The Gate

Labels affect the experience.

Yes.

Sit quietly and relax, take your time just looking at what is in front of you for a while. Observe how the mind is dividing and labelling every thing into objects and is embellishing them with stories about what they are.
Give it some time.
Then, stop watching the objects as labelled objects. Just look at the seeing itself. Observe the pure process of seeing. This is direct experience.

Here's an exercise that I would like you to try as many times throughout the day as you can. Label daily activities simply color/image, sound, smell, taste, sensation, thought.

So for example, when having breakfast, become aware of:
Seeing a cup, simply= image/color
Smelling coffee, simply = smell
Feeling the warmth of the coffee cup, simply = sensation
Tasting the coffee, simply = taste
Hearing the spoon stirring the coffee, simply = sound
Thought about drinking the coffee, simply = thought

Just break down daily activities into these categories (which are all actual/direct experience) and report back how you go.

It was an interesting exercise. There were no stories in it, only experience.
I simply listened to people. It was just sounds. If interpretations arose, I simply noticed them and didn't get involved in them, didn't believe them.
I noticed that I felt quiet inside today. Either because I was doing the exercise, or because of the realizations I had the other day. I began to see the stories of my mind more clearly and, at the same time, cling less to my "I." and see more often that there is no "I"
sound it is just sound
smell it is just smell
colour it is just colour
thought it is just thought
things are just happening
no reason

Lovely, yes. Beautiful.
And looking directly in this same way, is there any 'I' who clings more or less or sees more or less? or is more or less quiet...
Is 'I' only present in interpretation or stories?

And looking directly in this same way, is there any 'I' who clings more or less or sees more or less? or is more or less quiet...

no.

Is 'I' only present in interpretation or stories?

Yes. "I" presents only in interpretations and stories. It doesn't exists in direct expirience.

The story of "me’ can seem to have continuity. Is it really continuous? Or are there simply isolated thoughts that never can truly touch each other, some of them claiming that there's one continuous story?

It is not continuous. Thera isolated thoughts. Even "I" thought not always there.

Good. So is there an “I” anywhere in experience itself,
or only thoughts talking about one?

And what is in the gap when there is no I thought? Is anything missing? What is experienced?

So is there an “I” anywhere in experience itself,
or only thoughts talking about one?

There are only thoughts talking about one. “I” can’t be experienced directly.

And what is in the gap when there is no I thought?

just experience

Is anything missing? What is experienced?

Experience is experienced. I can't describe it. This moment nothing is missing.

Hello Ilya,

So experience is experienced.
Where is the one that experiences?

Don’t answer from memory. Scan everything, LOOK and find the boundary where “experience” ends
and an “experiencer” begins.

Where is it?

Hello Becca

Where is the one that experiences?

I can't find anyone who experiences. It is just here. Just happening.

Don’t answer from memory. Scan everything, LOOK and find the boundary where “experience” ends
and an “experiencer” begins.

Where is it?

there is no boundary. experience does't end. I can't find an "experiencer"

Is there any evidence, in direct experience, that anything is “happening” in time?

Or simply
this
this
this

(with no movement from one to another except in thought)

Is there “experience” as something known…
or only what is, without any division at all?

Is there any evidence, in direct experience, that anything is “happening” in time?

Or simply
this
this
this

(with no movement from one to another except in thought)

No time in direct experience. It is simply this ... this... this...
Movement from one moment to another just in thoughts.

Is there “experience” as something known…
or only what is, without any division at all?

It is just what it is... without devision. Devision in thoughts and by thoughts.

I have a question. Observation occurs, and there is no "I" in it. Decisions are made, choices happen. And then a fear arises that if I don't support the thought and the illusion that I exist and it chooses and acts, then the choices and decisions can be destructive. For example, eating something that is harmful to the body, committing actions that harm this body and other people or nature. After all, if there is no chooser, then internal animal inclinations can take over, and then life can be destroyed. That's where I have a problem. Please help to solve it.

To your question, how is it working now?

When you were a child and one day you discovered Santa Claus or Batman were not real, did that mean they were ever real?
Is there any evidence that life has ever required a separate controller to function?


You’re imagining a future where “without control, destruction happens.” But look...
That is a thought about what might happen. Not what is happening.

What is actually happening in the body? Is there 'fear' there or only in imagination? If there are sensations labeled 'fear' could you tell me more about what is being experienced? Where?

What is actually happening in the body? Is there 'fear' there or only in imagination? If there are sensations labeled 'fear' could you tell me more about what is being experienced? Where?

Yes, there is fear. A feeling of uneasiness in the chest. it is like trembling.

Very good. Now staying with this sensation in the chest... is it saying “fear” or is that added by thought afterward?

Does the sensation itself resist being there?

Is there an “I” inside it? Behind it? Is there anything this trembling is protecting? Take a look...