The Gate

Hi

When you look at the word label ‘GREEN' , what is the actual experience?
When I look at the word “green” the actual experience is an image of letters and a thought-image of the green colour.

This is not a trick question.

No. It's red

Can you not see that is red?

Loving

Oh. So, it is a trick question :) Yes, I see, it is red.

No. It is a simple question if you LOOK wroth your eyes and ignore your thinking & labels. That is what you must do to see there is no "self," because there is nothing to see.

It was only a trick because you did not follow the instructions in Colored Socks and use your eyes

Please review Colored Socks for your initial instructions.

Colored Socks

There is a big difference between knowing that there is nothing to give up and seeing that there is nothing to give up.

Here is an example to illustrate the difference:

If I ask you what color socks you are wearing right now you have two ways to come up with an answer:

• You can think about it, you can think back to this morning and try to remember putting your socks on, and you can probably tell me what color you think they are.

• Alternatively, you can take a quick look at your socks and tell me what color they actually are!

Hopefully you would agree that you can only be 100% certain by looking.

For the purpose of seeing this "no self" idea, it is very important that you are clear about this difference.

Knowing is about knowledge which is all in the mind and we are not interested in that

We are only interested in looking at and seeing what is actually going on in your present moment-to-moment experience. We are only interested in your Direct Experience in the moment..

Direct or Actual Experience is

Seeing
Hearing
Feeling (Sensation, not emotion. Emotion is Sensation plus made-up thoughts & labels)
Tasting
Smelling
Thoughts Arising (but not their content)

Please let me know if you are clear about this or if you would like any further clarification.



Do you understand?

Yes, this is clear

Great. Let's take each quoted question from the top again.


Label-Reality Correlation

There is a belief that labels have a one-to-one correspondence with ‘reality’. But there isn’t. Just like it is a generally accepted belief that labels like ‘good’ and ‘bad’ are inherent characteristics of ‘things’. But actually, they are not.

When you look at the word label ‘GREEN' , what is the actual experience?

Is the color red ‘experienced’, or is the color green ‘experienced’ as the label suggests?

Does the label ‘GREEN’ have a one-to-one correspondence with ‘reality’? Or does the label suggest something else other than what is here now (red colour)?

Is 'green' associated in any way with the experience of the colour red; or is green just a label that overlays the actual experience of red?

If the label ‘GREEN’ is replaced with the label ‘GOOD’ or ‘BAD’ , is the redness affected in any way as the labels suggests?

Does redness become ‘good’ or ‘bad’, or do the labels have no affect whatsoever on ‘reality’?

Let me know what is SEEN.

Loving

When you look at the word label ‘GREEN' , what is the actual experience? Is the color red ‘experienced’, or is the color green ‘experienced’ as the label suggests?

My experience is seeing red colour.

Does the label ‘GREEN’ have a one-to-one correspondence with ‘reality’? Or does the label suggest something else other than what is here now (red colour)?

The label suggests green colour, but in reality it is red.

Is 'green' associated in any way with the experience of the colour red; or is green just a label that overlays the actual experience of red?

It is a label that overlays the actual experience of red.

If the label ‘GREEN’ is replaced with the label ‘GOOD’ or ‘BAD’ , is the redness affected in any way as the labels suggests?

No, redness does not change.

Does redness become ‘good’ or ‘bad’, or do the labels have no affect whatsoever on ‘reality’?

No. The labels have no affect on reality.

Exactly. This vis just like "self" is a label.

Now let's try this.


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

What about the content of thoughts, what they describe?

Hm... Looks like the content of thought is another thought.

Is there really an ‘apple’ here, or only color and a thought ABOUT ‘apple’?
Can ‘apple’ be found in actual experience?

There is only colour and a thought, no 'apple' in actual experience.

However, is an apple actually known?

'Apple' is just a label; it is known as thought, but the real apple can not be found in the actual experience and thus can not be known.

Yes. Just like "self"

Can you see that?

Try this now.

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,

Yes. Just like "self"

Can you see that?

Yes. The "self" is just a label. "I" is just a label.

How is the movement controlled?

In the direct experience, it is not controlled.

Does a thought control it?

It can seem so, but no. The thought arises together with action.

Can a ‘controller’ of any description be located?

'Controller' is just a label, so - no.

How is the decision made to turn the hand over?

It's simply happening.

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

I can say "I" - but it's only a way of speaking. In direct experience, no entity can do that.

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

No. I can only make it from thoughts :)

Exactly.

How does it FEEL to see this?

Loving,

How does it FEEL to see this?

When I was answering the questions, the feeling was pretty ordinary and calm, maybe slightly lighter than usual. But now I feel sad. Do not exactly know why.

We label Sensations "sad" when we want them to be different. Do you know what you wanted to be different?



We are looking for a shift in perception.


From an email from Ilona

Nothing dramatic happened.

There were no fireworks.
No permanent bliss states.
No sudden personality changes.

And yet, something shifted.


Here are a few things people said afterwards:

“I’m not fighting my experience anymore. There’s more space around everything.”

“I expected something big to happen. Instead, life feels simpler and I trust myself more.”

“There’s less urgency. The seeking has softened.”


This is the kind of shift this work supports.

Ilona Cuinate

Lovng

Do you know what you wanted to be different?

I feel as I had an expectation of energy boost or something. I had a thought that I will never feel excited because “I” is a label, so there is no one who can feel that way.

Ah. Don't worry. You'll feel excited. You just won't be so attached. It will feel lighter.

Can you say 100% there's no separate "self?"

Loving,