Seeker

[Nitimak]

Here is a formula:
Emotion= Thought+Sensations

With the thoughts stripped away and/or sensations directly examined the whole equation falls apart.

This is very helpful, thank you.

Tell me more about this.

This was mainly in response to when you asked me to go beyond, behind and underneath the feeling. I feel stuck as to when I observe it, it disappears but it seems there is a depth which I am not able to reach. Still swimming at shallow level.

So if there’s no controller of the pressure… is there any controller at all, for anything?
Where is intention arising from? What caused this very sentence to be typed?

Actually, no.

I think intention is arising in the mind via a thought. And I know ( kind of) I am neither a thought nor a thinker of the thought so there wasn't any entity which caused this very sentence to be typed. Hence, its arising on its own from the empty space.

Give me three things that happened this morning, and for each:
Was there a self who chose it? Or did it simply happen, and then a thought said “I did that”?

I will get back on this tomorrow. Need to observe more carefully.

Much thanks

[Nitimak]

Give me three things that happened this morning, and for each:
Was there a self who chose it? Or did it simply happen, and then a thought said “I did that”?

Yesterday,
I joined my friend to her doctor's visit.

I made specific item for dinner for my family

I took certain decisions in my work

It feels like I did that despite the fact I know there is no self here making choices or doing anything . That'd why it still feels like understanding at intellectual level only unfortunately. Sorry 😞

[graceabounds]

And I know ( kind of) I am neither a thought nor a thinker of the thought so there wasn't any entity which caused this very sentence to be typed.

What we are looking for is experiential not intellectual. So here is an 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?

Sorry 😞

That “sorry”... what is it, really?

Right now. Let’s dissect it.
Is it a feeling in the chest, the throat, the face?
Is it a thought saying “I’m not getting it,” “I failed,” “I should be further”?
Is it seeking approval? Whose?

Can you find a self that is “sorry”?


Keep it up, keep looking, you're doing great!

[Nitimak]

Hi Becca,

Apologies I am reverting back late now a days. Two reasons- life sometimes getting busy and not getting enough time to try the experiment few times and dont want to come back to you with another intellectual reply or without trying enough time. Hope you are ok with it. I dont want to convey that I am not serious about it or not working on it.

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?

Initially, it was difficult as thought keep coming but later I saw once intention is set, movement is just happening...there wasn't any thought controlling it. Couldn't locate a controller.

Hows the decision made to turn the hand over- is a tricky one. As the intention was set initially, but when looked closely, there wasn't any decision maker....it became more obvious with subsequent movements that hand is just moving without any controller.

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?

Thank you, I think its becoming clear if I pause thought for a minute or two, the hand was still turning once the intention was set.

Left or right wasn't even a choice I think...it just happened to be right without any choice made by anyone...

No, I couldn't find separate individual which was choosing..once intention was set, it was happening without even thought.

Right now. Let’s dissect it.
Is it a feeling in the chest, the throat, the face?
Is it a thought saying “I’m not getting it,” “I failed,” “I should be further”?
Is it seeking approval? Whose?

Can you find a self that is “sorry”?

It is appearing feeling in the chest. Yeah, its arising due to thought that I am not getting it or stuck at mind level.

You are right, its trying to seek approval may be from you.
When you ask this qs, and when I look I cant find any self which is sorry but somehow it goes back to being identified ( with the false image of self).
Will keep looking...

Much gratitude

[graceabounds]

Hello.

As long as you are looking it is fine to take time with these exercises. If you notice there is a resistance or a procrastination that creeps in then it is better to post a little every day.

Notice: when you pause thought, the hand still moves without any “you” doing it and without any self required to choose left or right. There’s only happening.

Intention, movement, choosing—these appear, but can you actually find a separate individual controlling or owning any of it?

it goes back to being identified

Good, let’s pin that down.
Where exactly is the “I” who gets identified?
Is it a physical sensation? Is it a thought? Is it an image?
Or is it just a story about a self, that arises after the fact, claiming ownership?

Right now, as you read this, can you find any self who is “looking for a self”? Or is there just a thought that says, “I am looking for myself,” but no actual entity found anywhere?

Keep looking!
:)

[Nitimak]

Good morning Becca,

Yes understood!

Notice: when you pause thought, the hand still moves without any “you” doing it and without any self required to choose left or right. There’s only happening.

Yes, can notice this. Thank you.

Intention, movement, choosing—these appear, but can you actually find a separate individual controlling or owning any of it?

No separate individual controlling just the illusion of it.

Where exactly is the “I” who gets identified?
Is it a physical sensation? Is it a thought? Is it an image?
Or is it just a story about a self, that arises after the fact, claiming ownership?

Yeah, cant find one. It comes and goes as a sensation or an image or a story about it.

Right now, as you read this, can you find any self who is “looking for a self”? Or is there just a thought that says, “I am looking for myself,” but no actual entity found anywhere?

Its indeed just a thought I am.looking for myself 😊

Thanks so much

[graceabounds]

Great, now let’s come back to something from a few posts ago:

I know ( kind of) I am neither a thought nor a thinker of the thought

Let’s look with great care at the mechanism of thought.

Here is a thought exercise. Sit quietly for about 30 minutes and notice the arising thoughts. Just let them appear as they appear. Try your best to COMPLETELY ignore what they are saying and just notice how they appear without you doing anything at all.

Where are they coming from and going to?
Did you do anything to make a particular thought or thoughts appear?
Could you have done anything to make a different thought appear at that exact moment instead?
Can you predict your next thought?
Can you select from a range of thoughts to have only pleasant thoughts?
Can you choose not to have painful, negative or fearful thoughts?
Can you pick and choose any kind of thought?
Is it possible to prevent a thought from appearing?

It seems that thought has some logical ordered appearance, but look carefully and just
notice if there is an organised sequence? Or is that just another thought that says ‘these thoughts are in sequence’ or “they take content from previous thought”, or that ‘one thought follows another thought’?

[Nitimak]

Thanks, will do it and revert back.

Best,

[Nitimak]

Good morning,

I am still on it. Its posing a bit of challenge to keep watching the thoughts continously for 30 minutes. However, wanted to report the following-

Where are they coming from and going to?
Did you do anything to make a particular thought or thoughts appear?
Could you have done anything to make a different thought appear at that exact moment instead?
Can you predict your next thought?
Can you select from a range of thoughts to have only pleasant thoughts?
Can you choose not to have painful, negative or fearful thoughts?
Can you pick and choose any kind of thought?
Is it possible to prevent a thought from appearing?

These are coming from blank empty space and going back there.
No
No
No
Not at all
No
This is tricky, as it seems thought had some logical sense...once first thought appeared, others seem to follow same theme.
No

seems that thought has some logical ordered appearance, but look carefully and just
notice if there is an organised sequence? Or is that just another thought that says ‘these thoughts are in sequence’ or “they take content from previous thought”, or that ‘one thought follows another thought’?

I am still struggling to notice this, continuing to look...will revert back soon

Thank you

[graceabounds]

Slow down and watch:
A thought appears.
Then another.
Then another.

But where is the theme?
Where is the connection?
Where is the continuity?

Isn’t each thought already gone before the next appears?
The theme is not in the actual experience — it’s a story added after the fact. A commentary, not reality.

Try this now:
1. Sit still. Don’t engage thought.
2. Watch one thought arise.
3. Watch it vanish.
4. Wait — does the next one actually come from the last?
5. Or does it just appear… from nowhere?

Where’s the connector?
Is it in the thought? Or in the assumption afterward that they’re linked?

What connects your thoughts, other than thought itself?

Can a thought ever be experienced directly while it is thinking itself? Or is it always in hindsight?

[Nitimak]

Hi Becca,

But where is the theme?
Where is the connection?
Where is the continuity?

Yes, couldn't find one...it was another thought claiming this to be a theme.

Isn’t each thought already gone before the next appears?
The theme is not in the actual experience — it’s a story added after the fact. A commentary, not reality.

Yes thoughts are one after another without a connection but mind ( perhaps another thought) making it seems as a logical sequence

Yes, theme was seen later as a thought or commentary.

Where’s the connector?
Is it in the thought? Or in the assumption afterward that they’re linked?

What connects your thoughts, other than thought itself?

I did this excercise several times , can see there isn't anyone connector. It was another thought.

I couldn't understand this part -

Can a thought ever be experienced directly while it is thinking itself? Or is it always in hindsight?

Thanks a lot

[graceabounds]

Great!

I couldn't understand this part -

You think you’re experiencing a thought directly. But every time you “notice” a thought, it’s already happened.

There is no present-tense of “thought-ing” that you can grasp. Try. Right now.


Where is the thought, while it is thinking itself?
Try to catch it in the act, before the commentary arises, before any reflection.

What do you find?
You can see a sensation directly. You can feel your feet on the ground.
But a thought?…

[Nitimak]

Wow! Yes, I just noticed it. This is profound.

Thank you

[graceabounds]

:)

So looking back at this:

LU is focused guiding for seeing there is no real, inherent 'self' - what do you understand by this?
That there is no person running the show. All is just happening. There is no entity whatsoever, however awareness alone exists. Which is impersonal, infinite and has no forms and shapes. We are That awareness only.

What are you looking for at LU?
To clearly "see" that there is no self and get liberated from the false "me". I need to clearly see that there is no "me" as a person and see my true nature as awareness which is impersonal and infinite.

What here is a thought or belief?
What is seen clearly?
What is present right now?

[Nitimak]

Good morning,

What here is a thought or belief?
What is seen clearly?
What is present right now?

That 'I' need to see
That there is no "me"
Just awareness of being here

Thank you