Help seeing through the separate self

[aldertree]

Hello again,

What does
"I am finding..."
refer to?

Yes - 'I am looking for something' refers to the mind trying to 'know' something but this isn't something that can be known by the mind as we are talking about direct experience.

"....... much more difficult....
" points to some lack of ease or fluidity i.e. resistance
(how does that FEEL in the body?)

There is a contraction in the heart, a tightness in the chest.

"...... and I am getting upset...."
let's rephrase this: "feelings/sensations labelled upset (thoughts) are happening.

There is a tightness in my chest and throat, tears are starting to appear in the eyes.

....... again thinking about it...."

In your immediate and actual direct experience can you experience a two thoughts at the same time, or is that simply another thought saying "I am experiencing this thought again?"
Immediate refers here to no gap in time. This instant! Now !!!
Can you experience two thoughts at EXACTLY the same time. i.e. with not even a milli second apart?

No, it is just one thought, a thought about a thought. That made me smile!

" The word 'body' is a label, but I don't know if I have ever experienced it as anything other than a label."
Sit quietly with your eyes closed, take a few deep breaths to allow the body to relax.
Now drop all thoughts, including the label body, what remains? Stay with it, follow your direct immediate experience.
What sense field is being experienced? (seeing, hearing, sensations/feelings, taste, smell, thinking?)

There is only hearing, feeling and thinking.

"When I touch 'my body' I feel sensations and think 'that is my body' but again that is just a label."
Now, keeping eyes closed, place your hand on your thigh and drop the labels (hand on thigh) what's left?

A tingling, vibrating sensation.

"How can there be awareness of anything without a body?"
From your investigation above:
Can there be awareness of anything without a body?
Can seeing happen without a body?
Can hearing happen without a body?
Can choosing happen without a body?
Can anything happen without a body?

For this part do you mean the physical body or the label 'body'? There can be awareness without my body, it just wouldn't be 'my body/my awareness'. Without the label 'body' there is still seeing, hearing. Things still happen without a label 'body'. I'm not sure about choosing, as there isn't really any choosing.

What is the actual, immediate experience that refers to a label "body"?
Again, I'm not sure, there are just sensations, but I don't know how there can be sensations if there isn't a body.
What do you find?

The label 'body' is just a word, and a word is just a thought.

Warmly,
Ellie

[Noro]

Hello again :)

Here are some more questions in response to yours. Sorry if some are repetitive, but it is often the repetition that allows for seeing more clearly.

Yes - 'I am looking for something' refers to the mind trying to 'know' something but this isn't something that can be known by the mind as we are talking about direct experience.

Yes, I think the shift in perspective is becoming clear with you now.

There is a tightness in my chest and throat, tears are starting to appear in the eyes.

Can you be present to the whole field of body sensation and accompany this movement within it?
No need to try and change anything, just be with the full experience as it is.
Does anything need to change?

Can there be awareness of anything without a body? YES/NO?

For this part do you mean the physical body or the label 'body'? There can be awareness without my body, it just wouldn't be 'my body/my awareness'. Without the label 'body' there is still seeing, hearing. Things still happen without a label 'body'. I'm not sure about choosing, as there isn't really any choosing.

This question is pointing to the conclusion arrived at from this whole investigation into the direct experience of a body.
From the investigation in direct experience there is no physical body to be found, only:
Thinking : thoughts about a body,
Seeing: colors and shapes nothing more unless thought lays labels onto the seeing.
Sensations: sensations are full on as they are in direct experience, only thinking interprets otherwise by adding labels.
What notices thinking, seeing, and sensations?
Is it a separate 'thing' called 'noticing' that notices?
Is a body, or thoughts about a body needed for this noticing to happen?
So,
Can there be awareness of anything without a body?

You say:

There can be awareness without my body, it just wouldn't be 'my body/my awareness'.

Is there an actual separate entity or ''you' to be found that can claim ownership of a thought labelled 'body', other than to serve conventional purposes?
Remember that we are looking at evidence we are arriving at from direct experience, not all the conceptual information that has been gathered over the years.

Is there a direct experience of a separate entity or "you' that can claim ownership of awareness other than a thought?

I'm not sure about choosing, as there isn't really any choosing.

There you go! Cool! Just a label added on "I chose!"

The label 'body' is just a word, and a word is just a thought.

Yes.

Is there a difference for you in your direct experience between a word and a thought?
Or, can they be used interchangeably together with other labels like concept, description etc.?


EXPLORE - SENSE OF SELF:
The difference in Feeling something to be true and Seeing that it is or isn't.

Let’s say that you have lost your keys and you swear that you left them in your coat. You go to look and check all the pockets - the keys are not there. You swear they must be as that was the last place you remember them. You have a vivid memory of putting them there after you left the house. But when you check they are not there.
At this point you can keep on believing that the keys are in your pocket, or you can admit that even if they were, they are no longer there now.

This is just like that. You may see clearly that the self is an illusion but still feel a sense of self - just like the keys.

Feeling something to be true and seeing that it is or is not is different. (Remember the Coloured Socks Example!)

Now I'd like you to explore this "sense of self" very thoroughly, not by thinking about it but be LOOKING FOR IT. There might be a familiar sensation that we label a sense of self, but can an actual self be found? Keep the focus of attention on this sense of self and answer each question separately and feel free to answer with a simple yes or no when appropriate:

Does this sense of self have a specific location? Yes/No
If Yes, is it permanently fixed, or does it come and go?
And if it comes and goes, where does it go to?
Does this sense of self have a shape or a size? Yes/No
Does this sense of self say or communicate anything? Yes/No
If the answer is yes, how does it do this?
Does this sense of self have any specific characteristics or attributes (shimmering, tingling, pulsing, contraction?
What is this sense of self made of? An image? Sound? Taste? Smell? Body Sensation? Thought?
Does this familiar "sense of self" confirm the existence of an actual self. Yes/No
In conclusion, is there any separate self to be found?

Remember, it is your direct experience, not whatever feelings and thoughts that come up about it, that we want to get clear about. Direct experience is not thinking about something, thinking about is mental overlay.

Warmly,

Rowena

[aldertree]

Hi Rowena,

Thank you for your patience, this seems to be a sticking point!

Can you be present to the whole field of body sensation and accompany this movement within it?
No need to try and change anything, just be with the full experience as it is.
Does anything need to change?

No, nothing needs to change. I can just be with the sensations.

What notices thinking, seeing, and sensations?

I'm not sure, I think they are just arising in the field of awareness.

Is it a separate 'thing' called 'noticing' that notices?

No!

Is a body, or thoughts about a body needed for this noticing to happen?

I'm not sure! Thoughts aren't needed for noticing the senses. You can notice without thoughts but it seems that you would need a physical body for there to be any noticing but I have no evidence in DE for the existence of a physical body!

So,
Can there be awareness of anything without a body?

If there is no evidence of a physical body in DE then the answer has to be yes, awareness is just happening.

Is there a direct experience of a separate entity or "you' that can claim ownership of awareness other than a thought?

No. It feels like this answer is at odds with my previous answer. This one seems much clearer than the idea that there is no evidence of a physical body!

Is there a difference for you in your direct experience between a word and a thought?
Or, can they be used interchangeably together with other labels like concept, description etc.?

No, they are used interchangeably, they are both a way of labelling.

EXPLORE - SENSE OF SELF

Does this sense of self have a specific location? Yes/No

No, generally it is felt behind the eyes or in the mind but when I look for it nothing can be found.

If Yes, is it permanently fixed, or does it come and go?

It comes and goes

And if it comes and goes, where does it go to?

I don't know! I guess it isn't there because I'm not identifying with it.

Does this sense of self have a shape or a size? Yes/No

No

Does this sense of self say or communicate anything? Yes/No
If the answer is yes, how does it do this?

No, because it is just a sense, it isn't a real thing. It is a feeling so it can't communicate.

Does this sense of self have any specific characteristics or attributes (shimmering, tingling, pulsing, contraction?

No

What is this sense of self made of? An image? Sound? Taste? Smell? Body Sensation? Thought?

Nothing, it is just a thought.

Does this familiar "sense of self" confirm the existence of an actual self. Yes/No

No

In conclusion, is there any separate self to be found?

No

Thank you for everything today and I really appreciate how much time you are putting into this and all my questions! I am going out this evening so won't have time to reply again but I will continue to consider evidence (or lack of) of the physical body! I will be back tomorrow.

Ellie

[Noro]

Hi Ellie,

There is a returning again and again to the conceptual. No problem at all, just a little glitch that will become clear with repeated looking in direct experience. Please ask your rational mind to suspend disbelief and enjoy the ride!

Is a body, or thoughts about a body needed for this noticing to happen?

I'm not sure! Thoughts aren't needed for noticing the senses. You can notice without thoughts but it seems that you would need a physical body for there to be any noticing but I have no evidence in DE for the existence of a physical body!

YES!!! In DE you have no evidence at all!!
But there is a resistance to this finding because it doesn't 'make sense' in the relative.' So thoughts arise: "Hey, I'm not sure, this doesn't make sense; of course you would need a physical body for there to be any noticing." "This is not logical!" etc.

Think of quantum physics perspective where they say that everything is actually 99.9 percent space.
Then think of the material science perspective of say modern medicine where they can work with extraordinary fine detail on brains, hearts and things. Two different approaches to reality.

In your direct experience do you find any actual proof that you actually have a brain except through hearsay?

Is there a direct experience of a separate entity or "you' that can claim ownership of awareness other than a thought?

No. It feels like this answer is at odds with my previous answer. This one seems much clearer than the idea that there is no evidence of a physical body!

I would like you to do this little meditation.
Close your eyes, take some breaths, relax the body and now quietly say to yourself,
"In my direct experience I can find no evidence of a physical body."
Note the reference to body (conceptual)/no evidence of a body(DE)!
Each time you say that sentence stop and look into the body sensations that arise with that thought.
There is probably a fear response arising, a survival mechanism at play as 'the conceptual body-mind' 'believes' it is being told of its non-existence. But think of a little baby, it has no knowledge of a body, it has to learn about the body gradually, starting with fingers, toes and noses!

Have a nice evening and I look forward to continuing our investigation tomorrow.

Warm wishes,

Rowena

[aldertree]

Good morning,

I am quite busy today! I have been thinking about the question but will try and find some time for the meditation this afternoon. To answer your first question:

In your direct experience do you find any actual proof that you actually have a brain except through hearsay?

Absolutely not!

In my direct experience I can find no evidence of a physical body

My mind was going all over the place with this last night. "But if I don't have a physical body, who is driving the car?, if I get hurt then isn't that happening to my body?!" Anyway this were my initial thoughts. I will sit down with this properly this afternoon.

Have a great morning,
Ellie

[Noro]

Hello Ellie,

In my direct experience I can find no evidence of a physical body

My mind was going all over the place with this last night. "But if I don't have a physical body, who is driving the car?, if I get hurt then isn't that happening to my body?!" Anyway this were my initial thoughts. I will sit down with this properly this afternoon.

Poor mind! Of course there is a physical body, and we are not trying to make out that there isn't one. The investigation is about looking at our direct experience of life, in contrast to our everyday understanding an experience, starting from the most minimalist point of view (raw data of the sense fields), and looking at how it expands outward in to the conventional perspective, when things and actions etc. get named, labeled and the conceptualized.

The concept 'physical body' contains a multitude of moving parts and processes. In direct experience that is the experience of touch, sensation, seeing, hearing. It is full on and complete as it is, together with the thinking and naming that arises. This approach is needed to become very clear that there is no independent self running the show, and there never has been!

"But if I don't have a physical body, who is driving the car?,

It is true that we say, my body, my this, my that.... But where is that "my" located? So far you haven't found it have you?
So what's left? A physical body. And then we ask: What's there when the concept or label "physical body" is dropped"?
Certainly not nothing.... For sure, a full on experience of all the sensations in direct experience.

What remains when you remove the "I am" from driving the car? Without that thought, driving the car is happening perfectly happily without that illusory "separate self." Do you remember that early exercise you did like this?

I am sitting on a chair,
I am hearing a clock ticking,
I am looking at a computer screen,
I am feeling hungry
I am thinking
I am writing.

Compare with how it feels when you remove the "I am" label.
Sitting on a chair,
hearing clock ticking
looking at computer screen
feeling hungry
thinking
writing

if I get hurt then isn't that happening to my body?!"

Yes, the body gets hurt for sure, but can 'you' get hurt,
Where are you? Referring here to that idea that there is a separate, independent self agent. Can something like that be found anywhere other than as a thought?


Warmly,

Rowena

[Noro]

Ellie I just came across this video. It might be of help listening to an enquiry:

https://youtu.be/pFKHG5xng-4?is=fDWG-8aMqirzwDQp

[aldertree]

Hi Rowena,

Thanks for your reply.

This question is pointing to the conclusion arrived at from this whole investigation into the direct experience of a body.
From the investigation in direct experience there is no physical body to be found, only:
Thinking : thoughts about a body,
Seeing: colors and shapes nothing more unless thought lays labels onto the seeing.
Sensations: sensations are full on as they are in direct experience, only thinking interprets otherwise by adding labels.
What notices thinking, seeing, and sensations?

I think I got a bit confused because you said there is no physical body to be found and I took this literally. I started thinking about the surrealist film Being John Malkovich (I don't know if you've seen that film but it is very weird) and I was the awareness in some random body like a puppet! My brain has clearly gone into overdrive!

It is true that we say, my body, my this, my that.... But where is that "my" located? So far you haven't found it have you?
So what's left? A physical body. And then we ask: What's there when the concept or label "physical body" is dropped"?
Certainly not nothing.... For sure, a full on experience of all the sensations in direct experience.

This explanation has helped calm me down a bit! In my DE there is only sensations, seeing, thinking etc. There is a physical body it is just not 'my' body. I spent some time sitting on a chair and feeling my leg - only sensation - and then feeling the chair, table etc - again just sensation. I label it as my leg, but I don't label everything else as my chair/table etc. These are just thoughts

Yes, the body gets hurt for sure, but can 'you' get hurt,
Where are you? Referring here to that idea that there is a separate, independent self agent. Can something like that be found anywhere other than as a thought?

No, there is no me to get hurt. It would only be physical pain, it doesn't belong to anyone. My pain is only a thought.

I watched the video, thank you. The bit where he said he was very task based and that if you are neurodiverse this can be counterproductive as 'you' feel you have to complete the task. It was interesting to think of enquiry from a more curiousity angle instead. I'm not neurodiverse but I am definitely very task orientated!

"In my direct experience I can find no evidence of a physical body."
Note the reference to body (conceptual)/no evidence of a body(DE)!
Each time you say that sentence stop and look into the body sensations that arise with that thought.

This is what I found -
-pounding and tightness in the chest
-contraction in the throat
-thoughts and that is all!

I have had a bit of a stressful morning at work, I tried using DE to look at what was really there. It did help a bit but I just kept thinking, when I get out of here I will feel better! Again just a thought!

Warm wishes,
Ellie

[Noro]

Hi Ellie,

You have been working on overdrive here, and that can happen, the body/nervous system as we label it in the conventional perspective goes into what we would call 'resistance' ..... strong sensations of contraction and clenching and a lot of mental chatter.

I think I got a bit confused because you said there is no physical body to be found and I took this literally. I started thinking about the surrealist film Being John Malkovich (I don't know if you've seen that film but it is very weird) and I was the awareness in some random body like a puppet! My brain has clearly gone into overdrive!

I am glad you mentioned this:

I took this literally.

This is an important point. Words can be spells and we can become entranced by them and revert to our old patterns of responding. When we become at ease with the perspective of direct experiencing it brings a freedom, a kind of joyful skepticism, from having to take everything literally. The two perspectives kind of run together.

I hope it is clear now that what I was pointing to was that there is no physical body to be found in direct experience. How can there be when all labelling is dropped. Only the six fields of raw data are included (including thinking without the content of thought). To make it clear again. In direct experience when thinking about the body happens, all of the about content is dropped and only the process of thinking is acknowledged. So: thoughts about a body are dropped = simply thinking remains. Looking out at the world, wherever we happen to be, all objects are dropped = simply seeing remains.

This explanation has helped calm me down a bit! In my DE there is only sensations, seeing, thinking etc. There is a physical body it is just not 'my' body. I spent some time sitting on a chair and feeling my leg - only sensation - and then feeling the chair, table etc - again just sensation. I label it as my leg, but I don't label everything else as my chair/table etc. These are just thoughts

Great, you are getting it! It takes practice, like a retraining of how to look. There is however one thing you mentioned which I am not 100% sure is clear:

PLEASE LOOK IN YOUR DIRECT EXPERIENCE.
Being withall of life in your direct experience of what's immediate to the senses.,
is there an actual body to be found separate from the whole field of sensation or vision, or only thoughts about a body? (Reminder: Simply seeing, simply thinking)
Is there a separate entity, labeled 'you' that can claim ownership of said body that cannot be found in direct experience?


Yes, the body gets hurt for sure, but can 'you' get hurt,

No, there is no me to get hurt. It would only be physical pain, it doesn't belong to anyone. My pain is only a thought.

Pain will be experienced for sure, but it won't belong to a 'you'.

It was interesting to think of enquiry from a more curiousity angle instead.

Curiosity is key.... and it can become quite addictive! :)

This is what I found -
-pounding and tightness in the chest
-contraction in the throat
-thoughts and that is all!

Your conditioned understanding is being shaken up, and so these reactions are to be expected.
Since you found the meditation with body sensations relaxing, I suggest this as a good exercise for self-regulation.
Feeling the weight of your whole torso sinking into the chair : resting in the pure field of sensation.

I have had a bit of a stressful morning at work, I tried using DE to look at what was really there. It did help a bit but I just kept thinking, when I get out of here I will feel better! Again just a thought!

And a good thought too!

I think it would be a good idea to take a little break and allow the body-mind system (nervous system) integrate. You see there are so many names and labels that we can use, but we never know for sure, as they are labels. What we do know is the fullness of being, together with all the sensations when we relax and drop into direct looking.

Let me know your thoughts, they are always welcome.

Warmly,

Rowena

[aldertree]

Hi Rowena,

Is there an actual body to be found separate from the whole field of sensation and vision, or only thoughts about a body? (Reminder: Simply seeing, simply thinking)
Is there a separate entity, labeled 'you' that can claim ownership of said body that cannot be found in direct experience?

I hadn't thought of it like that before! No! When you look at the whole field of vision and sensation there is just colour, shape, sensation, hearing. There is no separate 'me' that can claim ownership of the body". There is simply seeing, hearing and feeling!

I think it would be a good idea to take a little break and allow the body-mind system (nervous system) integrate

Yes, I agree it might be time to have a little break. I am quite busy the next two days anyway. I will just do some relaxing meditation and just take in everything that is perceived in direct experience.

Thanks so much,
Ellie

[Noro]

Have a great weekend Ellie,

And just notice how relaxing it can be living in a world without labels!

With love,

Rowena

[aldertree]

Good morning Rowena,

I hope you had a nice weekend. I had a very relaxing one after a stressful couple of days - I reconnected with my family, spent time outside and did some meditation looking at what is here in direct experience. I am feeling ready for the next steps!

Warm regards,
Ellie

[Noro]

Hi Ellie,

Im glad you had a good weekend and time to unwind and connect. Just to let you know that I have a pretty busy week this week and so might not be so quick to reply to your posts.

I wanted to talk a little bit more about the purpose of the practice of direct experience. Everything perceived by the body-mind through the five senses is processed and interpreted and labelled. I think you get that now. The content of thought can be very subtle indeed, small internal movements of body sensation, mental activity or breath. All this experiencing and perceiving can be considered as appearances arising in consciousness, or in awareness. They come and go, although they may seem real as long as they last. So, if in direct experience the contents of each sense field are reduced right down to the most minimal data of that sense field, in the way we have been doing until now, this takes a load of energy processing off mental activity and allows space for full on experiencing in a more direct way, and the ability to discern how much freer the experience is when we don't have to name and interpret the world around us. So we consciously move our attention from conventional perception which is learned, to direct experience where names and interpretations are left aside. Direct experience is not about getting rid of the conventional experience, it is a shift in perspective to a wider, softer view. I hope that this is becoming your experience now?

DEEPER BODY INVESTIGATION
Here is an even deeper investigation of the body. Please follow each step, don't leave out any. Take your time, do this investigation when you are feeling relaxed and grounded. 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 interpreting sensations as ‘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 an actual space, like ‘going through the room’; OR is there only seeing, and
thinking about seeing, labelled 'room' and sensations appearing without any location?

Once again:
This is not to question the existence of a body, it is about discovering our fundamental direct experience of a body.

Have fun!

Warmly,

Rowena

[aldertree]

Hi Rowena,

That's absolutely fine, life goes on!

Direct experience is not about getting rid of the conventional experience, it is a shift in perspective to a wider, softer view. I hope that this is becoming your experience now?

I am finding this more and more so, it is just when things get difficult I still get absorbed in the self!

DEEPER BODY INVESTIGATION
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?

I did this several times over the course of today. No there was no connection, only thoughts that suggested connections.

Is there any connection between the felt sensations (labelled ‘hand’) and the image ‘of movement’? Or only thoughts suggest it?

No there was no connection, only thoughts of a connection.

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?

No there was no suggestion that it was 'my body' there was just colour and shape.

Just by the image in the mirror, is there any ‘knowledge’ that there must be legs, or only thoughts and mental images suggest so?

There was no knowledge that there was legs, it was just thoughts that there must be.

Is there a ‘body’ anywhere when all thoughts and images are ignored, or are there only sensations?

This felt strange every time, there was just seeing, and sensations, no body could be found.

Is there a ‘body walking’, or are there only sensations?

Only sensations

Is there actual experience of ‘walking’ at all, Or just thoughts interpreting sensations as ‘walking’?

There was no experience of walking, just the sensations and thoughts interpreting the sensations.

Can such a thing as ‘body’ be found OR just thoughts about a ‘body’?

No body could be found, only thoughts about a body.

Can such a thing as ‘walking’ be found?

Walking couldn't be found.

Are the sensations localized in an actual space, like ‘going through the room’; OR is there only seeing, and
thinking about seeing, labelled 'room' and sensations appearing without any location?

The sensations aren't localised to a space. There was only seeing and sensations. The sensations just appeared in my awareness.

I found that quite interesting!

Thanks,
Ellie

[Noro]

Hi Ellie,

I am finding this more and more so, it is just when things get difficult I still get absorbed in the self!

This is normal! Reactivity, or 'selfing' is to be expected. The many years of conditioning do not disappear overnight, but each time some event arises to trigger reactivity, this offers a chance to investigate using direct experience. Avoidance of reactivity by imposing a false kind of 'equanimity' through effort is not the goal.

Is there a ‘body’ anywhere when all thoughts and images are ignored, or are there only sensations?

This felt strange every time, there was just seeing, and sensations, no body could be found.

OK, you say this felt strange every time, but compared with the last exercise when a body couldn't be found either, would you say that the feelings/sensations are slowly lessening? That there isn't such an anxious response? That it feels less like the rug has been pulled from under your feet?

Here is a video that talks to this: https://youtu.be/vJQcD588g2w?si=BuRGd0dhsHAWkjnJ


LOOKING OUT AT THE WORLD - THE WORLD LOOKS BACK!

Sit quietly, take a few deep breaths to relax and look around you and take in the visual field (the world in front of you).
Ask yourself: "What do I see in front of my face" and let any thoughts/labels be there..
Now, let go of all thoughts and labels and keep looking out at the visual field,

Where were you getting the 'information' about a world?

Was it in the seen?
Are there actual objects out there? Yes/No
If yes, how do you know?
Is there actual distance? Yes/No
If yes, how do you know?
Can distance be found in the visual field alone?
Is there a boundary or any distance between you (the observer) and the visual field?

Now flip it around, so that instead of looking out at the world, imagine that the world (visual field) is looking at you!
You are undertaking a bit of a thought experiment here by imagining.
Now allow your attention to land on an object, any object in front of you.
Imagine that you are being observed by that object, that chosen object is now looking back at you.
Stay with the experience of this for a while. Note any thoughts/sensations arising

Is there any separate thing or separate "you" to be found?
Is there a boundary to be found between see-er and the seen with this flip?
Is there an actual outside or inside that can be flipped around?

Briefly describe what was experienced, including thinking and sensations. It is quite normal for there to be some reactivity with this exercise.

Warmly,

Rowena