Searching for truth

[WhoWell]

What is found?

Yes. I definitely noticed a tension or squeezing in my gut/lower chest area. Just reading your examples of lying made it come up.
It came up just this morning. I told a friend I'd be happy to help with something that I really didn't care to do. I said I would anyway, because I didn't want to hurt her feelings.

Do you see that?

Yes. I can see that. It's like saying someone treated you kindly vs describing the warmth and openness you felt when you were with them.

[Anastacia42]

Okay good.

I think you understand this next one. but just in case:


Label-Reality Correlation

There is a belief that labels have a one-to-one correspondence with ‘reality’. But there isn’t. Just like it is a generally accepted belief that labels like ‘good’ and ‘bad’ are inherent characteristics of ‘things’. But actually, they are not.

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.

Loving,

[WhoWell]

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

The actual experience is seeing red (which is technically still a label)

Is the color red ‘experienced’, or is the color green ‘experienced’ as the label suggests?

The color red is experienced.

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)?

No, it does not have a one-to-one correspondence with reality. When thought about the label green brings to mind something different than the color that is here.

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?

'Green' is just an overlay. It does not change the actual color experienced in any way.

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

No. The red color experienced remains the same regardless of what label is used.

Does redness become ‘good’ or ‘bad’, or do the labels have no affect whatsoever on ‘reality’?
Let me know what is SEEN.

The redness remains the same. Labels do not affect reality in any way. It is what it is no matter how we describe it.

[Anastacia42]

Exactly.

Now let's bring it 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,

[WhoWell]

What about the content of thoughts, what they describe?

The content of thoughts are just labels. They are not actual experience and can't be known. Only the experience of the thoughts arising can be known.

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

There are only sensory experiences and thoughts about 'apple'. Again, 'apple' is just a label.

Can ‘apple’ be found in actual experience?

No. There is no 'apple'. Only sensory experiences.

However, is an apple actually known?

The only knowing is in the present moment experience. All other 'apples' are just thought content or labels in my head.

Have fun and let me know what you find out.

This made my head feel fuzzy.

[Anastacia42]

You're seeing clearly.

This made my head feel fuzzy.

That can happen.

How else does it FEEL to see no apple?


Loving

[WhoWell]

How else does it FEEL to see no apple?

I am having a hard time with the feeling, but if I had to describe it I would say lighter. It doesn't feel as heavy when I can just let go of labels and live the experience.

[Anastacia42]

Yes. Lighter. The truth/yes feeling.

We are looking for a shift in perception. Usually, you'll notice less contraction and heaviness and more expansion and lightness.

Watch for that.

Remind me to share Palm Flipping.

Now try these. Be sure to listen to the Introduction.

https://www.dropbox.com/sh/ksba3zhi9uuz ... hsk1a?dl=0

Loving,

[WhoWell]

Thank you.
I listened to the intro and first meditation. It is very similar to a practice I naturally stumbled into a couple months ago. As I was driving or walking I would just notice different things around me and think "I am that and that is God."
I'm excited to listen to the rest. It will probably take a few days. I will check in again after listening to them all.

[Anastacia42]

Great!

I usually ask for check-in after each one. That way you remember what your responses were.

Loving,

[WhoWell]

Sure, I'll check in after each one.

The second meditation (audio #3) was also something similar to a practice I've already been doing. Watching thoughts arise was something I learned from Angelo Dilullo's book. I hadn't really paid attention to the feeling part before though.
Going to where thoughts arise reminded me of floating in water. It feels lighter and very little resistance. Some thoughts arise and seem to tug on my attention a little more than others. But in general there's little resistance as they come and go, like little waves in the water.
At the end I'm not sure if I dozed off or just wasn't conscious of things anymore. I didn't notice until I was jerked into awareness again.

[Anastacia42]

Good!

Yes definitely pay attention to sensation. That is direct experience.

We are looking for a shift in perception.

Loving

[WhoWell]

Audio #4

I didn't get this meditation very well. Listened a few times. I noticed that as I focus on the experiencer/receiver, fewer thoughts arise and the body is able to relax more.

[Anastacia42]

Good.

Relaxation & expansive feelings are the truth feeling, so you're getting it!

Great. Keep LOOKING!

Loving

[WhoWell]

Audio #5

I really liked this one. I could see a big difference in the contraction and relaxing here. I'm definitely starting to recognize that better. I could see very clearly in this meditation the difference between being "I" and letting that label go. There's so much heavy baggage related to trying to be the good mom, wife, teacher, etc. that I've associated with it. Also with the longing for something different! It feels so much lighter to release all of that. I feel like I am doing better with noticing a contraction and releasing. I still don't notice much when trying to notice "expansion." It's like I can get back to a certain baseline but struggle to go beyond that. At one point I felt a little trickle of warmth in my chest like something was trying to come through, but I was still too tense to let it.