The Gate

It felt good.

"Thinking is a disease of the mind."

I love this quote.

Of course with that being said I have been doing so much Thinking about all of this.. lol

Thanks
kathleen

That's nice. Please answer all questions.

First, Quote only the part you're answering.

Then reply underneath.

Repeating: How does it FEEL to SEE this?

Thank you. I do this on my phone. The Quote feature helps a lot.

How does it FEEL to SEE this?

It feels good to not have to control things.

I answered the other questions with Quotes so I am not sure what more you are asking of this session.

Technology is not my strong point. I am going to San Antonio on Thursday through the following Monday ( December 1-5 ). I will have my phone but not my computer, I will let you know if I have difficulty responding.

I really can't thank you enough.

kathleen

Thanks, Kathleen.

I'm driving home from Fort Worth now. Home in about 3 hours.

Yes. You've been using Quotes. Thank you. And you're quite welcome. This is how I work for world peace - one mind at a time.

I'd like you to do the Apple pointer & substitute the word, "self," please.

This could be fun. Really LOOK - don't think. Ignore thoughts.

Loving,

When looking at ( self ), there's color; a thought saying ‘self’; and maybe a thought saying, "I'm looking at an myself."
What is known for sure? Color is known and thoughts are known.

What about the content of thoughts, what they describe?

The contents of thoughts are just thought.

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 a (self ) here, or only color and a thought ABOUT ( self )?

There is an essence of Self. No description or label just an awareness that really can't be described.

Can ( self ) be found in actual experience?

An identity of self can not be found. The essence of Self is experienced as Awareness.

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 ( self ) actually known?

Self isn't known because it just IS.

Whew this was interesting.

Hope you got home safely,

kathleen

Okay, let's start here:

When looking at ( self ), there's color; a thought saying ‘self’; and maybe a thought saying, "I'm looking at an myself."
What is known for sure? Color is known and thoughts are known.

Color? Where, exactly?

Are you confusing "body;" which is like apple, a made up story, with "self?"


Thoughts arise. Their content is a story, made up. So, which part are you referring to? The made up story?

Loving,

Good morning ,

Not sure what happened but my answers were written under your statements/questions.

I had to cut and paste so I could follow your questions.

Now I can't seem to cut and paste from my previous post because I am responding to your last. I don't know... getting too confusing for me. So I will type my 4 answers.
I think I misunderstood you in the beginning...lol.... should my answers be in quotes ? I was putting your questions and statements in quotes. One day I will get this right ( the logistics ).

The contents of thoughts are just thoughts

There is an essence of self. No description or label of self just an awareness that really can not be described.

An identity of self can not be found. The essence of self is experienced as Awareness,

Self isn't known because it just "IS".

Thanks
kathleen

I

You were doing it right. Then I confused you.

Quote the small bit of the question you're answering.

Then answer under that, not in quotes.

Okay, that's logistics

:)

I don't see answers to each question. It looks like you skipped them & talked about it in some other way.

Please answer:

Color? Where, exactly?

Are you confusing "body;" which is like apple, a made up story, with "self?"


Thoughts arise. Their content is a story, made up. So, which part are you referring to? The made up story?

To respond to what you did write:

There is an essence of self. No description or label of self just an awareness that really can not be described.

Nope. Only Direct Experience, remember? Committed socks? LOOK - Use your eyes.

There is no "just is."

If it cannot be described as Direct Experience of one of the 5 senses then it's made up, not real. a story, even a lie.

You wrote:

When looking at ( self ), there's color;

That's why I asked where you see any color of "self?"

Loving,

Oops, "colored" socks. not "committed" socks! LOL

Can we start this over. I am too confused.
Just a fresh set of questions..not referring to any previous post.

thanks
kathleen

I asked you to do the Apple exercise & substitute "self. "

This confusion could simply be some resistance to seeing that "self" is just like "apple." The reference to color may have confused you. "Self" has no color. It simply isn't there.

"Self" is a made up label, the content of thought about something that does not exist in any Direct Experience.

Let's switch to ButtChair. This is the only exercise I was given when I was guided here. I did only this for about 3 months.


Please LOOK for any place where your butt ends & the chair begins.

Is there any clear dividing line between them? Or only the Sensation with no clear division?


Loving,

Please LOOK for any place where your butt ends & the chair begins.

Separation between between butt and chair is not Seen.

Is there any clear dividing line between them? Or only the Sensation with no clear division?

There is no dividing line. No clear division where butt is Sensed and chair begins.

Thanks for starting over.

kathleen

Sure.

There is no dividing line. No clear division where butt is Sensed and chair begins.

Good. LOOKING is what matters. I did this for 3 months.

Now how does it FEEL to see this?

Loving,

Now how does it FEEL to see this?

It feels great. Amazing that I never looked at this before. There is no separation.