The Gate

Stay with the exercise on a regular basis from now on, but for now just answer this question to start us off.

I do. Noticing more and more thoughts and thought patterns that have always been taken for real, but are actually fictional.

1. Can a thought think?

that sounds crazy. no. emptiness in the mind happens.

Hi again,

Good looking. Got tied up today. Will post tomorrow. Keep up the good work.

Hi again,

Good work. Let's look at the nature of thought a little more closely. Very few people actually do. But before we get to that let's do one more exercise that is much simpler. This is actually looking at the absence of thought, which is just as important as its presence.

Notice how thoughts come fully formed. "I am going to the store,(space) i need some butter."
Or, more accurately, "I am going to the store."_"I need some butter."
Not "I"_"am"_"going"_ "to"_"the"_"store."

Notice how a fully formed thought is a single object in and of itself. "I" is a label and an object. "Store" is a label and an object. "I am going to the store" is a label (for a complete action) and an object in and of itself as a thought/label. A complete thought is an object containing objects within.

So as each thought is an independently arising object, there has to be time and space between each one, no matter how miniscule.

Now you've stated earlier that you realize that the objective "Sebastian" only exists as thoughts. (Remember the sticky notes on the blank board. Dec. 1) O.K. Let's look at that briefly. The following might be you briefly describing "yourself".

"I have practiced meditation."__"I have also practiced NLP."__"One time I studied EFT."__"I studied Advaita for awhile as well, and attended various Satsangs."__

One question.
If those thoughts, and many more, are what defines the character Sebastian, then what is in the space between each of those thoughts?

Look closely,
Take your time.

If those thoughts, and many more, are what defines the character Sebastian, then what is in the space between each of those thoughts?

There is void, emptiness between the thoughts I would say.

Hi again,,
No such thing as a void. What does "void" even mean? Look again.

No such thing as a void. What does "void" even mean? Look again.

Space actually is direct experience. Nothing, but raw experiencing.

Hi again,

Good. "Raw experiencing" is more what I was looking for although that may be intellectual hair splitting. No matter. I will have something for you tomorrow. You are doing well. I would like some simple comment from you on a regular basis on the daily exercise of "finding where 'you' stop, and experience begins."

Hi again,

O.K. Let's look at the space between thoughts in another way. You are going to notice how the mind resists allowing that space to exist, without the habitual labeling of it, so that it becomes "known" and "familiar," which are both, of course, comfortable. Look at the following.




Try take in just the rawness of it, the colors, the shapes and patterns. Now the label machine will immediately interfere and call it "ink blot" but go ahead and move beyond that, or I should say, try to get back before the labeling. Try to rest in that moment before an object is actually formed by labeling it. Try to stay in that moment when there are just colors and shapes, but no label that fits, therefore no object. Notice how hard the labeling machine wants to "make it something, make it an object." Try to stay in that space where the image is simply raw experience. How does it feel?

Look closely,
Take your time.

I would like some simple comment from you on a regular basis on the daily exercise of "finding where 'you' stop, and experience begins."

no separation noticed. feels peaceful and relaxed.

Try to stay in that space where the image is simply raw experience. How does it feel?

feels little scary. Monster coming out. Maybe I need to repeat this.

O.K.

strong emotions arising these days. having difficulties to stay with the exercises.

I would like some simple comment from you on a regular basis on the daily exercise of "finding where 'you' stop, and experience begins.

still no "me" found. sinking into experiencing by noone.

Try to stay in that space where the image is simply raw experience. How does it feel?

I can not not see a "monster" somehow. Feeling some tension. Switching between Monster and experiencing, but more monster.

Hi again,

Good work.

strong emotions arising these days. having difficulties to stay with the exercises.

Yes. Staying as close to raw experience as possible brings the other side of the coin, and that is raw emotions. Notice how they may arise without labels attached for brief periods of time. When they come, just sit with them. Do not try to escape.
They will run their course and leave. Over time they will weaken.

Stay with it.

They will run their course and leave. Over time they will weaken.

Good to hear.

I would like some simple comment from you on a regular basis on the daily exercise of "finding where 'you' stop, and experience begins.

pure experiencing here. feels calm

Hi again,

Good. Stay with it a little more. Write what comes up in either exercise.

Feelings and Thoughts appear very sticky and dense these days. Still having difficulties to focus on the exercises and not being draged into the stories.

I would like some simple comment from you on a regular basis on the daily exercise of "finding where 'you' stop, and experience begins.

No me found. Only experience. Feels light.