The Gate

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

I think the second 10 minutes is truer. The “I” label is just extra and not needed.

2. What is here without labels?

Nothing

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

They just describe it.

4. Did you notice any differences in the body?

No.

Okay. Halfway.

#2. Direct Experience of your 5 senses is here without labels. It's not "nothing." Can you see that?

#4.Look closer to find the difference in the body. Scan your torso. Do you find any tension? Any relaxation? Anything else? Really look.

Loving ,

Can you see that?

With the labels gone there is still an awareness.

Do you find any tension? Any relaxation? Anything else?

When I describe my surroundings with labels there is a slight tension in my chest, like I’m holding my breathe a little and tensing up. When I dont’t use labels I don’t feel the tension.

Okay...

With the labels gone there is still an awareness.

Yes... of the 5 senses with no words. LOOK. Can you see that?

there is a slight tension in my chest, like I’m holding my breathe a little and tensing up. When I dont’t use labels I don’t feel the tension.

Excellent. Yes.

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,

Can you see that?

Yes. All is awareness

What is found?

When asked if my back hurts ( it does), I lie and say it doesn’t to not worry any family members. I feel a tension in the back of my head

Online meeting with Ilona

This Thursday on zoom.

Join our group for an exploration the core question of a ‘separate self’.

To participate use the link that you already have or email me to receive it at admin@ilonaciunaite.com
Looking forward to serving you there!

What do you feel in your gut?

I feel the same kind of tightness or tension

Yes, that tightness is the lie feeling. When you discover there is no "self," you will likely feel the lightness and expansion of the truth feeling.

Let's do a pointer that brings all of this together:

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. Direct Experience ONLY, please. No thinking!

Loving,

What about the content of thoughts, what they describe?

The content of thoughts can only be known as more thoughts.