Liberation

[graceabounds]

Yes. Mental images are thoughts. An overlay. They don’t need to disappear, because every time you try to hold on to ‘pure’ seeing it is a subtle reactivation of the one who is trying to hold it.

So practice, when the overlay is noticed, feel into what is here without interpretation, even if the overlay is present. Every time it happens, there’s less glue holding the false center together.


Here is an even deeper investigation of the body. Please follow each step, don't leave out any. Take your time. Don't move to the next step until the previous one is clearly seen.
Repeat the exercise several times.

Stand in front of a bigger mirror.
(1) First, close the eyes and feel the sensations labelled ‘body’.
(2) Then open the eyes and look into the mirror while still paying attention to the sensations.
Is there any connection between the felt sensations and the image in the mirror?
Or just thoughts (and/or mental images) suggest that there is?
(3) While still paying attention to the sensations move one hand and observe the movement from the mirror.
Is there any connection between the felt sensations (labelled ‘hand’) and image of movement in the mirror?
(4) Now do the same movement with the hand, but this time look at the hand directly, not from the mirror.
Is there any connection between the felt sensations (labelled ‘hand’) and the image ‘of movement’? Or only thoughts suggest it?
(5) Now, pay attention only to the image in the mirror.
Does the image by itself suggest in any way that is ‘you’ or ‘your body’?
Does the image itself suggest in any way that it is a ‘body’ at all?
Or are there only colours and shapes?
(6) Where the mirror ends, some parts of the body (probably legs) cannot be seen.
Just by the image in the mirror, is there any ‘knowledge’ that there must be legs, or only thoughts and mental images suggest so?
(7) Now turn away from the mirror and look forward (don’t look directly to any body parts).
Is there a ‘body’ anywhere when all thoughts and images are ignored, or are there only sensations?
(8) Start to walk slowly.
Is there a ‘body walking’, or are there only sensations?
Is there actual experience of ‘walking’ at all?
Or just THOUGHTS ABOUT ‘walking’?
Can such a thing as ‘body’ be found OR just THOUGHTS ABOUT a ‘body’?
Can such a thing as ‘walking’ be found?
(9) Are the sensations localized in space, like ‘going through the room’; OR is there only an image that is labelled ‘room’ and appearing sensations without any location?

[MarRaim123]

Thank you — I’ll take my time, a few days... to go through it.
But I just want to share something from this morning: I woke up around 5 a.m. and stayed in pure perception for about two hours. I thought I should write to you right away — but then I told myself not to praise the day before the evening — and yes, it was one of the longest stretches of pure perception so far. Under stress, however, the automatic patterns returned. Still, I’m very glad.
For example, angry thoughts came up about a friend who is quite difficult to be around at the moment, and I was really able to feel it “in the belly” without identifying with any of it. Also, the perception of the — non-existent — boundaries of the body was much easier to grasp; there was simply no stress involved, just pure perception. This led me to the realization that a state of stress is a major obstacle....

[graceabounds]

Beautiful, thank you for sharing.

This led me to the realization that a state of stress is a major obstacle....

And let’s refine this. Stress isn’t the obstacle. Identification is. Stress just makes the identification stronger unless it is seen.

So the path forward is not avoiding stress but learning how to stay in sensation even when stress arises. Just like you did with the anger.

Don’t worry about trying to stretch the two hours into two days. Let life show you when perception becomes cloudy again. And when it does it is an opportunity. :)

Take your time with this exercise, it is a good one. :)

[MarRaim123]

… It is a very good indication that stress makes the identification stronger – yes, that is really the case, thank you.

I´ve now done the exercises a few times, but I’m still in the process of practicing – I will continue over the next few days. Up to this point, however, I can already say the following:

(1) Eyes closed – Sensations labeled “body”

Only raw sensations are felt (pressure, warmth, pulsing, tension, etc.). There is no visual shape or form.
Yes, the label “body” is also a thought applied to the sensations afterward, like the bike shop, the I.....

(2) Eyes open – Mirror + sensations
The mirror image is purely visual; the sensations are purely physical. Direct connection: not detectable.
Connection arises only through thoughts: “This is me,” “This is my body.”

(3) Moving the hand – observing in the mirror / (4) Looking directly at the hand
This is an exercise that works best for me with pure perception; there I can simply see “the hand,” not my hand, “the movement” ...You once called it the state of pure perception – that is a term that has really opened my eyes…


(4) Only looking at the mirror image
The image shows colors, shapes, movement. The image itself does not indicate:
“This is me.”
“This is my body.”
This attribution arises entirely through thoughts.

(5) Mirror ends – parts of the body not visible

The mirror only provides what is visible. That legs exist “must be” known only through:
thoughts
mental images
The mirror itself provides no knowledge of unseen parts.

and so on...

Many Greetings !!

[graceabounds]

Great, let me know when you have worked through the rest. :)

You once called it the state of pure perception – that is a term that has really opened my eyes…

Ah yes. This is a synonym for direct experience. So anywhere I have written that, which I do often, just substitute what is most resonant.

[MarRaim123]

I just wanted to check in and say that everything is in progress. I have increasingly longer periods of pure awareness – my challenge is to maintain them during stressful states, as they shift back into separateness. But I am aware of this. I feel like I have everything I need in my “backpack” to complete the process; it just takes time. I’m feeling positive.

I’ve only done a little mirror practice in the past few days, but I’m staying with it. I’m now rather extending my periods of pure awareness, for example before going to sleep, while watching TV, in the car, in front of the mirror in the morning, and especially whenever intense emotions arise, when I immediately go into awareness… It’s just not consistent yet; this way of perceiving still jumps back into the separateness mode.

[graceabounds]

Does it take time? Or is it just now and now and now? :)

Nothing needs to be maintained.
Only recognized, again and again, until even that is effortless.

But yes, all the tools are here.

Here as/when needed.

Much love,

[MarRaim123]

Yes, it’s now and now and now… of course. I am increasingly moving into pure awareness — except in intense stress or fear situations, when it shifts back into separation. But I return to the awareness mode much more quickly than "the system" used to before. Curious whether this is the path that will eventually lead to a complete shift in perception — to recognizing reality in all situations without briefly falling back into the separation mode. And I wonder whether there will be a day when it simply stays. It’s very exciting.

[graceabounds]

Hi Ina,

Yes, seeing more quickly is a good sign that the shift is stabilizing. Different layers of illusion will come up to be released.

Is it sparkling clear now that there is no separate self at all?

Has the sense of seeking waned?

Would you say that there is anything missing?

-Becca

[MarRaim123]

Hi there, after an 8-day trip abroad here is a sign of life from me ;)

Yes, it is crystal clear that there is no separate self — BUT at the moment only in stress-free moments. The feeling of seeking has also diminished. What’s missing is the experience of not feeling separation even under stress. That’s what is being worked on right now.

There are phases where nothing seems to progress, and then again I reach a new plateau that remains for a while — and from there things move on again. I’m still far from a state of complete unity, but I’m much further along than before. There’s no way around it — I know that I have to work on this in every moment.

[graceabounds]

:)

What’s missing is the experience of not feeling separation even under stress

The stress is an invitation...
When it arises, does it come with a story?
Does the tension belong to anyone?

What happens in these moments?

I know that I have to work on this in every moment.

Does this work have the flavor of something unaccomplished or the flavor of play?

I’m still far from a state of complete unity

Are you? Right now, is there separation?

[graceabounds]

Just checking in. Email notifications were down so for a bit so you may not have gotten one for my last message.

❤️

[MarRaim123]

I just wanted to check in briefly. The email notifications were down for a while, so you may not have received my last message.
First of all: Merry Christmas and wishing you a beautiful time!

Unfortunately, I was bedridden for 14 days with a severe infection, but it was also a time during which a lot happened. I can say that in moments without stress, I am able to remain purely in perception 90% of the time; in moments of stress, fear, etc., it is already somewhat better. That means when fear arises, it overwhelms me for one or two minutes, and then it occurs to me (= to the system) that it is not “my” fear, and a much greater sense of freedom sets in. The way is going on....

I would like to thank you from the bottom of my heart for accompanying me on this path and for having accompanied me, and I wish you all the very best. I think I will get in touch again when another step has happened, okay?

All my love and many heartfelt thanks,
INA

[graceabounds]

Hello dear Ina,

So glad to hear from you and also to hear that your body is healing now.

You are in the realm of what we call ‘falling’… everything comes up to be seen and to fall away. It is happening on its own: the arising, the looking, and the releasing.

I am going to pin these questions here for when it feels appropriate. They will help uncover anything that remains unresolved. Look into each and continue to report immediately from the raw experience itself, not a philosophy.

1) Is there a separate entity 'self', 'me' 'I', at all, anywhere, in any way, shape or form? Was there ever?

2) Explain in detail what the illusion of separate self is, when it starts and how it works from your own experience. Describe it fully as you see it now.

3) How does it feel to see this? What is the difference from before we started this dialogue? Please report from the past few days.

4) What was the last bit that pushed you over; made you look? Was there a moment of shift with a distinct before and after?

5) Describe decision, intention, free will, choice and control. Consider and describe each if these separately.

6) What makes things happen? How does it work?

7) What are you responsible for? Give examples from experience.

8) Anything to add?

Here to support in whatever comes next.

Merry Christmas, 🎁
Becca

[MarRaim123]

Hello,

thank you for your message and for your care and support – I really appreciate it.

I do recognize what you are pointing to with “falling”, and yes, there is a sense that many structures and assumptions are loosening and being seen more clearly. Things do arise and fall away on their own, and I can see that this process is happening.

At the same time, I notice that my process unfolds very much in waves and in everyday situations, especially when strong emotional or bodily states are present. For me it feels important to stay close to lived, moment-to-moment experience and not to move faster than what can be honestly reported from direct experience.

So I am very much here and engaged in the inquiry, and I will surely return to the questions when it feels natural and grounded to do so. I hope thats oK.

Thank you for holding the space and for your patience. It means a lot to me. I need time to go through it ... I see the happenings, I see all...and its the work to hold perception during stress and see stress also as a happening....

Warmly,
Ina