The Gate

Hi Alex,

(I am a bit worried that I am understanding this but not seeing it).

Probably, but it will support the shift in perception we're watching for.


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


Loving,

Hi Stacy

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

No the redness is not affected.

As an aside, I am wondering if I am making any progress here?

(Meanwhile) I am enjoying practising previous exercises. In particular, rather than:

I am hearing the birds
I am lying on my bed (and noticing a slight tension in my gut as I say this)

I change it to:

Hearing the birds
Sensation of Lying on the bed (tension in gut eases)

(I love the idea that the body feels better (expansiveness, ease etc) than when I am telling a lie (even if I don't know fully yet that it really is a lie!)

And thinking about something you said in one of your first posts how expectations and fears get in the way of this.

I am noticing a few expectations float across my mind:

I won't see the truth
Something more than looking is required (more intelligence, more ability, more experience)

Not many fears though - I was guided about 9 years ago and gave up - I felt existentially very frightened. I don't now.

All the best Stacy.

Alex

Good morning,

Thank you for contacting the Admin. It seems that I did not get a notification. If that happens again you can contact them again or you can use the email function here on this forum.

As an aside, I am wondering if I am making any progress here?

The question of progress is an interesting one in this context. The answer is yes you are making leaps in your understanding of what reality is, what the content of thought is, and is not, but the way I conceptuslize awakening Is that it is almost like a toggle switch. You are either awake or you are not and pretty much goes from one to the other in a moment or in a series of small moments over what we perceive as time.

I hope that is helpful.

Those doubts are very normal. If you like, take a look at Pernille's videos on the 2nd Fetter of doubt.

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


Loving

I posed the "progress" question in the guides forum & so far. have a couple of good answers. These may help.


I would remind them why they are doing the LU inquiry in the first place, and to look in their DE for an “I” or thinker.
Do they want validation in order to prove that a separate, independent “I” exists that can make or not make progress?


What is ‘progress’ in direct experience? Does it exist outside of thought?


Loving,

Hi Stacey

Apologies for my lack of daily response. I was thrown by you not getting notifications of my replies last week, and the five days of radio silence slightly threw me off track.

However I intend to be back and in daily contact again from now on.

Yes I see the presupposition to my question about progress. There has to be 'someone' progressing. I will continue to look for who that might be!

What is ‘progress’ in direct experience? Does it exist outside of thought?

Progress is clearly a thought and therefore not real. And then there are further thoughts about progress itself, which is thought layered upon thought.

What now Stacey?

Best regards

Alex

First, there's no "e" in my name. Thanks.

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,

Hi Stacy

I am taking my time with this and have a question:

What is known for sure? Color is known and thoughts are known.

Why is 'colour' known. I cannot see colour in DE surely? There is seeing, and there it the thought that this colour is green. But you've said that the content of thoughts cannot be seen in DE.

When I look out my window, there is seeing different trees and plants, but isn't it thoughts that tell me that is green, that is red, that is yellow and so on?

Presumably it is no different to looking out my window and seeing (a car). The content of thoughts tell me it is a car.

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

Here again you say

Color labeled ‘apple’ is known

. I would have said that in DE, we experience colour as 'differences' rather than yellow, red, blue.

So am I misunderstanding something here?

Kind regards

Alex

Yes, the names are not DE, but the color is.

Can you see the difference?

Loving,

Hi Stacy

Yes I see that the names of the colours are not found in DE, but colour is (but with the caveat that 'colour' does not exist in DE, only perceived differences in seeing.

Best wishes

Alex

Okay, Alex, onward.

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?

Quotes, one at a time, please?

Loving,

Hi Stacy

I am away all week this week on work and won't be able to give this my attention until probably Tuesday week.
Will that be ok?

Kind regards

Alex

Sure. It's fine to practice in many contexts. Up to you.

Thank you for letting me know.

Loving

Hi Stacy

Yes I will certainly be practicing, but I just don't know if I will be able to reply until next week.

All the best

Alex

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