Pernille strongly suggests working with a guide

[warissem]

Good morning

You are doing well, be patient and have faith in what is going on here.
Here is an exercise, I wish it will help.

Have a look at an apple. If you have a ‘real’ apple, you can use it for this exercise.

When looking at an apple, there's colour; a thought saying ‘apple’; and maybe a thought saying, "I'm looking at an apple."
What is known for sure? Colour 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, colour, smell, taste, sensation.

Is there really an ‘apple’ here, or only colour 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 labelled ‘apple’ is known
Colour labelled ‘apple’ is known
Sensation labelled ‘apple’ is known (when apple is touched)
Smell labelled ‘apple’ is known
Thought about/of an ‘apple’ is known
However, is an apple actually known?

Please, select one question at a time and give the answer to it after having looked. Don't go to logics. The truth must be seen first hand.

Nour

[PuppetTC]

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

thank you for this exercise. It really tripped the mind up and there was a bit of understanding. It's the same for "everything" The mind is super quick to start labeling and before you notice it has label upon label. I feel more loosening. I am aware of resistance and don't resist the resistance the best I can haha. I will do this exercise some more and sit with it.

Thank you

[warissem]

Good morning

I am aware of resistance and don't resist the resistance the best I can haha.

Is there resistance outside of thoughts, outside the label "resistance"?
Is resistance expressing itself as sensations? LOOK.

Apply the "apple" exercise to whatever is seen, and to Puppet, to the body.

Waiting for your insights

[PuppetTC]

Is there resistance outside of thoughts, outside the label "resistance"?
Is resistance expressing itself as sensations?

Yes, I suppose it is just sensations.
sensations, but what is aware, if I'm not the sensations... WHAT AM I? So, "I" inquire, what is aware? Sensations get stronger.....waves get wavier.....

[warissem]

Good morning

Yes, I suppose it is just sensations.sensations, but what is aware, if I'm not the sensations... WHAT AM I? So, "I" inquire, what is aware? Sensations get stronger.....waves get wavier.....

There is a need to be clear about direct experience which is : seeing, hearing, smelling, tasting and touching (or sensations).
Thoughts, labels, judgments, appreciations, critics, ... are add on what is here now. Here are some assertions, I want you to look at what each one is pointing to and SEE if it is your experience.

Is it your experience that what is seen is not separate from the knowing (being aware) of it?

Is it your experience that what is heard is not separate from the knowing (being aware) of it?
- when eyes are closed
- when eyes are open

Is it your experience that a sensation is not separate from the knowing (being aware) of it?

Is it your experience that a thought is not separate from the knowing (being aware) of it?

Is there a need for a you, a separate self, an "I" to be aware ?

Is there a need for a subject to rain?

is there a need for a you, a separate self, a subject to breathe or digest food?

LOOK AT each question and give an answer after SEEING. Give separate answer to each question.

Best for you

[PuppetTC]

Is it your experience that what is seen is not separate from the knowing (being aware) of it?

yes, Before thought comes in and say's it isn't.

Is it your experience that what is heard is not separate from the knowing (being aware) of it?
- when eyes are closed
- when eyes are open

Eyes closed and open, yes before thought

Is it your experience that a sensation is not separate from the knowing (being aware) of it?

It doesn't appear to be separate

Is it your experience that a thought is not separate from the knowing (being aware) of it?

For some reason this answer seems harder to answer, but I don't think it's separate

Is there a need for a you, a separate self, an "I" to be aware ?

No

Is there a need for a subject to rain? I don't think so

is there a need for a you, a separate self, a subject to breathe or digest food? no, I think it's just happening

[PuppetTC]

Is it your experience that what is seen is not separate from the knowing (being aware) of it?

yes, Before thought comes in and say's it isn't.

Is it your experience that what is heard is not separate from the knowing (being aware) of it?
- when eyes are closed
- when eyes are open

Eyes closed and open, yes before thought

Is it your experience that a sensation is not separate from the knowing (being aware) of it?

It doesn't appear to be separate

Is it your experience that a thought is not separate from the knowing (being aware) of it?

For some reason this answer seems harder to answer, but I don't think it's separate

Is there a need for a you, a separate self, an "I" to be aware ?

No

Is there a need for a subject to rain?

I don't think so

is there a need for a you, a separate self, a subject to breathe or digest food? no, I think it's just happening

[warissem]

Good morning

yes, Before thought comes in and say's it isn't.

There is noticing of this thought. Does a thought know itself? Does a thought see the truth?
Is there a doubt about awareness?
Can you be unware?
Just let thoughts come and go like cloud in the sky.

In your other answers, I have noticed a doubt about what is seen in direct experience. You use "I think so" in your answers. During this dialog, I want you to be certain, confident in your answers. Example : is there a subject needed to rain? Just LOOK AT the rain and SEE if there is someone or something opening and closing the valves. The answer will be a big YES or a big NO.

There is still a need to exerce observations of thought exercise. 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. Then read the questions and give an answer to each one separately after having LOOKING AT what it is pointing and SEEN the answer with no doubt.

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 organised 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’?

Best for you

[PuppetTC]

Thank you, I'll do this tomorrow:)

[warissem]

Good morning

Take your time for it.

[PuppetTC]

There is noticing of this thought. Does a thought know itself? Does a thought see the truth?
Is there a doubt about awareness?
Can you be unware?

No to all

s there a subject needed to rain?

No

Where are they coming from and going to?

I don't know

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

No

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?

No

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

No

Can you pick and choose any kind of thought?

No

Is it possible to prevent a thought from appearing?

No

It seems that thought has some logical ordered appearance, but look carefully and just notice if there is an organised 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’?

I noticed that there's no logical order of appearance. If sound came, I noticed a thought label and the thought that these thoughts are from the sound and I noticed for example...
A sound, then the thought labeling as "dog barking" then thought, "he must want to go on a walk" "will she walk him" etc... then next thought was, "these thoughts start from the labeling" and that was recognized as thought....

[warissem]

Good evening

How does it feel to know that there is no control of thoughts?

Is there a thinker?

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 ie 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?

Nour

[PuppetTC]

How does it feel to know that there is no control of thoughts?

It doesn't feel like anything

Is there a thinker?

No

For each 10 minute period pay attention to any bodily sensation ie is there any tightening, or any relaxing?

The only thing noticed is jaw tightening and relaxing when noticed, for no apparent reason.

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

No

2. What is here without labels?

experience

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

describe

4. Did you notice any differences in the body?

Only jaw tightening, then relaxing when noticed. (seemingly tightening on own, I've noticed this before and have watched with curiosity as it just tightens somehow and somehow it's noticed and relaxed)

[warissem]

Good morning

You have done good observations. Now, I invite you to go deeper in the investigation.
Sit for at least 10-15 minutes quietly somewhere, several times throughout your day. Close your eyes and just notice thoughts. Don’t engage with any thought, just notice them.

1. Notice the current thought that is present.
Like when you sit observing the body, a thought might arise “this is my feet” or “here is a pain” or “my breathing is too quick” or “I am bored with this exercise” or “I have better things to do” or any sorts of thoughts.

2. This thought will pass and another thought will come. So just observe this thought passing.

3. Then wait for the next thought to come.

4. When the next thought is present, just notice it, and see how it passes.

5. Then wait for the next thought to come.

6. Repeat #4 and #5 many-many times.

Between the 2 thoughts there is a gap. It can be very short or subtle, just a second or a few seconds before the next thought come in.

This is how to look at thoughts:-
Looking how they come and go, and
Observing the short gap between them.
Noticing how the current thought is passing.
And waiting for the next thought to come.

Please do the following exercise during a whole DAY :
Throughout your waking day, try to observe the gap between thoughts as often as possible. It can be done by noticing that ‘thinking’ is happening right now, then stop and just simply wait for the next thought to come. In the ‘waiting’ there is a gap between two thoughts.

Let me know how you go.

Best for you

[PuppetTC]

I will do this and let you know how it goes.
Thank you and Merry Christmas <3