If I don’t exist, what can I cease doing?

[Anastacia42]

Welcome back.

I have a silly question: Is there a point of completion to the guiding? Is there a point where you read my response and might surmise that your work is complete with me?

Yes.

Please re-read your whole thread, so we can get back on the same page.

Also, please read, "Gateless Gatecrashers," which you can download from Resources Books here on this site.

Let me know when you've read your thread & started "Gateless Gatecrashers."

Loving,

[Anastacia42]

Still there?

[Arash]

I reread our thread.

Reading that book is gonna take me like probably honestly a couple of weeks minimum. I’m dyslexic. I don’t know how to answer that without invoking the I


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[Anastacia42]

Oh, I see.

1. Take your time.

2. We still say "I" as a convenience even when we see it is not true. It is a paradox.

Much love,

[Arash]

I just installed the Tapatalk app so I can see your messages more readily. Before I was waiting for the email notification to pop up.

Is it necessary for me to read that book before we go to the next step? I’m not exaggerating, it’s going to take a while. I have a very difficult time with longer format reading. But certainly I’ll do it if that’s the case.


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[Anastacia42]

No, just start the book & keep plugging away at it.


Give this a try:

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,

[Arash]

It has weight. I can feel it’s cool texture. Red.
I guess the question is if I was not in interpreting all of these things about the Apple, would it exist?


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[Anastacia42]

Well, no, that isn't one of the questions.

Please Quote the question and answer underneath.

Thank you,

[Arash]

Well, no, that isn't one of the questions.

Please Quote the question and answer underneath.

Thank you,

So I keep coming back and staring at the apple and I’m confused how to answer the questions.


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[Anastacia42]

You can only be confused if you're believing thoughts. Thoughts that argue with reality.

Go hack to one of the first posts & read Colored Socks about how to LOOK, not think.

Then do that here. Answer only with Direct Experience. Your summary question wasn't bad, but you must LOOK and ignore thinking.

Reading completed threads in the Archive here & "Gateless Gatecrashers " might help.

Loving,

[Anastacia42]

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.

[Anastacia42]

Hope you see this in time.

This Sunday. 6 to 8 pm UTC +4 Mauritius Time

Deep looking is for you if you have an ongoing issue that makes you feel stuck, if you are looking for peace but cannot find it, if your heart is longing for something deep and meaningful, but nothing satisfies that longing.

Come to a meeting with a small group and we can explore together, giving space for tension to unwind.

You can use the old link, that you have or email me at admin@ilonaciunaite.com and I will send it to you.

See you there! (Ilona)
✨❤️✨

[Anastacia42]

Link to all Zoom Meetings

https://us02web.zoom.us/j/9143364592?pw ... VEMHg2Zz09

Meeting ID: 914 336 4592

Passcode: LU2021

[Anastacia42]

Hi

Are you okay? Do you still want to be guided here?

Loving