The Gate

Very good, Jerry. No one is lost in thought. Without a judgment about it, is there such a thing as being lost in thought? Can you find, at the moment it happens, the moment where "being lost in thought" begins?

Without a judgment about it, is there such a thing as being lost in thought? Can you find, at the moment it happens, the moment where "being lost in thought" begins?

Hi Jeff, will look at this today and report back

Without a judgment about it, is there such a thing as being lost in thought? Can you find, at the moment it happens, the moment where "being lost in thought" begins

I don't believe there is any such thing.
There is a thought saying "I was lost in thought" but I haven't been able to notice anything else

Great, Jerry! So would you agree that it's thoughts all the way down? That's a reference to a joke. A man expresses the opinion that the world is supported by a turtle. His interlocutor asks, "Well, what supports the turtle?" The man replies, "Another turtle." "And what supports that turtle?" "Another turtle." Is there anything more to thoughts?
In other words, is there any foundational thought upon which all other thoughts rest?

Thanks Jeff. Yes thoughts all the way down. I haven't been able to find any foundational thought, thoughts just reference other thoughts then new random thoughts arise over and over.

I think you're doing great, Jerry. Is there some aspect of the sense of self that persists? Or would you like to try an exercise from the "book"?
Jeff

Thanks Jeff. There doesn't seem to be any sense of self that persists so let's try an exercise from the book

Deeper Body Investigation

Here is an even deeper investigation of the body. Please follow each step, don't leave out any. Take your time. Don't move to the next step until the previous one is clearly seen. Repeat the exercise several times.

Stand in front of a bigger mirror.

(1) First, close the eyes and feel the sensations labelled ‘body’.

(2) Then open the eyes and look into the mirror while still paying attention to the sensations.

Is there any connection between the felt sensations and the image in the mirror?
Or just thoughts (and/or mental images) suggest that there is? 

(3) While still paying attention to the sensations move one hand and observe the movement from the mirror.

Is there any connection between the felt sensations (labelled ‘hand’) and image of movement in the mirror?

(4) Now do the same movement with the hand, but this time look at the hand directly, not from the mirror.

Is there any connection between the felt sensations (labelled ‘hand’) and the image ‘of movement’? Or only thoughts suggest it?

(5) Now, pay attention only to the image in the mirror. 

Does the image by itself suggest in any way that is ‘you’ or ‘your body’?
Does the image itself suggest in any way that it is a ‘body’ at all?
Or are there only colours and shapes?

(6) Where the mirror ends, some parts of the body (probably legs) cannot be seen.

Just by the image in the mirror, is there any ‘knowledge’ that there must be legs, or only thoughts and mental images suggest so?

(7) Now turn away from the mirror and look forward (don’t look directly to any body parts).

Is there a ‘body’ anywhere when all thoughts and images are ignored, or are there only sensations?

(8) Start to walk slowly.

Is there a ‘body walking’, or are there only sensations?
Is there actual experience of ‘walking’ at all?
Or just THOUGHTS ABOUT ‘walking’?
Can such a thing as ‘body’ be found OR just THOUGHTS ABOUT a ‘body’?
Can such a thing as ‘walking’ be found?
 
(9) Are the sensations localized in space, like ‘going through the room’; OR is there only an image that is labelled ‘room’ and appearing sensations without any location?

Thanks for the exercise Jeff, will continue to work on this taking my time and keep you updated.

Hi Jeff still working on the exercises and progressing slowly but surely

Hi Jeff still working through the exercises, didn't get much time yesterday.

Continuing with the exercise, still working through all the exercises for the first time. I got stuck on 3 for awhile but onto 4 now.

Hi Jeff, still stuck on 4, there's frustration at not getting the exercise and then doing something else for awhile before coming back again. Trying to notice those are just thoughts too.

Take your time and repeat as needed. Just observe. What are you seeing?

Still working on the 4th step, it's easier to notice sensations have no location when being still but harder when watching the hand move. Will keep at it!