The Gate

Other than your doubts it sounds as though you're clear that there is no "self."

See what you get from these videos on doubt.

https://youtu.be/a_8N331jpA4?si=wHE8KmhO7n9uwLPp

Loving,

Hi Stacy,

I watched to video and I can see the doubt is just more thought. The underlying belief is that there should be “more” in the shift - I’ve heard so many stories of others experience and it being an obvious, pronounced shift (eg laughing for days, profound peace) and while I have had a little of that, it has felt pretty normal with just a clearer awareness of the truth of things. I can feel the shifted awareness in my thinking - for example, spiritual stuff (like listening to the Byron Katie book) makes greater experiential sense to me. And a greater awareness that I can ignore my thoughts.

So I think it’s just a reaction to the lack of fireworks- which of course I know everyone is different…

Your thoughts?

Thanks for your continued support!

Not everyone gets fireworks. Very often it is gradual & subtle. But you must admit that it is unmistakable, yes?

Your answers will be shared with other guides,who may have questions. Stay tuned!

Loving,

Yes, the illusion is shattered. I am not here in the way I thought I was. It’s all a pretty amazing 3-D movie…

I think it will just take time for the knowingness to permeate my experience…

Hi Katty,

Another guide has a couple of questions:

Is there still a sense of seeking?

And given that the shift was not as dramatic as expected: Right now, is anything missing?

Loving,

Is there still a sense of seeking?

Less, but sometimes, yes. Always when I’ve re-identified with my mind. The other day my mind got going on a negative topic and awareness was caught in the storm and I started getting distressed. And then the blessed thought came - “oh, I can just ignore all of this” - and the storm cleared and the sun came out. Same thing last night in the middle of the night. When I remember that I don’t have to listen, the sense of needing a solution to the suffering drops away. I did Byron Katie’s The Work this morning and it is so easy to see/experience that life without the problematic beliefs (which is just ignoring/not believing the mental chatter) is freedom. So I just want to strengthen my new awareness.

And given that the shift was not as dramatic as expected: Right now, is anything missing?

As long as I’m not tangled up in my mind, everything is perfect. It’s only my mind making problems. It’s all just happening. And I really mean that. There is nothing better than just being present.

Thanks!

Hi Katty,

Another guide wants to know:

1. “How it works: Thoughts or other experiences arise, coming from somewhere. I used to think thoughts were "coming from my mind" and now after the mirror experiment, I realize I have no idea where they come from. They happen in awareness just like experiences do (sensations, tastes, smells).”

Why assume they come “into awareness”?

Right now, there are colours, sensations, sounds, thoughts, tastes, smells.

Where is awareness? Is it some sort of a container for experience?
Can you locate it? Point to it? Touch it?
Or is it just a word, a concept?

Without that imagined observer, is there any separation left at all?
Is there awareness?
Or just seeing… hearing… sensation… thought… without owner, without container?

Where’s the line between thought and awareness?
Between sensation and awareness?
Between experience and experiencer?

Look right now:

Where does one end and the other begin?
Can you find two?
Or is that division just another thought—arising in what cannot be divided? Is there awareness or simply the undeniable fact of just this/whatever is happening?

2. “I don't have total confidence that I have it. I think I do but I'm nervous to be set loose. Thoughts come - Maybe I am fooling myself? I'm aware those are all thoughts that came unbidden out of nowhere. That says I have it. But I have trouble listening to thoughts or tuning them out rather than thinking I am a thinker thinking them. "

Can you find the one who doesn’t have it?

Where is the one who’s “not sure”? What is listening to thoughts or tunes them down? "Awareness"?? "Not me"?
Can you find them?

It's a lot. Sorry. And thank you in advance.

Loving,

Hi Stacy,

No worries at all - it’s helpful to figure out the language for these things. I feel like my thinking brain is working to catch up with my experience so this helps.

Why assume they come “into awareness”?

This was a language problem - thoughts just arise and (I) become aware of them. There isn’t an “into” beyond arising/appearing - there’s no “out”.

Right now, there are colours, sensations, sounds, thoughts, tastes, smells.

Where is awareness? Is it some sort of a container for experience?
Can you locate it? Point to it? Touch it?
Or is it just a word, a concept?

This is hard because all language is labels and concepts. So it’s hard to use those labels to describe that which defies description. I feel very clunky at this point. Awareness isn’t something separate in experience or a thing/a container. If I use Rupert Spira’s screen analogy, I am using the label awareness to refer to what is on the screen in a given moment. So if a thought is on the screen, that thought is in my awareness. I hope that clarifies. It’s amazing how hard this is to be clear within myself and translate that to words.

Without that imagined observer, is there any separation left at all?
Is there awareness?
Or just seeing… hearing… sensation… thought… without owner, without container?

The “observer” dropped away for me in January. So yes, the latter. There is this perspective (and maybe others, but I can never know), but there is no owner making this perspective happen. It just happens. Sights come, sounds come, thoughts come, etc., all without a doer or an owner making any of that happen.

Where’s the line between thought and awareness?
Between sensation and awareness?
Between experience and experiencer?

There is none.

Look right now:

Where does one end and the other begin?
Can you find two?
Or is that division just another thought—arising in what cannot be divided? Is there awareness or simply the undeniable fact of just this/whatever is happening?

It’s a descriptive label referring to what’s on the screen, not a thing by itself. Right now, I am aware I am typing. It’s just referring to where attention lies in the moment.

Can you find the one who doesn’t have it?

lol. No.

Where is the one who’s “not sure”? What is listening to thoughts or tunes them down? "Awareness"?? "Not me"?
Can you find them?

Just chattering thoughts. Egads. It’s hard not to fall in to that hole of believing my thoughts. I have lived so much of my life in my head.

On the question - what is listening to thoughts or tunes them down - This is an area I don’t yet have a good mental map for yet. I am aware thoughts just happen and their content is suspect. Those are thoughts about thoughts that suggest giving them less attention would be a good thing. So that is thinking deciding that less attention on thinking is a good idea (not necessarily a-priori to less attention on thoughts). However, there is no I thinking those thoughts, they just come. So I don’t know how it happens, and it could be random change, but somehow the shift of more attention to experience and less attention to thoughts has been happening over this journey. One influence/example - Stacy suggested less attention on thoughts and her pointers have supported that - so my thoughts say is it is like the kinetic forces when one billiard ball hits another. There isn’t an I that makes the second ball roll, it’s just the interaction of the balls. So there are some forces like characters in a movie, creating a change in the movie playing on my screen… This is messy and not totally clear in my mind. I realize in trying to explain that I can’t truly know how change happens. Thanks for helping me examine my thinking/language about my experience. I hope what I’ve said makes some sense and is helpful in evaluating my understanding of no-self.

Thanks for the time you take to read all of this!

Thank you for your welcoming this.

Stay tuned!

Loving,

Hi Stacy,

Will do. And I just wanted to say thanks for your pointer to The Work and BK's book - it's been helpful. Listening to her really helps me see and get a picture of her awakened state, and that is helping guide me as I fall and try to figure out what is true for me now...

Beautiful!

You're quite welcome. I call this creating world peace, one mind at a time.

Loving,

Funny, my practice motto (for couples work) is More love in the world, one couple at a time. I love your plan - I'll have to join you when I've found my feet!

That would be great.

Just checking in - I got an aftercare private message and am wondering if I’ll hear back here on the answers I gave or if we’re done and that’s the graduation 👩‍🎓? Would love to close this loop with you.

I’m listening to BKs book - what a trip. Not all of it makes sense yet but it’s amazing to me that a lot of it does resonate. It’s helping things sink in.

Thanks!

Good morning

Usually, I reply once a day. It's only been 24 hours. :)

No one had any further questions. So yes. We are complete with this conversation. As we've said, this is just a beginning. As untrue thoughts come up to be questioned, The Work of Byron Katie can help clear things up.

You can friend me on Facebook if you want to stay in touch or ask questions. You can attend any of our teleconferences to talk with others.

There. Does the loop feel more closed? 🤔

Much love