact moment instead?

No.

Can you predict your next thought?

No.

Can you select from a range of thoughts to have only pleasant thoughts?

Not for any significant duration. But I did try and the images of meadows, beautiful woman, golden retriever all did come up. So it seems like with an intention, the thought stream can be influenced somehow.

Can you choose not to have painful, negative or fearful thoughts?

Not indefinitely but it seems that way for a short time at least.

Can you pick and choose any kind of thought?

Yes, it seems like if I say with a thought "Think of monkeys and keep thinking of them for 30 seconds." then I can think of monkeys for 30 seconds.

Is it possible to prevent a thought from appearing?

For a short duration it seems that way. For example, I just closed my eyes and it seemed like no thoughts appeared while I simply listened to some background music I was overhearing from the TV.

It seems that thought has some logical ordered appearance, but look carefully and just notice if there is an organized sequence? Or is that just another thought that says ‘these thoughts are in sequence’ or “they take content from previous thought”, or that ‘one thought follows another thought’?

Seems much less organized than organized!

Thoughts don't often stop. Mostly you just lose your attachment to them and let them fly by. I mean - you don't grab each snowflake, do you? And if you did, they would just melt. So it is with thought - especially when you question them and LOOK with Direct Experience.

[Noro]

Hi Colin, Yes, the day has started off well here in Belgium. At least it's not raining :)
Is the weather wonderful where you are? I imagine it is.

Good work with the Thoughts Exercise. You brought up the word 'intention' so look a little closer:

Did you do anything to make a particular thought or thoughts appear?

No, mostly not.
However it seems like I can in some ways say if I say "Okay think about monkeys", then an image of monkeys appears. But what made the image appear? I don't know, can't find anything, maybe the intention to think of monkeys did it?

Is this true that you can actually do something to make a particular thought appear?
Where did the thought to think of 'monkeys' come from? Why not pink elephants?
What is intention? Is there an "I" who intends?

Can you select from a range of thoughts to have only pleasant thoughts?

Not for any significant duration. But I did try and the images of meadows, beautiful woman, golden retriever all did come up. So it seems like with an intention, the thought stream can be influenced somehow.

Where did this intention come from?
Reading the question which influenced the thought stream somehow and so there was attention going to pleasant thoughts, was intention needed here?


MEMORY EXERCISE

Almost everybody believes that a memory thought is referring to something that has happened. That a memory thought is a different thought than a non-memory thought.

Please don’t go to into thought explanations; just let a memory be there, and look at it.

Look at what is actually going on and not what thoughts say - but what actually is.

What is memory exactly?

What is the memory ‘made of’?

WHEN does the memory appear?

What is the exact difference between a ‘general’ thought and a ‘memory’ thought?

How is it known EXACTLY that a ‘memory’ thought refers to something that has happened?

Then, look at a thought about the future.

What is the future thought ‘made of’?

WHEN does the future thought appear?

What is the exact difference between a ‘general’ thought and a ‘future’ thought?

How is it known EXACTLY that a ‘future’ thought refers to something that will happen?

Then let’s compare a thought about past and a thought about the future.

What is the EXACT difference between the thoughts about past and future?

If there is difference, how is that difference is known exactly?



Love,
Rowena

[Noro]

Oops, sorry Colin, I realize that I have already given you the Memory Exercise. Please ignore.

PALM FLIPPING EXERCISE

Hold your hands up in front of you; palms turned down.
Now turn the palm of one hand up and down.
Repeat over and over again...Right hand or Left hand, on and on, flipping up and down. 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?

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

Does thought even initiate anything or is that just another thought story?

And muscles? They just move, right?

Let go of that last bit of thought story & see what is found.

How does it FEEL to see this?

[72457245]

Rowena,

Weather is always beautiful 25 celsius and sunny on average. In the late summer it gets pretty hot and humid and that takes a little getting used to. Sometimes I crave the clouds and rain!

Is this true that you can actually do something to make a particular thought appear?

Sometimes it seems this way. For example, if you tell me to think of "a blue monkey", an image of a blue money will appear and a thought about it.

Where did the thought to think of 'monkeys' come from? Why not pink elephants?

I don't know!

What is intention? Is there an "I" who intends?

Good question. I guess it is like a certain focusing towards something. Or not focusing. It is a wanting I suppose. A direction of senses or thought in a particular direction? So let's say there is intention to only think about monkeys for 5 days... then if there is sufficient motivation, this will be attempted over and over again and more blue monkeys will be thought of than without that intention. I can't find an "I" who intends in DE, so maybe "intention" just arises. Not sure!

What is memory exactly?
What is the memory ‘made of’?
WHEN does the memory appear?

A thought. Thought stuff! In the ever unfolding moment.

What is the exact difference between a ‘general’ thought and a ‘memory’ thought?

Nothing that I can see.

How is it known EXACTLY that a ‘memory’ thought refers to something that has happened?

It is not known. People have different memories about the same event all the time and peoples memory of the same event changes sometimes.

Then, look at a thought about the future.

What is the future thought ‘made of’?
WHEN does the future thought appear?
What is the exact difference between a ‘general’ thought and a ‘future’ thought?

Thought stuff! In the ever unfolding moment. Nothing.

How is it known EXACTLY that a ‘future’ thought refers to something that will happen?

It is not known. It is a prediction.

Then let’s compare a thought about past and a thought about the future.
What is the EXACT difference between the thoughts about past and future?
If there is difference, how is that difference is known exactly?

Content about different points in an imagined timeline. But both are just made of "thought stuff". Since both past and future do not exist, past and future thinking can be seen as simply thought in a way and not observation.

[Noro]

Hi Colin, It sounds like heaven! :)

Lets look a little closer here:

Is this true that you can actually do something to make a particular thought appear?

Sometimes it seems this way. For example, if you tell me to think of "a blue monkey", an image of a blue money will appear and a thought about it.

The words "blue monkey" are heard......
If you heard the words "think of a blue monkey" then were YOU actually DOING something to make the thought or visual image appear or did it just arise?

What is intention? Is there an "I" who intends?

Good question. I guess it is like a certain focusing towards something. Or not focusing. It is a wanting I suppose. A direction of senses or thought in a particular direction? So let's say there is intention to only think about monkeys for 5 days... then if there is sufficient motivation, this will be attempted over and over again and more blue monkeys will be thought of than without that intention. I can't find an "I" who intends in DE, so maybe "intention" just arises. Not sure!

I love the unpacking you did on "intention". You really looked into this carefully,
Are you ok with being "Not sure"!
How does it feel to be "Not sure" after trying to unpack the idea of intention?

Looking forward to what arose for you as you did the PALM FLIPPING>

Love,
Rowena

[Noro]

Hi Colin,

Its been a few days since your last reply so I thought I would get in touch and see how things are going with you.

With love,

Rowena