The Gate

See brown color of skin
see different shapes of different body parts
hear the noise of my breath inhaling and exhaling
feel the clothes that touch my skin
taste the saliva in my mouth

Now let's get very detailed with DE.

Seeing--brown
Thought--it's a color
Thought--it's skin
[previously Thought = mine]

Please continue with the remaining 4 sensory experiences.

(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 colors 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?

( 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?

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?

Now, let’s have a look at the idea of control, choice and decisions. Please explore the two exercises below and report your findings.

1. Hold a hand in front of you; palm turned down. Now turn the palm up. And down...and up and so on.
2. Put two objects that you like in front of you (e.g. a cup of coffee and a glass of juice), then pick up one or the other, while paying attention to the whole process of choosing.
Watch like a hawk. Don't go to thoughts, examine the actual experience. Do this as many times as you like, and each time inquire…
How is the movement controlled?

Does a thought control it?

Can a ‘controller’ or and entity that is choosing be located?

How is the decision made to turn the hand over? Track any decision point when a thought MADE THE DECISION to turn the hand over.

If there is ‘here’ or ‘there’, there must be a refence point, right? Without center, “I” there is no reference point, hence no location. ‘Location’ (left, right, up, down, etc.) is a label, ‘here’ and ‘there’ are labels for various things (hearing, seeing, sensing).

So, is there a choice or just cause and effect playing out?

Let’s explore choice, control and decision-making a bit further.
Can you take me through a biggish decision that you made recently - not something very personal so you share more details about it.
How did it come to be?

A
Consider all the conditions that were necessary for it to happen. If any one of those conditions were different, would the outcome have been the same?

Actually, today I made an offer to buy a house. I have been looking at buying a house since July 2023. I looked at a lot. A few s everal times, many times I thought I was close to buying one, but the conditions had to be right.
I first had to have my old house sold. The price of the new house had to be about the same. My kids had to like it. IT had to be close to my work and their school I made 2 offers before, but the buyers did not accept so I had to let them go. There are several on the market too expensive but I have been watching the price. Today, I saw a house that my real estate agent told me she did not want to show it to me before, but today when she saw the house, she said it was all redone. I went in thinking it was unlikely that I would buy this house, but it checked all my boxes. It was the first house both my kids liked. I wanted to see it again saturday, but the agent said there was someone else about to offer on it. They I discussed it with several people I trust and all of them said I should make an offer today, so I went to see a house that I least expected to buy and ended up offering for it. It is still possible that the buyer won't accept my offer. If that is the case, I will move on, that house wasn't meant for me. but conditions were ideal for me to make an offer.

How many of these conditions were outside of your influence?

almost all of them

What was in your control (according to thought)?

THe decision to make an offer to buy or not

What was in your control (according to thought)?
The decision to make an offer to buy or not

what did your partner say? Did you have control over that?

Your children like it. Did you have control over that?

As you balanced the pluses and minuses in your mind, did you have any control over that?

What else factored into your decision? Banks, interest rates, selling your previous house, etc.
Did you have any control over those?

Do cause and effect exist without thought?

How are ‘cause’ and ‘effect’ experienced directly?

What is time without memory (thought content)?

Can you directly experience ‘past’ or ‘future’? Can you directly experience ‘1 min ago’ or ‘1s ago’?