Feet first (or should it be head first?)

[jrm72]

In addition to answering those previous questions, you might take a look at this new video on expectations. It's an hour.
https://youtu.be/93fpiOnKM4M

Will do.

❤️🖖

[jrm72]

Dear Loving,

On re-reading the messages in this thread a correction and apology need to be made to you.

Whatever has been responding to you hasn't been 100% honest.
Right back at the beginning you asked -

"On a scale of 1 to 10 how willing are you to question any currently held belief about 'self' ?"

The answer back then was 9, which seemed the impressive right answer to give.
The honest answer comes in 3 parts -

1, The answer is obviously not 0 (zero), for if there was no doubt in self, "I" wouldn't be here.
2, The answer obviously isn't 10, because completely willingness would have dropped or seen through the illusion by now.
3, What the actual number between 2 and 9 is? No idea.

"I" wants to say it's nearer 9 because that boosts the ego, and if its nearer 2 that feels depressing.




In the video you linked to in the last message, they re-emphasise what LU is not.
One of the statements is -

"This is not about getting rid of self, ego, I"

HELP, PLEASE CLARIFY!





Reading through LU, the term Actual Experience is used. Is this the same as Direct Experience?





To round this message off, there is the contradiction that all these thoughts and questions are coming from the same hidden-automated system that produces the thought-sense of "I".


❤️🖖

[jrm72]

The video prompted lots of other questions.
Wants to see if answers come spontaneously.
If the questions remain unresolved, and it feels like a resolution is needed, will then put the questions to you.

❤️🖖

[Anastacia42]

Good morning,

First thing I want to say is IGNORE THINKING. See my sig line? It's garbage. All of it. Yes, I read where you said that Direct Experience (DE), which is, yes, the same as Actual Experience (AE) does not seem real. Well, so sorry, but that is the ONLY thing that we can call "real," which is a baggage-laden word and I don't like to use it. DE and AE are more precise.

"This is not about getting rid of self, ego, I"

HELP, PLEASE CLARIFY!

Simple. How can you "get rid of" something that never existed?

All that is needed is to stop believing the lies. They have no power. None. No matter what it feels like right now. They are illusions, hallucinations.

Anything you had to be taught is not true. This includes the names of things, especially the name of "you."

Total fiction. Made up.

The sooner you accept this as fact, the better.

No worries about the willingness scale. We don't guide anyone who says "7 or less" because they are not committed enough to LOOKING past all of these illusions.

To round this message off, there is the contradiction that all these thoughts and questions are coming from the same hidden-automated system that produces the thought-sense of "I".

Can you let go of this story of some "hidden automated system"? There is no need to make up that story.

Let things be mysterious. We do not know how they arise. Let it be UNKNOWN. That will make SEEing much easier.

Now. We are NOT here for philosophical discussions. That's just a bunch of useless stories from thinking.

Will you commit to following those first instructions given in Colored Socks? To LOOK, not think for answers?

If not, this will be useless and there is no use in continuing.

Please let me know if you can commit to LOOKING and ignoring thoughts.

Loving,

[Anastacia42]

James, please watch this short video, also:

https://youtu.be/wyNwhK2Ur1c

Thank you,

[jrm72]

Please let me know if you can commit to LOOKING and ignoring thoughts.

yes, Yes, YES, as much as possible.

DE of clenching teeth, tension in temples, lots of thoughts (content being ignored).

Clarification please. Is it the complete ignoring of thoughts or the ignoring of content, that is the aim?

More ignoring of thoughts and content.

Ditto

Ditto

Ditto



Will watch video.

❤️🖖

[jrm72]

Response to watching video -


In all the looking so far haven't seen an "I" thought yet.

Will keep, looking, looking, looking.


Thoughts, thoughts, thoughts on and on

Ignoring, ignoring, ignoring ....


DE of clenched muscles, tight feelings, upwelling in stomach and chest.

Lots more thoughts.

AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH


❤️🖖

[Anastacia42]

Review this. These instructions answer your questions.

This is how to LOOK for no self in the exercises - we call them "pointers' - that we will be doing here:

Colored Socks

There is a big difference between knowing that there is nothing to give up and seeing that there is nothing to give up.

Here is an example to illustrate the difference:

If I ask you what color socks you are wearing right now you have two ways to come up with an answer:

• You can think about it, you can think back to this morning and try to remember putting your socks on, and you can probably tell me what color you think they are.

• Alternatively, you can take a quick look at your socks and tell me what color they actually are!

Hopefully you would agree that you can only be 100% certain by looking.

For the purpose of seeing this "no self" idea, it is very important that you are clear about this difference.

Knowing is about knowledge which is all in the mind and we are not interested in that

We are only interested in looking at and seeing what is actually going on in your present moment-to-moment experience. We are only interested in your Direct Experience in the moment.

Direct or Actual Experience is

Seeing
Hearing
Feeling (Sensation, not emotion. Emotion is Sensation plus made-up thoughts & labels)
Tasting
Smelling
Thoughts Arising (but not their content)

Please let me know if you are clear about this or if you would like any further clarification.

Loving,

[jrm72]

Please let me know if you are clear about this or if you would like any further clarification.

Clear.



Seeing the screen of the tablet
Hearing the tumbledryer
Feeling internal and external bodily sensations
Tasting the lingering flavours of dinner
Smelling the scent of sweet pea flowers in a vase on the table
Thoughts arising, yes

[Anastacia42]

No...

exactly would be...

Seeing the screen of the tablet simply = Seeing
Hearing the tumbledryer simply = Hearing

Without saying which sense at the end, it sort of misses the point. please try again.

I think you knew what you meant but you didn't do the exercise as given.

Much love,

[Anastacia42]

Have we done this?

a pointer to look at "control. "

Palm Flipping 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?

Loving,

[jrm72]

No...
exactly would be...
Seeing the screen of the tablet simply = Seeing
Hearing the tumbledryer simply = Hearing
Without saying which sense at the end, it sort of misses the point. please try again.
I think you knew what you meant but you didn't do the exercise as given.

Thank you for the correction, so at this very moment -

Seeing the screen, simply =seeing
Hearing creeking sounds of the plumbing, simply = hearing
Hearing and feeling finger tapping on the screen, simply =hearing and feeling
Tasting the stale flavours in my mouth, simply = tasting
Smelling the bland scent of the room, simply = Smelling
Thoughts with varying content, simply = thoughts




Haven't tried the palm flipping exercise before, but other things to report first, then palm flipping later today.




Last night awoke from a dream with sensations of fear, rather than usually getting very irritated and anxious, the thought came "look at the fear". So in what felt like a half awake half a dream state, looked into the visual field through closed eyes. The visual field vibrated slowly up and down. Not sure how long it took, but the visual field finally settled and the feelings of fear went away. Lying there, felt the pressure of hand on pillow, ear on hand, itch on ear, then lifted head and scratched ear with finger. There was no "I" involved in any of the doing, but there was a realisation of subtle I thoughts floating on the boundary of awareness of thoughts. Although no "I" was involved in any of the doing, there was a background, unspoken sense that, whatever was doing the doing, was doing it with "my" hand to "my" ear etc.
Looking - couldn't find an "I", but also couldn't shake the underlying "my" hand etc.
The underlying "My" didn't feel like a thought, assumption is that it was, but couldn't separate an arising of thought from its content.

Had the same experience once awake this morning, DE of bodily sensation, looking at ceiling and windows, scent of partner, hearing breathing. So simply = feelings, seeing, smelling, hearing.
Then the sensation of no doer, but the underlying, its being done with "my"hand etc, by forces unknown.

Body and mind filled with sensations, which are being labelled as frustration and exhaustion.


Help please!

[Anastacia42]

Hon, you have to relax.

Here are a couple of ways to handle the fears:

Ilona's video

https://youtu.be/jKX1llYtlKE

and a pointer:

Here is an anxiety exercise that focuses a person in the present, and in a part of the brain that cannot do anxiety. Basically, go through each sense and say (or think) "I see/ hear/ feel/ taste/ touch ______________." A minute or two of each and usually anxiety is gone.

I see the couch.
I see the keyboard.
I see the glass. Etc.

I hear the train.
I hear the keys clacking.
I hear my breath. Etc.

I feel the couch under my butt.
I feel my fingers on the keys.
I feel the cold air. Etc.

I taste a metallic taste in my mouth.
I taste the coffee.
I taste the food. Etc.

I smell the humidity in the air.
I smell my husband's shampoo.
I smell the soap. Etc.

As far as I can tell, the only time this doesn't work is when someone won't do it.

Loving,

[jrm72]

Thank you for the fear video and anxiety exercise.

This mind/body is OK.


Starting the palm flipping exercise, will let you know what happens.


❤️

[Anastacia42]

You're welcome & good.