The Gate

I don't know, it feels very real, but I don't know why. I can't see it, touch it, so in that sense it is more like the imagined than the real

Not knowing is fine right now.
If I was to tell you that Santa is real, would you see him in the room right now? Can you see the difference between the real and the imagined?
x

No I wouldn't. Something doesn't become real just because you say so. It doesn't become real by believing in it no matter what.

The real is what is, the imagined is just made up. The real exists wether we believe in it or not, the imagined is created by the mind. For the most part I say it is easy to know of something is real or imagined

Hi Alex
Some good points there -

Something doesn't become real just because you say so. It doesn't become real by believing in it no matter what

great.

The real is what is

How do you know that it is?

For the most part I say it is easy to know of something is real or imagined

Again, how?

x

The real just is, I do not need to make anything. It comes to me, a sight a sound. It is so different than something imagined: vivid, bright, detailed, vibrant, changing. The imagined is more flat, lifeless, stale, static. It is created internally.

So I know by inference. If an experience is a certain way I judge it real or if it is another way, I judge it imagined.

It feels like this happens automatically, and I just know

Good.
More tomorrow!

Thank you, Sioned. Sleep well!

Good Morning, Alex,
Self is imagined. You can look for the real self, but can it be found?
x

self is imagined

That is our working assumption

You can look for the real self, but can it be found?

I believe there is no self, so it can't be found. I believe it is imagined, so it can't be found.

But I am not sure so I don't know.

Good morning Alex,

I believe there is no self, so it can't be found. I believe it is imagined, so it can't be found.

But I am not sure

Makes sense. At present, though you might know it in your head, your whole being doesn't. That's the shift we're exploring here!

There is a big difference between knowing that there is nothing to give up and seeing that there is nothing to give up.

Here is an example to illustrate the difference:

If I ask you what colour socks you are wearing right now you have two ways to come up with an answer:

• You can have a think about it, you can think back to this morning and try to remember putting your socks on, and you can probably tell me what colour you think they are.

• Alternatively, you can take a quick look at your socks and tell me what colour they actually are!

Hopefully you would agree that you can only be 100% certain by looking.

For the purpose of our dialogue together, it is going to be very important that you are clear about this difference. Knowing is about knowledge which is all in the mind and we are not interested in that. We are only interested in looking at and seeing what is actually going on in your present moment to moment experience. We are only interested in your direct experience in the moment.

Does that make sense?
Sioned

Ok. Yes the exercise makes it clear. Not thinking but seeing. Not reaching back to an idea or memory of what I think I saw in the past. Looking now, with fresh eyes.

That's it exactly.

Sit quietly and relax, take your time just looking at what is in front of you for awhile.
Observe how the mind is dividing and labelling every thing into objects and is embellishing them with stories about what they are.
Give it some time
Then, stop watching the objects as labelled objects. Just look at the seeing itself. Observe the pure process of seeing. This is direct experience (DE).

x

Got it. I feel there is a difference in how my experience is when I look with the discriminating mind versus when I open up to the experience

Hi Alex

Got it. I feel there is a difference in how my experience is when I look with the discriminating mind versus when I open up to the experience

YES!!!!

Here's an exercise that I would like you to try as many times throughout the day as you can. Label daily activities simply colour/image, sound, smell, taste, sensation, thought.
So for example, when having breakfast, become aware of:-
Seeing a cup, simply= image/colour
Smelling coffee, simply = smell
Feeling the warmth of the coffee cup, simply = sensation
Tasting the coffee, simply = taste
Hearing the spoon stirring the coffee, simply = sound
Thought about drinking the coffee, simply = thought
Just break down daily activities into these categories (which are all actual/direct experience) and report back how you go.

xx

Hi Sioned,

cool, I will do this. I will be traveling the weekend, I am not sure how much internet time I will get. By latest I should be able to post on sunday evening, but I will make an effort to check in daily!

warmly
Alex