The Gate

OK, I think I got it now... but I have already posted the redone version. Maybe you can delete that?

Okay back to work
:)

1. Second one is truer. It is the lighter feeling that tells you that.

2. Awareness is a good answer. but what were looking for is DE, Direct Experience.

3. No. I can call Red Green all day long & it still stays red.

4. Yes, that relaxed open feeling indicates true or yes


Here is how to distinguish truth from lies.


We often lie every day & don't realize it.

For example, the grocery clerk asks, "How are you?" You reply, "I'm fine." While, yes. there is a sense in which we are always fine, even in the middle of suffering, at that moment, you were grieving the death of your dog, you had a slight sore throat & you had a headache, but you didn't feel like sharing all of that with the grocery clerk, so you lied, "I'm fine."

Also, it matters none at all how "distant" the remembered lie is. Besides the fact that time itself is fictional, a kind if lie, as we recall the lie it becomes present in this moment, as if it were happening now. This brings the body Sensation that accompanies lying.

Lies can be intentional or unintentional, conscious or unconscious, even so automatic that we ourselves are fooled.

The story of a separate "self" is a lie.

This is the lie you came here to see through. Therefore, it is helpful to notice the body Sensation of lying as one of the tools for finding the truth of no self.

You want to be in touch with body Sensations & able to clearly express them in words. This will help.

Lies are usually felt in the heart or solar plexus as a contraction that we may label as tight, heavy or tense.

In contrast, truth is usually expansive. We may call it loose, light or relaxed.

First, can you remember a time when you lied to someone you loved?

Here we count anything, lies we think of as "big" or "small" that "matter" or don't "matter."

How are you? I'm fine. No, your knee hurts, but you don't feel like discussing it with the grocery clerk.

It's a lie. A seemingly "bigger" one will work better for this exercise.

Find the lie. I don't need the whole story, just a few key words to refer to it.

Then scan your body for any Sensation (DE or Direct Experience), particularly in the gut or maybe the heart. Check very closely.

What is found?

If you think the memory you used wasn't clear enough, find another one or lie to yourself right now, make something up.

1 + 1 = 14 is a lie.

I love eating worms is (probably) a lie.

Or call up a video of a lying politician & notice what Sensations arise as you listen.

I will give you a clue: it is not that peaceful Sensation you felt before when you omitted "I." (refers to an exercise I gave before this one)

Please report back with what body Sensations (not interpretations) you feel. Bodies can feel hot or cold, heavy or light, contraction or expansion, etc.

"Peaceful" is an interpretation of a body Sensation, not the Sensation itself, for example.

Do you see that?

Loving,

3. No. I can call Red Green all day long & it still stays red.

Isn't a color more of a practical convention than a truth? A certain color is "red" only if you speak English

First, can you remember a time when you lied to someone you loved?

yes, when I told my mother that I really wanted to move to the US with my husband and 3 small children when I actually hated the idea.
this was 50 years ago and I reliably get the same body reaction when I think of it: an almost painful pressure in my throat and head, and I start crying.



"

Peaceful" is an interpretation of a body Sensation, not the Sensation itself, for example.

Do you see that?
Yes, I see that

Isn't a color more of a practical convention than a truth? A certain color is "red" only if you speak English

Sure. ALL words are only practical conventions. Not one is true. None.

Still, if you want to.be guided or to converse, we need something. We simplify as much as possible & still communicate.

Can you see that?

The real point is that "self" has no reality in DE. It's only a thought story attached to a feeling of tension, that indicates an untruth.

Loving

I am still looking for god.

By the way, and it's irrelevant to guiding, but there's no "god" in DE, either. I'm an atheist, but a spiritual atheist.

I just let it be a mystery. Some things cannot be known.

Loving,

The real point is that "self" has no reality in DE. It's only a thought story attached to a feeling of tension, that indicates an untruth.

well, that's a mouthful :) I'll have to let that sink in...

By the way, and it's irrelevant to guiding, but there's no "god" in DE, either. I'm an atheist, but a spiritual atheist.

I just let it be a mystery. Some things cannot be known.

I dont't find descriptions like atheist - or whatever - helpful, they mostly confirm the self - story. And I don't want to sound like Jordan Peterson who blabbered for 10 minutes when he was asked about god. It's a shorthand for something unlimited, not bound by ideas and concepts to me. And I'm fine with the mystery.

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
[flash=][/flash]
However, is an apple actually known?

Have fun and let me know what you find out.

Loving,

Actual/Direct Experience - Apple

the visual image is prominent and immediately brings up the thought "this is an apple" But my apple is cold from the fridge and when I close my eyes and touch it to my lips there is smoothness, and coldness, no way to identify this with a thought about anything.
I hold it in my hands and feel the weight and the shape.
there is no smell.
I bite into it, there is a crunchy sound, another color inside, sweetness in my mouth.

What about the content of thoughts, what they describe?

my thoughts are memories of other apples, plans about what to do with this one, expectations of how it will taste

Actual experience does not refer to thoughts ABOUT something

I get that

Actual experience is sound, thought, color, smell, taste, sensation and the fact of thought arising, but not its content.

I get that , I know there is a difference between a thought in general and a thought about something specific. Is that what we are talking about?

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

I guess not. There is an agreement we make to call this kind of thing an apple, but it's a concept , useful for all kinds of stuff. But it makes my head spin to say : there is no actual apple out there.

Can ‘apple’ be found in actual experience?

no

This is what is meant by "looking in actual experience." What you know for sure, and, is always here.

always?

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?

Stared at this question for quite a while. After all I said before the answer has to be : NO, but I want to say " I know THIS apple, it's inside me now!, some of it is stuck between my teeth. OK, apple is not known. Have to let this sink in

Have fun and let me know what you find out.

Yes "always."

Our definition a reality is anything that does not go away when you stop thinking about it.

Yes take a little time & let that sink in because "self" is the same way.

Loving,