The Gate

Post several of your own observations in a list *exactly* like the one above, please. Same word forms. Same order. EXACTLY.

Walking the dog
Seeing the dog = image/colour
Smelling the wet dog = smell
Feeling the warm soft fur of the dog = sensation
Hearing his sniff = sound
Thought about taking him for a long walk = thought

Driving the car
Seeing the car in the yard = image/color
Smelling the air conditioning = smell
Feeling the car steering wheel in my hands = sensation
Hearing the car engine = sound
Thought about a long drive = thought

Going to gym
Seeing the gym = image/colour
Smelling the sweat = smell
Feeling the heaviness of the weight = sensation
Drinking the water = taste
Hearing the music = sound
Thought about needing to go to gym more often = thought

Going to work
Seeing the library building = image/colour
Smelling the dust in the books = smell
feeling the heaviness of carring many books = sensation
Hearing the colleagues talking = sound
Thought about wanting the workday to end = thought

Seeing my cat
Seeing the cat = image/colour
Touching the cat = sensation
Hearing his purring = sound
Thought about cat looking cute = thought

Going to wooden sauna
Seeing the fire = image/colour
Smelling the essential oil = smell
Feeling the heatness = sensation
Hearing the dog howling outside = sound
Thought about how nice is to have a sauna = thought


Those were the few samples of my day. Have to say that the concentrating to see things so simple is not easy. It seems that lost in thoughts happens all the time.

And thank you so much about the information of meetings. I'll look into those!

Love: Minna

Good morning, Minna.

Yes, we get totally lost in thought and cannot experience our experiences fully.

Now try this one:


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,

1. Is one truer than the other, and If so, which one?

It feels more true and more real when everything is just happening without me.
Owning everything by me feels wrong, so self-centered, selfish and arrogant even.

2. What is here without labels?

There is more feeling of "flow". Everything happens on it's own, effortlesly.
Pure happening without stories. Feels like life is free and kind of "bigger".

(Hard to put in words really)

3. Do labels affect the experience or just describe it?

Labels seems to make experience feel more heavy and more small.

4. Did you notice any differences in the body?

Labeling makes body feel more tighten. Without "owning" everything feels like more free energy in the body.
Body feels more relaxed and ease.

Yes, very good.

Now check this:

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." (refers to an exercise I gave before this one)

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,

What is found?

This is what came up first when I saw the exercise. Btw, I really appreciate these and chance to look everything in so different way that my mind is used to!

I have been lying to myself a lot. For example last week when I was in Italy with my friend and one day she went out without me for 5 hours. I told to myself that it is ok, she can do that. But that was a lie. It wasn’t ok. My expectations was that she is gone about one hour or 2, but 5 was just too much and I got worried and angry. Helpless also, since I remembered similar situation from my first marriage. No Idea where the other person was and when he/she is going to come back. Totally ignoring me.
I felt tension in my heart area, couldn’t breath in proper way. Little bit shaking in upper body too. Body was getting restless, wanted to move around the room. Couldn’t stay still.

-Minna-

You're welcome. You're doing great.

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.

The shift into seeing no self feels TRUE. So watch for that.

Now try this:

Don't you remember the apple exercise?
How is "self" any different?

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,

Is an apple actually known?

Content of thoughts, they describe nothing real. Thought after thought just make assumptions based on the programs we have been taught to believe. Everything is just words (labels) that are trying to make sense about everything in our life. Thoughts are just telling stories about everything and we totally believe they are true.
Apple is just a word that our parents and schools taught us, so we can communicate. Actual apple doesn't exist. Without labels there is nothing.

OMG it is so hard to put this on words. But I just can't find anything! Just labels labels labels!

Am I totally out of track here?

-Minna-

Hi

You've got it. but you skipped 2 questions


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

Can ‘apple’ be found in actual experience?

https://youtu.be/Ph02o6K2aoo?si=kjhxI4pqDtL86ygL

The questions help you to focus.


Loving,

Is there really an ‘apple’ here, or only color and a thought ABOUT ‘apple’?
Can ‘apple’ be found in actual experience?

Ok, thank you for reminding me!

There is only colour and thought about apple
”Apple” can’t be found in actual experience, because apple is just a label.

Good. Thank you.

How does it FEEL to see this?

Loving,

How does it feel...
I don't know. Somehow everything feels hollow.
That I can't trust anything that I think I see. Or more like everything I have been taught to see.
Nothing makes sense anymore.

Thoughts just come that everything should be more clear now, but it's not.
Mind is confused.

It's okay to be confused.

Let's try this:

This is the only pointer Ilona gave me when I was guided here. i practiced this for about 3 months. I call it:

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?


It is simple direct & nonverbal. Just LOOK.

Then write what is true.

Loving,