Inquiry with forgetmenot

[Allen12]

No worries Kay. Take your time.

Allen

[forgetmenot]

Hi Allen,

We are back up and running! All is right with the world once again! ;)

What does the word/label ‘body’ ACTUALLY refer to?

The word/label "body" refers to thought content and the concept of a human body.

Yes, the word/label ‘body’ is AE of thought

What is the ACTUAL experience of the body?

The actual experience of the body is just sensation.

The actual experience of the body is thought. Thought points to sensation and labels it a ‘body’, but can a body be found as actual experience or only thoughts about a body?


Let’s take a closer look at the idea of the head, where it is believed thinking, seeing and consciousness occurs, but can a head be found as actual experience?

Please IGNORE all thoughts and mental images of ‘head’ and ‘fingers’ and just answer from actual experience. Close your eyes and take in a couple of deep breaths to settle the dust and keeping your eyes closed...

Press a finger down onto the top of the ‘head’.
Notice what is actually present.
Is it a head, or is it just a sensation (labelled ‘pressure’) and thoughts ABOUT a head?

Do the same with a finger on each side of the head.
Is a head actually found, or are there just sensations again?
And is there anything between the pressure points, or are there just thoughts about something being in between them

Without thought, how big is your head?
Without thought, does it have an inside or an outside?
Without thought, does it have a location?

Let’s follow this up with the following experiments which look at the belief that thoughts and mental images are coming from the head, somewhere around the forehead; therefore thoughts are stored in the head. This not only seems to solidify the idea that you are the thinker of thought, but that your consciousness in also stored there, and that what you are resides in a body.

When we try to trace back the origin of a thought, it is often believed that it's coming from the forehead, because the attention automatically goes to the sensation of the forehead. Investigate this carefully as often as you can throughout the day.

Have a very deep look here... the forehead is one place we feel the ‘sense of self’ resides, or rather, the sensation that is labelled as ‘forehead’ is believed to be one of the location of the sense of self. Close your eyes and look to see what the AE of the ‘forehead’ is. Then look at the following questions.

What is the forehead in the actual experience?
A sensation + a mental image (of a forehead) + thoughts about a forehead, right?

So, can a thought come from a sensation?
Can a thought come from a mental image?
Does the mental image suggest in any that it is a ‘forehead’?
Does the sensation itself suggest in any way that it is a ‘forehead’?
Does the sensation itself suggest in any way that it is a ‘me’?
Other than thought, can you find anything that suggests the sensation labelled as ‘forehead’ is a forehead or a me?

Furthermore, it's also believed that 'visual sights' are coming from the eyes, because when it's investigated the attention automatically goes to the sensation 'of the eyes', and at the same time the mental image or idea 'of the eyes' appear with it.

So another sense of self is linked to the sensation 'of the eyes'.

What are the eyes in the actual experience?
A sensation + a mental image + thoughts about eyes, right?

Can sight (colour) come from a sensation?
Can sight come from an image (of the eyes)?

Can a 'mental image' come from a sensation?
Does a mental image suggest in any way that it is eyes?

Kay

[Allen12]

Hi Kay,

The actual experience of the body is thought. Thought points to sensation and labels it a ‘body’, but can a body be found as actual experience or only thoughts about a body?

A body can't be found in actual experience. Only thoughts about a body can be found. The body is only found in thought content. Not AE.

Is it a head, or is it just a sensation (labelled ‘pressure’) and thoughts ABOUT a head?

Just a sensation and some mental images (thoughts) are present.

Is a head actually found, or are there just sensations again?

Just sensations.

And is there anything between the pressure points, or are there just thoughts about something being in between them.

It takes thought to imagine that there's distance or location for the two points or that there's something between them. In experience there's just sensation present.

Without thought, how big is your head?
Without thought, does it have an inside or an outside?
Without thought, does it have a location?

Without thought there's none of this. No head. No size, inside, outside, or location.

So, can a thought come from a sensation?

No

Can a thought come from a mental image?

No

Does the mental image suggest in any that it is a ‘forehead’?

No

Does the sensation itself suggest in any way that it is a ‘forehead’?

No

Does the sensation itself suggest in any way that it is a ‘me’?

No

Other than thought, can you find anything that suggests the sensation labelled as ‘forehead’ is a forehead or a me?

No. But I don't really tend to think of the "forehead" as a me. For me it's the sensations in the chest/neck/head that I mostly associate with a me. But these aren't really a me.

Can sight (colour) come from a sensation?

No

Can sight come from an image (of the eyes)?

No

Can a 'mental image' come from a sensation?

No

Does a mental image suggest in any way that it is eyes?

No, it's just thought.


Thanks,

Allen

[forgetmenot]

Hi Allen,

And is there anything between the pressure points, or are there just thoughts about something being in between them.

It takes thought to imagine that there's distance or location for the two points or that there's something between them. In experience there's just sensation present.

So you can see how much thought plays a role in the idea of separation? The complexity of the dream to ensure that the idea of separation is real…is absolutely amazingly mind blowing!

Is it a head, or is it just a sensation (labelled ‘pressure’) and thoughts ABOUT a head?

Just a sensation and some mental images (thoughts) are present.

Wonderful! So it is seen that there certainly can’t be a me hiding in something called a head, no matter how 'real' it feels that a me is somewhere in something called a head!

Other than thought, can you find anything that suggests the sensation labelled as ‘forehead’ is a forehead or a me?

No. But I don't really tend to think of the "forehead" as a me.

When we are ‘doing’ thinking - concentrating on our thoughts in solving a problem, doing a math equation, or being caught up in stories (heavy thinking), the focus naturally tends to go to the forehead and from this, gives the impression that “I am thinking’ and that thoughts are found in the head. Just something to keep in mind.

For me it's the sensations in the chest/neck/head that I mostly associate with a me. But these aren't really a me.

So let’s investigate the above to ensure that there isn’t a me to be found in the chest/neck/head.

Find a comfortable place to sit or lie.
Take in a couple of deep breaths to settle the dust, and to become comfortable.

Spend up to 60 seconds on each of the following:-

Bring your awareness to your entire body - sense it fully, head to toe.
Run your hands down over your torso. Feel the solidity of it.
Now bring your awareness to your feet. Again, feel them. Move them a bit.
Then bring your awareness to your hands. Open and close them.
Bring your awareness to your face - all of it. Touch it with your hand.
Now point your index finger to where the “I/me” is located.
Touch the exact location of "I/me".

Please answer the following questions by telling me what you experienced and found by way of AE

What part of the body did you point to?
What sensations did you feel in your body that identified "I/me”?
Were you able to find and feel "I/me" in a direct way like the other parts of your body?
What did you actually find? Something? Anything? Nothing?

Kay

[Allen12]

Hi Kay,

What part of the body did you point to?

I pointed to my head.

What sensations did you feel in your body that identified "I/me”?

The "inner voice" is usually thought to be coming from inside the head and this voice is thought to be coming from a me. The "head" sensation is thought of as a me.

On further inspection it isn't a me. Just sensation. The voice also isn't a me. And also isn't coming from the "head" sensation.

Were you able to find and feel "I/me" in a direct way like the other parts of your body?

No. I can't find anything in experience that feels like a me.

What did you actually find? Something? Anything? Nothing?

Just sensation and thought. But neither are a me.

Thanks,

Allen

[forgetmenot]

Hi Allen,

Take your time with this post.

What sensations did you feel in your body that identified "I/me”?

The "inner voice" is usually thought to be coming from inside the head and this voice is thought to be coming from a me. The "head" sensation is thought of as a me.
On further inspection it isn't a me. Just sensation. The voice also isn't a me. And also isn't coming from the "head" sensation.

Okay…so let’s do a couple of experiments to further look at the idea of the head and the idea of an 'inner voice'.

Have you actually ever heard your thoughts? Just like mental images, are they the actual object or just thoughts about the object?
How is it known that thoughts have a voice, and that the voice is your voice?
Have you ever been able to record thoughts as they spontaneously arise and then play them back in order to hear them, and to hear that they are in your voice?
So do thoughts actually have a sound? Or is the ‘voice in the head’ simply thoughts about sound?
Can thoughts be felt, smelled, tasted, heard or seen, or are they just known?

Sometimes you hear a song on the radio on your way to work or while you are cooking or doing something, and that song can stay with you all day. The song seems to play over and over again. All the intricate details are there. All the lyrics, all the notes in the guitar solo are as clear as when it was playing out of the car speakers.
But is there really music playing, someone singing, someone playing a guitar? Or there are just thoughts about sound?


You have looked at the head to see that actually the head is AE of sensation + thought, so let’s follow that up with looking at the general belief that thoughts appear inside of us - inside our head to be more precise, and that sounds appear outside of us - outside the head.

Close your eyes and allow a thought or a series of thoughts to appear. Notice that those thoughts appear in your field of awareness. Continue to pay attention to thoughts as they appear in your field of awareness for a few more seconds.

With your eyes still closed, listen to whatever sound is present for several moments.

Now, with your attention, go back and forth between thoughts and the sound.

Does the sound appear in a different place to thoughts, or do sounds appear in exactly the same field that the thoughts appear in?

Can you find an actual line/wall/boundary that divides the thoughts and the sound? Or is the line a mental construct?

Do you have to overcome any obstruction in order for sound to appear in exactly the same field that the thoughts appear in?

Now open your eyes and notice colours.

Do the colours appear in a different place to thoughts and sounds, or do colours appear in exactly the same field of awareness as thoughts and sounds?

Can you find an actual line/wall/boundary that divides thoughts, sounds and colours, or is that division a mental construct?

Is there an inside and outside to your field of awareness?

Does your attention ever leave your field of awareness?

Try to leave your field of awareness. Try to come in contact with or attend to something that appears just outside of your field of awareness. Is this possible?

Report back what you found when doing this exercise.

You can also do the above experiment with sensation and sound instead of thought and sound and see what you find. And taste and sound, smell and sound, thought and colour. There is a variety ways of doing this exercise to see whether or not there is an internal and external divide.

Kay

[Allen12]

Hi Kay,

Have you actually ever heard your thoughts? Just like mental images, are they the actual object or just thoughts about the object?

I haven't. Thoughts don't make a real sound. It's just imagination of sound.

How is it known that thoughts have a voice, and that the voice is your voice?

It's just thought content that says this.

Have you ever been able to record thoughts as they spontaneously arise and then play them back in order to hear them, and to hear that they are in your voice?

No.

So do thoughts actually have a sound? Or is the ‘voice in the head’ simply thoughts about sound?

Just thoughts about sound. I've never really looked at thought this way before.

Can thoughts be felt, smelled, tasted, heard or seen, or are they just known?

No. They're just known.

But is there really music playing, someone singing, someone playing a guitar? Or there are just thoughts about sound?

Just thoughts about sound.

Does the sound appear in a different place to thoughts, or do sounds appear in exactly the same field that the thoughts appear in?

They both appear. There's no location. They just exist.

Can you find an actual line/wall/boundary that divides the thoughts and the sound? Or is the line a mental construct?

There's no divide between them. location is a mental construct.

Do you have to overcome any obstruction in order for sound to appear in exactly the same field that the thoughts appear in?

No.

Do the colours appear in a different place to thoughts and sounds, or do colours appear in exactly the same field of awareness as thoughts and sounds?

I guess you could say they appear in the same field of awareness. To me they just exist. But there's no location. So no border between them. I think seeing that colour is 2d is the key to this. It just collapses the idea of location and space.

Can you find an actual line/wall/boundary that divides thoughts, sounds and colours, or is that division a mental construct?

No. It's a mental construct.

Is there an inside and outside to your field of awareness?

No. There's no location.

Does your attention ever leave your field of awareness?

No. Don't know how this would work.

Try to leave your field of awareness. Try to come in contact with or attend to something that appears just outside of your field of awareness. Is this possible?

This isn't possible.


Thanks!

Allen

[forgetmenot]

Hello Allen,

Nice looking!

So is it clearer that there cannot possibly be a 'me' that resides in the head (or body) somewhere, and that it is only thought, a concept that seems to strongly suggest this with a 'feeling tone' of "I am located in a head"?

So where are you at now with our explorations to date? If you can give me an update that would be great. Just how you are, how you feel about what we have explored, any insights that have brought any differences, any perception shifts, and so on?

Kay

[Allen12]

Hi Kay,

So is it clearer that there cannot possibly be a 'me' that resides in the head (or body) somewhere, and that it is only thought, a concept that seems to strongly suggest this with a 'feeling tone' of "I am located in a head"?

Yes, this is clear. When I break it down into AE it's very clear. Any sensations are not a me and any thoughts are also not a me.

So where are you at now with our explorations to date? If you can give me an update that would be great. Just how you are, how you feel about what we have explored, any insights that have brought any differences, any perception shifts, and so on?

I'm doing well! It's pretty clear that there's no entity that's a me in experience. There's also less doubt from the mind about this compared to when we first started. Although I can't say that doubt is completely gone. But when there's doubt I can easily break things down into AE and check.

As far as my day to day experience, things are pretty much the same, just less doubt about a me somewhere. I still find myself operating from the perspective of being a me a lot, thinking from the perspective of a me, still getting caught up in thoughts, etc. But all this still doesn't mean that there's a me in existence.

I have to admit that lately I haven't been doing the best job of being the observer at all times. I will try to do better in this area. A key thing that you told me was that realization and insights don't come from the realm of thought, so I realize how important this is.

Thanks!

Allen

[forgetmenot]

Hey Allen,

So is it clearer that there cannot possibly be a 'me' that resides in the head (or body) somewhere, and that it is only thought, a concept that seems to strongly suggest this with a 'feeling tone' of "I am located in a head"?

Yes, this is clear. When I break it down into AE it's very clear. Any sensations are not a me and any thoughts are also not a me.

Great! Next time a sensation arises which gives thought to it being me, check to see if that sensation is any different to any other sensations that arises and subsides. Yep, intensity may be different, however, that aside, is there any differences between sensations?

So where are you at now with our explorations to date? If you can give me an update that would be great. Just how you are, how you feel about what we have explored, any insights that have brought any differences, any perception shifts, and so on?

I'm doing well! It's pretty clear that there's no entity that's a me in experience. There's also less doubt from the mind about this compared to when we first started. Although I can't say that doubt is completely gone. But when there's doubt I can easily break things down into AE and check.

Yes, there is no personal me that is the doer, feeler, thinker or sayer. In other words, you are not responsible for any personal doership of any sort. Doings, feelings, thoughts etc happen, but you are not the creator ie doer of them, you do not make them happen.

As far as my day to day experience, things are pretty much the same, just less doubt about a me somewhere. I still find myself operating from the perspective of being a me a lot, thinking from the perspective of a me, still getting caught up in thoughts, etc. But all this still doesn't mean that there's a me in existence.

Yes, that me isn’t going to go, as this exploration is not about getting rid of the me that is living life. It’s to see that the me you thought yourself to be, the me that is finite, separate, autonomous self that suffers, is not you. However, that doesn’t mean that there is nothing happening, that there is no you. I DO not exist and the I DOES not exist are very different!

I have to admit that lately I haven't been doing the best job of being the observer at all times. I will try to do better in this area. A key thing that you told me was that realization and insights don't come from the realm of thought, so I realize how important this is.

Insights come out of the blue. It is no more a doing than the heart beating. So you don’t have to do anything to have insights/realisations. Many people have insights in the shower, or when walking, for example. So what I mean is, you can’t think insights into happening. They just happen when they do. However, observing is just a good practice that allows you to be aware of what IS, as opposed to what thought says is going on.

Okay...continuing on with the body. This is a deeper investigation. 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?

Kay

[Allen12]

Hi Kay,

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?

There's no connection between the felt body sensations and the image in the mirror. Just thought suggests so.

Is there any connection between the felt sensations (labelled ‘hand’) and image of movement in the mirror?

No, there's no connection.

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

No connection between the raw image and sensation. Just thought suggests it.

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?

There's only colour and shapes that by themselves don't suggest anything.

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

Thought tries to complete the picture. But the image in the mirror itself doesn't suggest anything.

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

Only sensations.

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?

Only sensations and thought are present in AE. "Body" and "walking" can only be found in thought content.

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?

This one was more difficult I think because the image of the "room" was moving. It was hard not to feel like I'm moving through a room. But I can see how only sensation and colour are present.

Thanks,

Allen

[forgetmenot]

Hey Allen,

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?

This one was more difficult I think because the image of the "room" was moving. It was hard not to feel like I'm moving through a room. But I can see how only sensation and colour are present.

Yes, it can seem more difficult because the belief is that I am located in the body, and that the body’s eyes are seeing and as I am in the body, then I can be located walking in or through a room; therefore I am walking (moving) through the room. When in actuality the body and the room are appearing within You (not Allenself), and moving through You. That is the idea of pointing to their being no AE of a body, and an internal and external experience of a body cannot be found as AE. The exercises we did on whether thoughts appeared in a head and sound outside of a head, also alluded to the fact that the head cannot be found as AE, so can experience be divided into internal and external. Everything is appearing in/as You, consciousness, and consciousness is not housed in a body.

This experiment is great in that it takes a further look at the body, but also starts to introduce the exploration into the idea of time.

Look into the mirror throughout the day. Body image appears, notice that all that's really there are some colours, and a thought-story saying 'these colours are my body'

Every time you return to the mirror, consider whether these 'body colours' have ever appeared before.

Has this body image + story ever appeared before - or is this the only time you have ever been aware of these *exact* colours and this exact story about the body?

Can you find any previous appearances of the body? Where are they? If not how can it be known that the body has appeared before?

Is the appearance just appearing 'now' with only a thought-story claiming you've seen this body before?

Do that for today and report back what you find.

Kay

[Allen12]

Hi Kay,

When in actuality the body and the room are appearing within You (not Allenself), and moving through You.

I found this to be very interesting. Never thought from this perspective before. The experience can change, but an unbroken presence remains. As I was walking down the street today I tried to see if I was actually walking through the world, or if the experience of the world was just passing through.

Has this body image + story ever appeared before - or is this the only time you have ever been aware of these *exact* colours and this exact story about the body?

This is the only time I've been aware of these exact colours and story. Although thought will attach a story and say that I've seen the body image my whole life.

Can you find any previous appearances of the body? Where are they? If not how can it be known that the body has appeared before?

I can't find any other previous appearances. I can't "go back in time". Thought says I've seen it before. But this thought is just appearing now. It can't be known that the body has appeared before.

Is the appearance just appearing 'now' with only a thought-story claiming you've seen this body before?

Yes. Everything always appears now.

Kay, I also wanted to ask you, would it help if I took some time out of my day to sit still and just observe reality? Kind of like a practice.

Thanks!

Allen

[forgetmenot]

Hello Allen,

I will post your next exercise in a separate post to this one.

Kay, I also wanted to ask you, would it help if I took some time out of my day to sit still and just observe reality? Kind of like a practice.

There is a better way of spending your time. What will sitting still and observing reality do? If you want to sit and contemplate the different perspectives that have opened up for you ie you aren’t moving through the room, the room is actually moving through you, Consciousness…by all means, do so. Contemplate the body and so forth and see where those contemplations lead.

1. Doing the exercises that you have been given to do throughout this exploration would also be good to keep doing. The exercise given here viewtopic.php?p=324412#p323998 to see if sound and thoughts appear in different locations is good to continue to do. Mix it up. Notice colour and sound and see how they appear in your field of awareness. Notice colour and thought, and so on.

2. Keep investigating the idea of the body…to how it comes about as seeming to be something solid, when in actuality it is simply sensation and an idea. Notice how when you close your eyes, that there is an idea, a facsimile of the body that is there and notice how that is appearing in your field of awareness. Open the eyes and notice how the colours labelled body are appearing in your field of awareness. Check to see is the body actually seeing? Can you find a head or eyes that are seeing and so on. Becoming more clearer that what is appearing as your current actual experience, is appearing in your field of awareness…that everything is appearing as a seamless whole, including the body.

3. Start to thoroughly investigate the idea of personal doership.
Sit quietly for 20 to 30 minutes and think of only one action which has happened during the day where you are 100% certain that you were the doer of that action. Then investigate it. And see where the investigation takes you to see if you were the doer (decider, chooser, controller) of any of it.

Did you at any moment decide to do that action?
How did that action begin?
Look and see if a particular thought arose which was the decision to do the action. Did a sound, sensation, smell, taste or image appear that was the decision to do the action. Were you in control of any of that? Or did those things just appear?

Did a thought, for example appear saying “I’d like a cup of coffee” and you got up and made a coffee. Or maybe it was a smell. You walked past a coffee shop and smelled the coffee and you found yourself buying a cup of coffee. Maybe it was a sound or an image that brought about the action. If a sensation arose, did you think the thought that seemingly created the sensation? Investigate every bit to see if you took part in any of how the action came about from beginning to end. If something hadn’t appeared like a thought, sound, image etc..then would have the action happened? Watch how some actions happen without any thought, sound, image etc.

4. Sit outside and listen to sounds and see if they are actually coming from a distance, or are they closer than that? Do the same with the view you are seeing. Are things at a distance or are they closer than close?

I will be giving you other exercises to do which will assist you to see if there is an experiencer of experience. So you won’t be short of ideas on how to spend your time in order to deepen clarity.

Kay

[forgetmenot]

Hello Allen,

With the following exercise we are going to look at the idea of memory, which touches on the idea of past, present and future.

Past and memory go hand-in-hand as a memory thought (words or mental images) is believed to be referring to something that has happened in the past. Memory thoughts are also thoughts about a future that may or may not happen based on past experiences. A future thought is a thought that projects an idea about a future based on past memory. The majority of us ‘live’ in past or future, but when are those seeming memory thoughts actually taking place?

Sit quietly somewhere for 10 or so minutes and watch the arising thoughts. Notice the thoughts that contain content that refer to a past or future. Please don’t go to thought explanation, but just look at what the direct actual experience is.

What is memory exactly? What is the memory ‘made of’?

Is there any difference between a ‘general’ thought and a ‘memory’ thought?

WHEN does the memory actually appear?
How is it known that a ‘memory’ thought refers to something that has happened?

Then, look at a thought about the future.

What is the future thought ‘made of’?

WHEN does the future thought appear?

Is there a difference between a ‘general’ thought and a ‘future’ thought?
How is it known that a ‘future’ thought refers to something that will happen?

Then let’s compare a thought about the past and a thought about the future.

What is the difference between the thoughts about past and future in actual experience? If there is a difference, how is that difference known exactly?

Can a past or future be known? Or all that is known are the AE of thoughts labelled as ‘memory’ that are appearing now?

In actual experience:-
Where is last week?
Where is yesterday?
Where is this morning?
Where is five minutes ago?
Where is one minute ago?
Where is last night?
Where is midnight?
Where is tomorrow morning?
Where is next week?
Where is next month?
Can you find any of these? Or only ‘memory’ thoughts about these appearing now?

Kay