Curious to learn more

[Bambaji]

Of course, take as much time as you need.

I hope you soon feel well

Fran x

[Helene]

Thank you fran
Just don't want to rush my answers ...
When I'm feeling better I can hopefully feedback thoroughly and not rushed .
Helene x

[Helene]

Hello fran
Hoping that your week has been positive so far .

where is the information stored ?

My initial naive thoughts were that information is stored in the brain somewhere ... similar to a video camera , capturing moments which can be retrieved .
Having looked deeper , I'm very unsure and can't see that this is the case . The brain is far more complex , but just a organ like the heart or liver .

It was nessacary for me to complete the tasks again , as you were right .. I have been confusing my direct experiences with my thoughts of what I may perceive to have happened. .Think I'm getting now at last ...
the dialogue , story that we attach to any moment is not accurate and influences our thoughts,reactions and understanding .
There is me thinking that I was tuning in to the world around , but this has made me very aware that this has not been the case .

can you see your mind making decisions ?

No ....

It is just thoughts .. and I can see this now thanks to the excercises that you asked me to complete .

Excercise 1

are you aware of the sounds ?

When sat with my eyes closed , I do have awareness of different sounds around me ..
My breath , cars passing in the street , the humming of the fish tank pump
Thoughts passing like floating clouds , just noticing them without the desire to respond in any way .
I felt calm , relaxed , content , comfortable no intention of thinking at all about anything other than listening .

Excercise 2 choice and decisions

look for choice point

Having carrried out this excercice again , no choice point was found .
The whole process of making a coffee appeared automatic without any thinking at all .
Very robotic really throughout ...
Again no conscious decisions were made , just auto pilot function turned on .
The body is controlling and taking charge if 1000s of decisions without requiring any thinking at all .
Moving all the time , without prompts sometimes subtle and sometimes far more noticeable .. but always in tune with the environment at that moment .
Hoping that I haven't missed any of your questions fran
Thanking you for your patience
Helene x

[Bambaji]

Good morning Helene, lovely to hear from you.

A quick post, just to touch base with you really, and say YAY !!! Great looking, well done you for going back to the exercises and really looking for what was being pointed at.

More later

x

[Bambaji]

Hello again Helene

My initial naive thoughts were that information is stored in the brain somewhere ... similar to a video camera, capturing moments which can be retrieved. Having looked deeper, I'm very unsure and can't see that this is the case. The brain is far more complex, but just a organ like the heart or liver

Excellent looking! The brain is an organ like the other organs yes. Is it far more complex, or is this another thought? Have you direct experience of the brain being more complex than the heart or liver?!! :)

Over the next few days, give some attention to the labelling that goes on. Have fun with it, just notice any labels that arise, let them pass on through, notice again......

When sat with my eyes closed, I do have awareness of different sounds around me ..My breath, cars passing in the street, the humming of the fish tank pump. Thoughts passing like floating clouds, just noticing them without the desire to respond in any way. I felt calm, relaxed, content, comfortable no intention of thinking at all about anything other than listening

What a lovely report! :) Thank you for taking the time to repeat the exercises. Is there an 'I' having awareness? Is there 'my' breath? Is it possible to see that 'I' is no more than a thought ABOUT an 'I' ?!

The body is controlling and taking charge of 1000s of decisions without requiring any thinking at all

Again, great looking. Stuff definitely happens, but is the body really controlling anything or deciding anything? Is this the direct experience?

I hope the sun is shining where you are, and you are feeling well again :)

Love x

[Helene]

Hi

have you ha direct experience of the brain being more complex than he heart or the liver ?

No not at all it's just an assumption based on information learnt not a I direct experience in any way .
It's an assumption as it can't be felt or observed in action .
I will over the next few days take notice of the labelling .

is it possible to see I ?

Nope it hasn't possible .
I is a term that is used to refer to Helene as a living being but nothing else .
It's impossible to see I when looking deeper , just a living being that has been conditioned , taught , developed and grew in response to the environment and experiences along the way .
It's a label to distinguish Helene from others or things .

is the body really controlling anything or deciding anything ?

No and no
It appears to just happen naturally without force.
My direct experience of this by revisiting your excercises has made me able to distinguish between real and the illusions .
Don't think I would of been able to ge my hea aroun it without your guidance .
Huge big thank you as think helene is slowly shifting ,
Best wishes
Helene x

[Bambaji]

Good morning Helene, thank you for your post

Let's take a look at boundaries:

It's a label to distinguish Helene from others or things

We do need labels to help us with communication, yes. But just check: is there "Helene" and "everything else"?

If possible, be outside with this exercise. Sit with your eyes closed, looking at what is being felt. Thoughts may arise, let them be, this exercise is looking at the direct experience of sensation. With your eyes closed, can you feel where Helene begins and ends? If your hands are resting on your thighs, let go of the labels "hands/thighs" and report on whether you can feel where hands stop and thighs begin. Report on where feet end and ground begins. Place your palms together: where does left meet right?

Can you feel the air or the sun? Still with your eyes closed and looking at your direct experience can you find an actual boundary between Helene and air or Helene and sun?

If you have a cat or a dog, rest your hand on their body, close your eyes, can you feel where you end and they begin?

You can do all these exercises with eyes open of course, it can just be a little easier to focus with eyes closed, at least to begin with.

Don't think I would of been able to get my head around it without your guidance.
Huge big thank you as think helene is slowly shifting

You are very welcome, thank you for being so willing to look and report and really be with this work

Love

Fran x

[Bambaji]

Hi Helene

Is all well?

Fran x

[Helene]

Good morning Fran
Sorry but I was unable to check in yesterday as unable to log in on my phone ..and my son had an awards evening so very long day .

is there a Helene ,or anything else ?

Helene is the name given , to identify me from others or things ...again just a word
An individual that has grown , developed over time with a unique story just like anything else .
It's a term to understand and discriminate 'self 'from others .


Exercise
Sitting with my eyes closed I could feel the firmness of my body positioned on the chair , my body just melting into the space as I relaxed .
I couldn't find the boundaries of where Helene begins and ends , just an assumption of my perception .
I could feel the gentle breeze a direct sensation which was more apparent on my face and feet . Visual changes in light when my eyes were shut , like looking into a kaleidoscope .
It is a pleasant experience , of peace , comfort and pleasure .
I struggled to pin point where Helene begins and ends ... just a presence of wholeness and awareness of my position and the physical sensations being felt , changing as the breeze changed .
I couldn't find the boundaries between the breeze , the sun and Helene ..until I could sense and hear a wasp flickering by my face ...
I tried to just allow the situation as it was happening , but after the consistent curiosity of the wasp /bee I naturally shook my head .
Hoping that you are experiencing the same beautiful sunshine today fran
Best wishes
Helene x

[Bambaji]

That was a lovely report Helene thank you :)

Ok, so is there anything that you would like to look deeper into? Anything that is coming up for you, or something you are not sure about before we move on?

No worries about yesterday by the way. I may not be able to post tomorrow as I am going to be on a course and will have a long day myself, what with the travelling. But if I am not too late home I will check in with you.

It was a beautiful day today :)

Love

Fran x

[Helene]

Hello fran
I hope that your course was enjoyable .
Don't think I have anything that I'm unsure about at the moment thank you .
Really happy to move on .
Best wishes
Helene x

[Bambaji]

Hi :)

It was enjoyable thank you, I hope you had a lovely Sunday too.

Going back to your exercise in the garden:

It is a pleasant experience, of peace, comfort and pleasure

Were you aware of a self experiencing this experience? Or was there just the experience?

Fran x

[Helene]

Evening fran
Pleased to hear that your training was enjoyable .

were you aware of self experiencing this experience ? Or just an experience?

The more I have focused upon the experiences , it seems to be just an experience with no awareness of self .

I have been caught up on me and I ... often referring to a point of personal reference I suppose .
I like , l love , I'm not keen , I didn't enjoy , I believe ...could go on and on .
Best wishes
Helene x

[Bambaji]

Hi :)

The more I have focused upon the experiences , it seems to be just an experience with no awareness of self. I have been caught up on me and I ... often referring to a point of personal reference I suppose. I like, l love, I'm not keen, I didn't enjoy, I believe

Yes, thought loves to sneak in and give ownership to everything! Lol. It is also a useful way to communicate, dropping the "I" when we are in conversation leads to all sorts of verbal gymnastics that can get quite confusing! It's fun to notice the difference.

Please find 10 or 20 mins in your day to do the next exercise. Sit for 5 minutes and write down what has been going on for you in the last hour or two, just write it as it comes to mind: "I got out of bed and went to brush my teeth, I went to the kitchen, I spoke with my children and did the washing up and they did ......and " etc etc.
Then take 5 or 10 minutes to sit quietly and tune in to your direct experience of the moment you are in.
Now, go back to what you have written and write it out again, but this time as if from direct experience.

See how you get on with this, I look forward to reading it!

Love

Fran x

[Bambaji]

Here is a link to Ilona's website where she describes this exercise very clearly:

http://markedeternal.blogspot.co.uk/201 ... s.html?m=1

I hope you can follow the link, you may have to cut and paste

Love x