The Gate

So I've been busy labeling experience in the categories you described. For example when I was waiting, I experienced touch (of the chair), colors (of the waiting room), sounds and thoughts. When I walked outside I experienced touch (in the feet), sensation (of wind), sounds, seeing colors and thoughts. And right now, on my laptop. I experience colors, touch on the leg and fingers, and seeing of colors. Also thoughts that label the colors into text.

In bed, the touch of the sheets and the colors when my eyes are closed. Sounds (of the wind outside). A lot of sensations all the time.

It doesn't always feel easy or natural (for example in the mirror), but with some concentration I can clearly see how it is.

Labeling and direct experiences chapter looks clearly understood.

I think so. Looking forward to the next assignment. :)

Do you have any questions about the body - labelling - direct experience or about anything we have LOOKED at so far?

Tell me, do you know what the next thought will be before it arrives?

Can you stop a thought form coming?

Is I thought a special thought? Is it coming from the same place like all other thoughts, or.. ?

Is there a thinker?

Are you thinking thoughts or thoughts pop in by themselves?

Where are thoughts coming from, to where are they going?

Is it possible to think more than a thought at a time?

What do you see thinking thoughts?

So I see how the head is just a story. And how the finger is only there when I think it is there. But I don’t see why - if the body is just a story - sensations seem to end exactly where the body-story seems to end.

But I do seem to be able to think about something specific, and then related thoughts come up.

I’m not sure what is deciding to start thinking about something specific.

- But I can decide now to think about an elephant, and then thoughts will come up.

Do you really have a choice of not choosing "elephant" ? Look!

So I see how the head is just a story. And how the finger is only there when I think it is there. But I don’t see why - if the body is just a story - sensations seem to end exactly where the body-story seems to end.

Without thought...how would you know that it is a body and that is where the body ends?

Do you really have a choice of not choosing "elephant" ? Look!

I see! The thought 'elephant' was just there, it popped up from nowhere. Also the thoughts saying that I can choose for myself - those thoughts also just appear. It happens without a thinker, it just happens.

Without thought...how would you know that it is a body and that is where the body ends?

So basically the awareness doesn't necessarily move, since there is no reason to accept there is something to be able to move in? It's just there, sensing?

So basically the awareness doesn't necessarily move, since there is no reason to accept there is something to be able to move in? It's just there, sensing?

Can you please explain more your words here please ?

Write what you notice doing this exercise. Then bring focus to hear now.

I figured: if I can only know what is true trough direct experience (like you described), and 'depth' and space are just a sensation of color, and moving trough space is just a combined sensation of touch and other sensations - then I think I do not have any direct experience of space existing.

And if that is so - which seems to be the case - that means that nothing ever 'moves' trough space but just is. That this awareness is just sitting there. Like it sits there with a VR headset on, enjoying this show called 'my life'. Enjoying the illusion of this universe, while never actually doing anything itself.

But most of this is just reasoning based on some of the seeing we've been doing. But it feels different form pure reasoning. Feels mostly weird. Wonderfully weird.

So basically the awareness doesn't necessarily move, since there is no reason to accept there is something to be able to move in? It's just there, sensing?

Can you please explain more your words here please ?

I figured: if I can only know what is true trough direct experience (like you described), and 'depth' and space are just a sensation of color, and moving trough space is just a combined sensation of touch and other sensations - then I think I do not have any direct experience of space existing.

And if that is so - which seems to be the case - that means that nothing ever 'moves' trough space but just is. That this awareness is just sitting there. Like it sits there with a VR headset on, enjoying this show called 'my life'. Enjoying the illusion of this universe, while never actually doing anything itself.

But most of this is just reasoning based on some of the seeing we've been doing. But it feels different form pure reasoning. Feels mostly weird. Wonderfully weird.

Write what you notice doing this exercise. Then bring focus to here now.

I will work on this and report back. Or - not - I might not have a choice in the matter. We'll see, haha. 😉

💛