Searching for a guide

[hashim_b]

Hi Kevin,

This is what I have come up with so far:

List for me all the reasons I is just a thought.

All the beliefs that make up my identity, are made of thoughts (E).

All the actions I take that make up my life, come from thoughts that I have accumulated (E).

There is actually no free will in making choices (sometimes I can see as E, and sometimes feels like T).

There is an unchanging awareness, that is aware of all thoughts and phenomena (sometimes T, sometimes E).

If I peel away my physical body, my name, my job, all the attributes of my life, then all that is left is the awareness of it (T, E).

I have heard from sages that I is just a thought (T).

List for me all the reasons I is not just a thought.

The thoughts and emotions being felt at that moment feel real (E).

The physical body with all its sensations feels real (E).

Society at large never says "I is just a thought", and if you say that "I is just a thought" people will think you are crazy (T).

I make every little decision in my life (sometimes feels like E, sometimes feels like T).

I look at the mirror or a photograph of myself, and the person there is me. Even though that person changes little by little, it is still me (E, T).

When this body dies, that is the end of me (T). I have never had a near death experience, so I can't say this from experience.

[KevinD]

Excellent, Hashim,
There's a lot there, and we'll get back to it.
First, I want to revisit some previous posts before I forget.
On June 20, you said:

First of all, all the sensations I have of the physical body, feels to me to be proof that the I is more than a thought. Being hungry, having pain, feeling sleepy, etc. These cannot be
thoughts can they?"

Find the "me" that is experiencing this hunger, pain and sleepiness. Explain your discovery

Thanks, Hashim, good work.

Kevin

[hashim_b]

Hi Kevin,

Find the "me" that is experiencing this hunger, pain and sleepiness. Explain your discovery

The me that is experiencing these things is the physical body. The consciousness isn't affected.

I also thought of some other things, regarding the last email.

Why "I" is a thought:

The desires that make up "I", are satisfied when I get what I want (T) . For a short while there is some satisfaction, but as soon as I get what I want, I want the next thing, so those desires would.

What people say about me is true (T).

[KevinD]

Nice add to that list, thank you.
So, this "me" that has been identified somehow as you, it is experienced through the physical body?
When the body is really sick, or injured, or even paralyzed from the neck down, it certainly is unfortunate and can present some challenges.
But does does that lessen what you really are?

[hashim_b]

Hi Kevin,

So, this "me" that has been identified somehow as you, it is experienced through the physical body?
When the body is really sick, or injured, or even paralyzed from the neck down, it certainly is unfortunate and can present some challenges.
But does does that lessen what you really are?

If I'm sick or injured, it doesn't affect who I really am. It doesn't affect the consciousness. I can't say that I am fully in the knowing of that 100% of the time, but I know that that consciousness exists.

[KevinD]

So if what you are is not the physical body, how is it possible that it can stand as proof that the "I" is more than a thought?

Is it you, or is it just the body feeling hunger?

Is it you, or is it just the body feeling pain?

[KevinD]

Hi Hashim,
Just checking in.
All okay?

[hashim_b]

Hi Kevin,

Sorry about the delay. I had some trouble answering them and then I got busy with work stuff.

So if what you are is not the physical body, how is it possible that it can stand as proof that the "I" is more than a thought?

If I am not the physical body, then there really is no proof that the I is more than a thought. If the body is removed, then there are just thoughts left. And then if the thoughts are removed, there would seem to be nothing left. I am tempted to say the "soul" is left, but that is probably just a thought too so I will leave it at that.

Is it you, or is it just the body feeling hunger?

The body is feeling hunger. I have done many juice cleanses and fasts, so I understand that hunger can often be misleading, and the feeling of hunger can change often. Hunger can be mistaken for dehydration, and if you're busy with something, you tend to forget that you're hungry.

Is it you, or is it just the body feeling pain?

Pain is also something felt by the body. Pains in the body can often change and move to different places, or disappear. So this is also something that is not a constant.

[KevinD]

Excellent Hashim,
Thank you!

Some great statements in here I would like to point at for your reaction.

You say that both pain and hunger are always changing.
You also said previously that a characteristic of what you really are is that it is forever unchanging.
What does this tell you about the relationship between the body and its physical manifestations and the real you?

Nice work, Hasim.

Kevin

[hashim_b]

Hi Kevin,

What does this tell you about the relationship between the body and its physical manifestations and the real you?

All the physical manifestations are temporary and fleeting. The real me is unchanging and observes the changing phenomena.

I understand that there is no free will, but when certain desires come up, I am trying to understand what to do if I want to avoid certain desires, or make better choices. For example if I want to be a more calm person rather than giving into anger or impatience, what can be done? If there is no free will, then it would seem that there is no way to avoid certain emotions or desires.

Thank you.

[KevinD]

All the physical manifestations are temporary and fleeting. The real me is unchanging and observes the changing phenomena.

Perfect.
I'd like you to answer directly, are you the body, or it's accompanying sensations?
I need this answered without any doubt whatever.

Hi Kevin,I understand that there is no free will, but when certain desires come up, I am trying to understand what to do if I want to avoid certain desires, or make better choices. For example if I want to be a more calm person rather than giving into anger or impatience, what can be done? If there is no free will, then it would seem that there is no way to avoid certain emotions or desires.

I'm glad you raised this, it's where I thought we should go from here.
I won't answer this question you ask, you will.
Please identify the emotion you are experiencing right now.
Now stop it, immediately.
Now, feel joy. Sustain that for at least 10 minutes.
Let me know how that worked out.

Thanks, Hashim,

Best,

Kevin

[KevinD]

How goes, Hashim?

[hashim_b]

Hi Kevin,

I'd like you to answer directly, are you the body, or it's accompanying sensations?
I need this answered without any doubt whatever.

I'm not the body or it's accompanying sensations. I'm confident I understand this.

Please identify the emotion you are experiencing right now.
Now stop it, immediately.
Now, feel joy. Sustain that for at least 10 minutes.
Let me know how that worked out.

I found that this was not possible. When I try to feel joy or any emotions, there are always other thoughts that will come in and distract that emotion.
I guess this shows that it's not possible to control emotions completely?

[KevinD]

You guess?
Please keep looking until you're sure.
Do the exercises again as many times as necessary.

[hashim_b]

Hi Kevin,

Yes I know for sure that it's not possible to control the emotions completely...