Seeking more than an intellectual understanding

[jrm72]

Hello again Solstice,

The advice given to me when asking about labelling DE -

Try not differentiating between what seems to be the input coming via the separate senses, and see what happens.

Let me know what happens for you?

❤️

[jrm72]

Hello again Solstice,

After a few discussions, I have come to this conclusion (which has no other authority than being my current story) -

If you, I or anyone else can experience anything without labelling it. Then it will remain your (and only your) unique experience in that unique moment. For how could we ever communicate it?

❤️

[solstice]

What I mean by that is I become aware when the label "sound" gets attached to a sound, then a moment later a more detailed label gets attached ("it's the wind")

Okay thank you! This is very similar to my experience I guess I may have been overlooking the “sound” label

[solstice]

Try not differentiating between what seems to be the input coming via the separate senses, and see what happens.
Let me know what happens for you?

I will try this

[solstice]

I don’t know that anything happens to me when trying to not differentiate between the different senses

[jrm72]

Morning Solstice,

I don’t know that anything happens to me when trying to not differentiate between the different senses

What works works and what doesn't doesn't. It's different for everybody.

Let's focus on what is happening for you.

Have you noticed any changes since starting here?


❤️🖖

[solstice]

Have you noticed any changes since starting here?

I am able to catch thoughts before becoming engrossed in them more often than before. I am also more capable of feeling emotions when they arise rather than suppressing them completely.

[jrm72]

Afternoon Solstice,

I am able to catch thoughts before becoming engrossed in them more often than before. I am also more capable of feeling emotions when they arise rather than suppressing them completely

As thoughts pass, find the gap between them, and see if you can stay there.
(This is not a wild goose chase, there are definitely gaps between thoughts)

Feeling emotions and staying with them, I'd encourage you in doing this, A good step is to find the effects in the body that an emotion creates and see where that takes you.
Suppression in any area of life usually has the opposite effect to what you're trying to achieve.


❤️🖖

[solstice]

As thoughts pass, find the gap between them, and see if you can stay there.
(This is not a wild goose chase, there are definitely gaps between thoughts)

Feeling emotions and staying with them, I'd encourage you in doing this, A good step is to find the effects in the body that an emotion creates and see where that takes you.
Suppression in any area of life usually has the opposite effect to what you're trying to achieve.

Okay glad I am on the right track, these two recommendations are what I have been trying to do! :))

[jrm72]

Morning Solstice,


Finding the Gap

This exercise has a dual purpose. Firstly, to become aware of each and every though as they appear. Secondly, the careful looking for the gap is an example of how carefully to look when looking for the ‘separate self’.
Here is a step-by-step description of how to look at thoughts. First thing is to sit for at least 10-15 minutes quietly somewhere, several times throughout your day. Close your eyes and just notice thoughts. Don’t engage with any thought, just notice them.

1. Notice the current thought that is present.
Like when you sit observing the body, a thought might arise “this is my feet” or “here is a pain” or “my breathing is too quick” or “I am bored with this exercise” or “I have better things to do” or any sorts of thoughts.
2. This thought will pass and another thought will come. So just observe this thought passing.
3. Then wait for the next thought to come.
4. When the next thought is present, just notice it, and see how it passes.
5. Then wait for the next thought to come.
6. Repeat #4 and #5 many-many times.

Between the 2 thoughts there is a gap. It can be very short or subtle, just a second or a few seconds before the next thought come in.
This is how to look at thoughts:-
Looking how they come and go, and Observing the short gap between them. Noticing how the current thought is passing. And waiting for the next thought to come.
Please do the following exercise:
Throughout your waking day, try to observe the gap between thoughts as often as possible. It can be done by noticing that ‘thinking’ is happening right now, then stop and just simply wait for the next thought to come. In the ‘waiting’ there is a gap between two thoughts.

Let me know how you go.


❤️🖖

[jrm72]

Hello Solstice,

From tomorrow I will be travelling until 1st June.
Should still be able to get online everyday.
Letting you know in case I end up somewhere with no Internet and can't reply as promptly as usual.

❤️🖖

[solstice]

1. Notice the current thought that is present.
Like when you sit observing the body, a thought might arise “this is my feet” or “here is a pain” or “my breathing is too quick” or “I am bored with this exercise” or “I have better things to do” or any sorts of thoughts.
2. This thought will pass and another thought will come. So just observe this thought passing.
3. Then wait for the next thought to come.
4. When the next thought is present, just notice it, and see how it passes.
5. Then wait for the next thought to come.
6. Repeat #4 and #5 many-many times.

Sorry life got a bit busy, thought I replied. I have been doing this. Many of the thoughts are repeats or follow similar themes. Awareness of these thoughts and themes allows them to be noticed and the attachment to them removed more quickly. This makes them arise less often as I am no longer feeding them with attention.

[jrm72]

Hello Solstice,

Good to hear from you.

How's your sense of self doing?
That is, when you look for the self, what do you find?

❤️🖖

[solstice]

How's your sense of self doing?
That is, when you look for the self, what do you find?

It seems to bounce between diminished (sometimes almost entirely) and much stronger. Both when compared to before starting. Like a rubber band stretching and becoming slack. Like sometimes the self is fighting very hard to maintain ‘control’ and other times it feels almost ready to let go. Hopefully that makes sense. After writing I also have doubts arise that what I have said is not true, however they seem to confirm what I have said.

[jrm72]

Morning Solstice,

Yes, your post makes sense, doubts are the big hurdle. One way of dealing with doubts is to post here more often (daily if possible, but I understand if life or anything else makes that difficult).

It seems to bounce between diminished (sometimes almost entirely) and much stronger.

Can you expand on the differences between when your self feels diminished and stronger?

Also, what's the "sometimes almost entirely" like?

❤️🖖