It just feels like it's the right moment. Very unusual for me...

[Rendrag]

Ride over to pier as passenger, experience periods of non-consensus reality. Sensory overload while walking due to crowds.

[Anastacia42]

Hi Art,

No doubt I'm probably going faster than I should, need to wade in rather than jump off the high diving board.

It's my opinion that you can never "go too fast" to see what is true. The faster, the better.

"Reality is kinder than your thinking, but only always."
~ Byron Katie

It only seems to be a problem when we have partial truth & the misinformation misleads us, causing unnecessary suffering. That's not a problem, either, but it can seem like one at the time.

You reported "overwhelm" and

Sensory overload while walking due to crowds.

Is this a common experience for you? Or has it just arisen doing these pointers?

What's the DE of what you're labeling as "sensory overload?" That is, what is Seen, Heard, Felt (touch), Smelled or Tasted when experiencing, "sensory overload?"

Loving,

[Rendrag]

You reported "overwhelm" and

Sensory overload while walking due to crowds.

Is this a common experience for you? Or has it just arisen doing these pointers?

I don't want to overstate things or be dramatic, just trying to find the right words to describe things.

What I am trying to describe when I say 'overwhelmed' or 'sensory overload' has to do with losing that sense of 'oneness' or 'calm abiding' or 'peace with what arises' and slipping back to experiencing only consensus reality. So I guess only doing pointers but only in certain setting when the stimulus is too much.

Does that make sense?

[Anastacia42]

Okay.

Please answer the second part

What's the DE of what you're labeling as "sensory overload?" That is, what is Seen, Heard, Felt (touch), Smelled or Tasted when experiencing, "sensory overload?"


Thank you,

[Anastacia42]

Okay.

Please answer the second part

What's the DE of what you're labeling as "sensory overload?" That is, what is Seen, Heard, Felt (touch), Smelled or Tasted when experiencing, "sensory overload?"


Thank you,

[Rendrag]

Please answer the second part

What's the DE of what you're labeling as "sensory overload?" That is, what is Seen, Heard, Felt (touch), Smelled or Tasted when experiencing, "sensory overload?"

There is question asked, which is heard.
There is confusion, which is thought/felt.
There is understanding, which is felt (relaxing).
There is responding, which sound / felt.
There is the sensation of the road, which is felt / heard.
There is the crowd on the pier, which is seen, heard
There is walking, which is felt
There is movement, which is seen
There is the ocean, which is seen/smelt/heard
There is a family, which is seen/thought

PS. Thought you might be amused by what the Universe put directly in my face last night: https://www.instagram.com/p/CSDU1ysJ76m/

[Anastacia42]

Hi Art, (high art? ;) )

Yes, that's nice & synchronous with our investigation.

So, when you focus only on the Direct Experience of your 5 senses, does the story (because that's all it is, see?) does the story of "overwhelm" shift in any way? That is, if you can step back from this story, Do you find things calm down in your mind?


Try naming what's in your environment, one sense at a time..like this:

Seeing the pier
Seeing this person
Seeing the bird
Seeing... etc. for a minute or two.

Then move to ...

Hearing the birds
Hearing someone's voice
Hearing a car
Hearing... etc for the next minute or two.

Feeling the breeze
Feeling my shirt on my back
Feeling the ground under my feet
Etc

Tasting the water
Tasting salt air
Tasting the aftertaste of coffee
Etc.

Smelling the air
Smelling car fumes
Smelling someone's perfume
Etc.

By the time you've done this, it is highly likely that any sense of overwhelm will be gone.

Once you SEE, and even before that, DE without a story will probably bring a sense of peace & detachment.

If that isn't happening right now, don't worry about it, we can move on. Let me know how it goes.

Loving,

[Anastacia42]

Hi again,

I reread this whole thread and there's one more thing I want go offer. You mentioned "anger" when listening to the news.

"Anger is the intent to do something, contaminated with the thought that we are presently helpless."

~ Phil Laut

This definition tells you what you can do about it. Notice you're not really helpless & DO something.

In the case of the news, feeling helpless about the story that all humanity is being threatened by a deadly virus is certainly understandable, for example.

What can you do? Wear your mask, donate to relief organizations, help someone else, whatever comes to mind.

Yes, Seeing oneness & no self brings a calm detachment, but from that inner peace usually arises more effective action than when we feel separate & helpless, and therefore, angry.

I don't want to spend this time on philosophy and explanations and discussions. We want to focus on doing the pointers until you see. But I wanted to briefly go into that to help you out.

Getting yourself to a truer perspective is the best thing you can do for yourself and for humanity in crisis.

Loving,

[Rendrag]

So, when you focus only on the Direct Experience of your 5 senses, does the story (because that's all it is, see?) does the story of "overwhelm" shift in any way? That is, if you can step back from this story, Do you find things calm down in your mind?

Let me know how it goes.

Stacy, it went week but I really didn't have a chance to do the exercise in an environment I would find overwhelming. That should change on Tues. Will update you afterwards.

[Anastacia42]

OK. That's fine.

[Rendrag]

So, when you focus only on the Direct Experience of your 5 senses, does the story (because that's all it is, see?) does the story of "overwhelm" shift in any way? That is, if you can step back from this story, Do you find things calm down in your mind?

Let me know how it goes.

Yes, this 'one sensory input at a time' approach did create more space to open to what was actually transpiring in the moment and diminish the sense of being overwhelmed. I did notice there was still a bit of an emotional charge around things and but didn't get lost in this emotions. There was also some resistance to doing this exercise, I think it had to do with feeling right or justified in my reaction and not wanting to let go of it.

[Anastacia42]

Good morning,

Yes, this 'one sensory input at a time' approach did create more space to open to what was actually transpiring in the moment and diminish the sense of being overwhelmed. I did notice there was still a bit of an emotional charge around things and but didn't get lost in this emotions. There was also some resistance to doing this exercise, I think it had to do with feeling right or justified in my reaction and not wanting to let go of it.

Good! And thank you for being honest about wanting to cling to being "right or justified." You can keep doing that, but I am prompted to ask, would you rather be right or happy?

Keep this tool of noticing one sense at a time as above in your pocket. I usually give it for fear, but it works for any emotion. It focuses you in a part of the brain that cannot do fear or overwhelm.


So, you're learning to distinguish between Actual/Direct Experience and the content of thought or stories that we've made up. Here is an exercise that brings that together:

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,

[Rendrag]

Hey Stacy,

Good! And thank you for being honest about wanting to cling to being "right or justified." You can keep doing that, but I am prompted to ask, would you rather be right or happy?

I would rather at peace. ; )

Kind of a coin toss between right or happy....

What about the content of thoughts, what they describe?

A story about the past.

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

Only color, thought, taste, feel...

Can ‘apple’ be found in actual experience?However, is an apple actually known?

No.

However, is an apple actually known?

Not really. There is an experience I have that I can label apple.

[Anastacia42]

Hi Art,

would you rather be right or happy?

I would rather at peace. ; )

Kind of a coin toss between right or happy....

I file "at peace" closer to "happy" but redefining the question isn't the point.

"Right" usually shifts as our seeing becomes more accurate. This is not the Kobayashi Maru, although the truth does tend to be outside of our usual boxes of thinking.

Yes. Content of thought is just a story about the past.

Yes. No apple. No self.

Let's look for that.

Can you find any "me" other than in stories? Any Actual Experiences that show there's a "me?" LOOK


Loving,

[Rendrag]

"Right" usually shifts as our seeing becomes more accurate. This is not the Kobayashi Maru, although the truth does tend to be outside of our usual boxes of thinking.

Not to mix metaphors, but I believe we're in agreement. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Az1VMUH7KDo

(At least this explains your obsession with apples. https://www.startrek.com/videos/watch- ... n-scenario)

Can you find any "me" other than in stories? Any Actual Experiences that show there's a "me?" LOOK

No. So why can't I stay/live from this space?