Feeling Trapped in the I thought

[Anastacia42]

Yes, good. So in question #3 on Friday, even the label "I" didn't affect experience. It may have affected your thinking.

nervousness, fear and sadness

Can you see these are also labels? What is the actual body Sensation for each of them?

Loving

[SundanceMuc]

Can you see these are also labels? What is the actual body Sensation for each of them?

Yes! That's very true!

The last days i actually tried not to label the sensations, only to feel them.
The sensations are:
Fear/ restlessness: tension in my gut, tingle in my stomach, pressure in my chest, the upper body + gut contracts, hold the breath, cold feet
Sadness: tears, sore throat, tension in chest and gut, low energy
Anger: pull up the shoulders, muscle tension in my arms, heat in my head, faster breath

Love,
Sundance

[Anastacia42]

Exactly. Can you see what they share in common that is related to one of our previous pointers?

Loving,

[SundanceMuc]

Can you see what they share in common that is related to one of our previous pointers?

Ohh…yes! I was so focused on describing my sensations very accurately that i forgot.

The sensations are:
Fear/ restlessness:
--tension
- tingling
- pressure
- contraction
- hold breath
- cold

Sadness:
- tears
- sore sensation
- tension

Anger:
- tension
- heat
- faster breathing

Love,
Sundance

[Anastacia42]

Well, they may be those things, but that is not what I'm pointing to.

Go back to the truth/lie pointer.

viewtopic.php?p=412176#p412176

Loving,

[SundanceMuc]

Hi Stacy,
Now i got it!
Yes i can see what they have in common: The body sensation of
contraction, heat & tightening are the same.

Love,
Sundance

[Anastacia42]

Yes, and what did you learn that means?

Loving

[SundanceMuc]

Yes, and what did you learn
that means?

That every sensation like tightening, contraction, pressure etc. points to a lie..?

[Anastacia42]

Correct!

So run some "I" statements through your mind & check for Sensation.

Such as "I" exist as a separate "self."

or "I" have to (fill in the blank)

Can you find others? What Sensations arise?

Loving,

[SundanceMuc]

Can you find others? What Sensations arise?

I am not good enough - contraction in my gut

I have to find a job - tension in my shoulders, stitch in my chest

I am depressed - tension in my chest

Nobody loves me - sore throat, tightening

I don't know what to do - tension in my arms & bones, tingling in my gut

I have to write some applications - heat in my belly

But when i think " i am always at peace" the body relaxes.

[Anastacia42]

Excellent. Keep paying attention to that signal.

Try this:

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,

[SundanceMuc]

What about the content of thoughts, what they describe?

No content of a thought is sure, apart from the thoughts that describe the direct experience.

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

If i am looking at a picture of an apple i can see form & color, and i can have thoughts. But there is no real apple.

Can ‘apple’ be found in actual experience?

No ‘apple’ is found, the word is only a label.
I’ve an real apple in front of me. I can touch and smell and taste it - what would be an actual experience.

However, is an apple actually known?

No, it's not. Apple is only a word/ label, nothing else. The word has no reality in itself, its only a placeholder.
I can only know the DE:
I can make a bite and taste the sweetness.
I can touch the round form and the smooth skin.
I can smell it.
I can hear the crisp when i bite into it.

Have fun and let me know what you find out.

It's very similar to “the map is not the territory” or the 'green' exercise.
The theory is clear, but we are so used to take a word for real and make our own assumptions.

Love,
Sundance

[Anastacia42]

we are so used to take a word for real and make our own assumptions.

Yes. That's what you're un-learning here.

Now... can you see how "self" is like an "apple?"

Is there any Direct Experience of a "self? "


Loving,

[SundanceMuc]

Now... can you see how "self" is like an "apple?"

‘Self’ is a word/ a label like ‘apple’. The word itself has no content.
The difference is: a real apple can be experienced through the senses. A self not.

Is there any Direct Experience of a "self? "

No, there is no DE of a self possible.
We only have a body and thoughts, what together can make us feel like a ‘self’.

[Anastacia42]

So, an "apple," while not "real," is in a way, more real than any " self"?

Isn't that interesting? 🤔

Now try this:

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,