The Gate

The hand just moves

Yes. We don't know. It is a mystery.

Okay, let's try this one:

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

Greetings Stacy,

What about the content of thoughts, what they describe?

Content of thoughts includes:
Round, red. Values of lights and darks, shadow areas, lighter areas, some areas a little glossy. The skin has little contrasting light spots - almost iridescent. Thoughts of memories of tasting an apple and recalling how it tastes.
These thoughts are all “known” - I notice them. They’re all narrating something.
The contents of those thoughts… hmm.. I see how they are just more labels.

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

There is a thing here that I know that I can eat. My body recognizes this as food, from prior experience. It is here because I see it, it is seen, and I can reach out and touch it, and I do. But yes, I see that there is only color and other physical attributes and thoughts about it.

Can ‘apple’ be found in actual experience?

Definitely not.

However, is an apple actually known?

No.

Have fun and let me know what you find out.

Funny what we consider fun these days.. and that WAS 'fun' o_O

Yes. Good!

How does it FEEL to see this?

Loving ❤️

Hi Stacy,

How does it FEEL to see this?

I pondered over this question a lot. Should be pretty easy to notice how I "feel"... but... it didn't feel as straightforward in the moment when I first read it. It feels like my mind is still grasping at things - still putting forth the effort to see things like this - if that makes any sense. It feels like there's a bit of control at play.

Generally, though, I feel more detached. More neutral.

Sincerely.

Okay, yes you're thinking, rather than feeling & looking.

That is correct, but you got there through thinking.

detached. More neutral.

Those are more thoughts. We want things that bodies can feel like hot and cold, tense and relaxed, heavy or light, that kind of thing.

url]https://youtu.be/wyNwhK2Ur1c?si=TZwuFEst-7Hsadpu[/url]

and

https://youtu.be/uAXtO5dMqEI

Treat these like a meditation.

We are looking for a shift in perception. A visceral thing, not a thought. Relax into it.

Treat these pointers like meditation.

LOOK with your eyes. Ignore thoughts.

https://youtu.be/wyNwhK2Ur1c?si=TZwuFEst-7Hsadpu

Palm Flipping Exercise

1. Hold a hand in front of you; palm turned down.

2. Now turn the palm up. And down...and up and so on.

Watch like a hawk.

Don't go to thoughts – examine your direct experience.

Do this as many times as you like, and each time inquire:

How is the movement controlled?

Does a thought control it?

Can a ‘controller’ of any description be located?

How is the decision made to turn the hand over?

Track any decision point when a thought MADE THE DECISION to turn the hand over and the hand turns over immediately.

Who or what ​ chose which hand - the left or right hand for the exercise?

Can you find a separate individual or anything that is choosing when to turn the palm up or down?

Loving,

Hi! I know it's been a while but I'm still here. I watched the videos - all made sense. Working through it.

Okay. Please pick up with the last pointer. Quote & answer the questions individually.

Welcome back.

Loving,

How is the movement controlled?

Attention goes to the hand and after that the hand moves on its own.

Does a thought control it?

No, thought does not control it.

Can a ‘controller’ of any description be located?

No.

How is the decision made to turn the hand over?

There is absolutely no decision. If it's up, it goes down, and if down then up, and so on.

Track any decision point when a thought MADE THE DECISION to turn the hand over and the hand turns over immediately.

I couldn't find anything. There was no thought that made the decision. The thoughts came afterwards - as observations of whether the hand was up or down.

Who or what ​ chose which hand - the left or right hand for the exercise?

I don't know who or what it was... but habit and situation-ship chose which hand. Being right handed all throughout this life, I typically use my right hand, unless it's holding something.

Can you find a separate individual or anything that is choosing when to turn the palm up or down?

No.

Good. How does it FEEL to see this?


Loving

Hi Stacy - I hope you had a great weekend.

Jumping to the question...

How does it FEEL to see this?

It feels like a contraction all up in the chest area. It feels kind of warm and "nervous." Pressure behind the eyes putting pressure on tear ducts. Tightening of the throat. A relaxed humming throughout the chest cavity.

So. you're getting the lie feeling when you see there is no controller? Please look closely.

Loving