Wake up and walk through

[James Anderson]

Totally unhelpful theoretical speculation.

Thinking about "what ifs" will not help the process in any way shape or form.

When there are thoughts of strategising etc, is there a thinker or a "you" present doing the strategising, or are thoughts of strategy simply arising?

LOOK AT PRESENT MOMENT EXPERIENCE! SEE THE TRUTH

[charleshyde]

Ok no what ifs. Looking at the present moment…

[James Anderson]

When there are thoughts of strategising etc, is there a thinker or a "you" present doing the strategising, or are thoughts of strategy simply arising?

[charleshyde]

They simply arise.

[James Anderson]

So is it clear that there is no thinker, no doer, and no experiencer?

That experience is unfolding on its own, experiencing itself?

[charleshyde]

It feels clearer at some moments than others. I can't with honesty say that it is something seen most of the time. There is a sense of lightness around decisions. There is less ownership of things and thoughts. More flow. Life us simpler and easier to live. But there is also a sense of abstraction... while psychology etc continues to play a heavy role in thoughts.

[James Anderson]

Psychology and thought is the problem that is casting a veil over reality, although at the same time, those thoughts are just an aspect of reality.

I'm going to copy paste something from another thread.

Let go of all of it. What is there?

Let go of thoughts of past, future, and present.
Let go of judgements of right, wrong, good, bad, should, shouldn't, want, don't want, like, don't like.
Let go of all concepts, ideas, and beliefs, including all beliefs in self, and all beliefs in no self.

What is there?

[charleshyde]

Hi there! So I've been reflecting on what letting go involves and what would be left in thoughts like good/bad, should/shouldn't, past/present/future were not believed or not present. I think life carries on. With unity. It definitely seems like a worthy objective, only a little remote at times like I said in my last post. Experience shows what is experienced when these things are let go of.

[James Anderson]

Here's the thing.
There has been "reflecting". Ie, thinking about.
What actually happens when there is no thinking about anything?
The only way to find out is to actually experience a lack of thoughts.

Try continuously being aware of the breath going in and out as daily life carries on. When the mind wanders, and it will, just return to the breath going in and out. At some point, thoughts will drop away.

Tell me what is there when that happens.

[charleshyde]

Then there is indeed perfection. For instance, though the light of the sun falls on all the buildings around, it illuminates every inch differently according to its aspect etc. It is joyfully rich, endlessly so and though the word perfection conjurs up a completed state, there is nothing in this experience that remains the same. It's 100% alive and 100% dynamic.

[James Anderson]

So, if everything is perfect as it is when there is no thought, what is imperfection?

Do good and bad, right and wrong etc exist in any way, except as thoughts that come, go, and change?

[charleshyde]

Perfect and imperfect are labels along with good, bad etc. They have no objective existence except as such - labels describing other labels, signs pointing at no other destination than other signs. This maze is just a cul de sac part of reality and does not need to be repudiated or bought into. There is so much more and sweeter things in experience.

[James Anderson]

But honestly, in genuine experience, don't labels of imperfection cause a sense of imperfection?

Of course, the label "imperfection" is inherently empty, but at the same time, hasn't imperfection only ever been felt due to thoughts of imperfection?

[charleshyde]

Yes - so I wouldn't label anything as imperfect. Or label anything deliberately, if possible.

[James Anderson]

But can anything be labeled deliberately?

Can anything be done deliberately?