The Gate

Hi Stacy,

Thank you for the clarification.

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

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)?

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?

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

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

Let me know what is SEEN.

This example shows me clearly that labels don’t have the effect on ‚reality’. The label is a lie as it suggest something else than the reality. The experience is of the color red, as this is what’s seen. The redness is not affected by replacing the label by ‚good’ or ‚bad’.

Zofia

Good.

Your answers are correct


Please do not post the whole exercise in one quote box. Also, do not summarize answers.

First, it's harder for me to read.

Second, as we complete our process I'll offer some traditional checkpoint questions that other guides will read. We want to make it easy for them as they volunteer their time.

Third, answering in individual pieces helps you to LOOK, not think.

OK?

Hi Stacy,

Thank you for your feedback, I’ll remember that. Would you like me to post the last exercise again?

Best wishes,
Zofia

No, but thank you. I got it.

Let's move on to the truth/lie feeling or body yes. body no.

Please watch this:

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=n6RnrkOD7 ... uBphAoK764

Then do this pointer:

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,

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!
Ilona

Hi Stacy,

I’m sorry it’s been very busy time. I’ll do my best to focus on the practice tomorrow, when I have a proper time to it.

Thank you for your patience.

Zosia

That's fine. Life happens.

Lovig,

Hi Stacy,

Thank you for your patience.

Here are the answers to the 'truth/lie feeling or body yes/no'.

I lied when my client said to me that I seemed very tired, and I said I was absolutely fine because I didn't want her to feel I didn't have enough energy to work with her.

What is found?

Heaviness on the chest and a slight restriction at the front of the throat.

Please report back with what body Sensations (not interpretations) you feel. Bodies can feel hot or cold, heavy or light, contraction or expansion, etc.

Pressure on the stomach.

Do you see that?

Yes, I do.

Thank you,
Zosia

Good. Pay attention to the truth/lie as you do these pointers.

Let's see if we can bring this all 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.

Loving

Hi Stacy,

What about the content of thoughts, what they describe?

Thoughts describe the memory of an apple, the name, the taste I remember and my relationship to the apple (I like it).

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

There is a color or an image, and a thought.

Can ‘apple’ be found in actual experience?

No, 'apple' is just a thought, a label, not the actual experience.

However, is an apple actually known?

The taste and color can be known, the smell can be known, the sensation can be known, but not the 'apple' as it is just a label, not the actual experience.

Have fun and let me know what you find out.

There are some associations with the image of an apple, memories of past experiences, and my like or dislike, but none of these are the actual experience. When I look at the apple, the direct experience is only of an image.

Thank you,
Zosia

Zosia, that's great.

Now look for a "self" in the same way!

What is found? Or maybe more accurately, what is not found?

Loving,

Hi Stacy,

What is found? Or maybe more accurately, what is not found?

There is no self that can be found! There is a direct experience of sesnations, sound, taste, smell and there are thoughts-ideas of who the 'self' is, but they are just ideas, labels, nothing else. I sensed tightness in the abdomen and chest at first when trying to find the self (the lie) and with the realisation there is no self no self to be found, the sensations of lightness, expansion, empty space. I continue bursting into exhales of loud sounds-laughter and the lightes of just being.

Thank you,
Zosia

when trying to find the self (the lie) and with the realisation there is no self no self to be found, the sensations of lightness, expansion, empty space. I continue bursting into exhales of loud sounds-laughter and the lightes of just being.

YES! It sounds like you are truly seeing.

Be with this awareness for a while. Then try this pointer:


Palm Flipping Exercise

1. Hold a hand in front of you; palm turned down.

2. Now turn the palm up. And down...and up and so on.

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 for the exercise?

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

Loving,

Hi Stacy,

Here are the answers for the Plam Flipping Exercise:

How is the movement controlled?

It just happens, the body makes the movement.

Does a thought control it?

No, there is no thought involved in the decision.

Can a ‘controller’ of any description be located?

No.

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.

There is no thought that makes a decision. The decision happens spontaneously without any thought control.

Who or what chose which hand - the left or right hand for the exercise?

No one, it just happens.

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

No, I can’t find it.


I tracked the sensations in my body in this exercise, and there was a sense of space opening in and around my head and the high pitched sound.

Thank you,
Zosia

Hi

tracked the sensations in my body in this exercise, and there was a sense of space opening in and around my head and the high pitched sound

I don't know about the high pitched sound, but the sense of lightness is the truth feeling. Can you see that? What do you feel in your stomach area?



Loving